How to make friends as an International student in the UK
Moving to the UK as an international student is easier said than done.
Starting a new chapter in a country where you do not know anyone can feel lonely and scary.
If you have felt this way before, you are not alone – all students have experienced this at least once during their time at university!
To help you settle in quickly and find your group of friends, here are some quick tips on how to make friends as an international student in the UK!
Join a club or society
The best way to meet people with similar interests is to join a society.
Attending a Freshers Fair is a fantastic way to see what societies are available.
You can drop your emails to those societies that you are interested in so you will be updated with any events or socials happening in the coming weeks.
If you are fully ready to commit to a society, you may be asked to pay a membership fee which usually is not expensive and unlocks you exclusive benefits such as cheaper entry for social events.
Get involved in sports
If you like staying active and are looking for friends that you can play competitive sports with, joining a sports team is a great idea.
Many students have this misconception that you must be experienced in a sport to join a sports society at university – but that is not true at all!
Universities usually have a wide range of sports teams available that are inclusive to all abilities - you could even join as a beginner if you decide to start a new sport!
University provides a safe space for everyone to try something new and you will easily meet and bond with people that have that competitive and sporty spirit like you do!
International student events
Many universities host events for international students to help them meet people with similar personal backgrounds.
This usually is in the form of a social, a night out or even smaller gatherings like a movie night or potluck.
Going to an international student event and immersing yourself in a diverse environment will help you feel a sense of home and familiarity but also learn more about other peoples’ cultures and traditions.
Universities usually have societies related to culture and faith, and you will be able to meet like-minded people there too.
All international students are on the same boat trying to make new friends, so do not be afraid to reach out and introduce yourself!
Talk to people in your course
Your course mates are the people you will see most often as they will be attending the same lectures and tutorials as you.
It is important to be outgoing and build a friendship group within your course that you not only will get to see regularly but can also help each other out in understanding coursework and assignments.
Sit next to someone new at a lecture and start a conversation with them or ask your project groupmates if they want to grab a drink after.
Small actions like these will help you to speak to many people in your course and build a friendship group within it.
Starting fresh and making new friends can sound terrifying, but it is not as bad as you think!
Do not overthink too much and go for it, because the chances of them feeling the same is highly likely.
We hope that with these tips you will get to meet new people and find your group of friends that you can call family here in the UK!
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