Moneymagpie Team
21st Jul 2025
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Moving to a new country for university can be a mixed bag of emotions; curiosity, excitement and a sense of liberation paired with nerves, overwhelm and even a little imposter syndrome. New people, new food, maybe even a new language – each of these aspects can be equal parts enthralling and daunting for young students taking their first steps into adulthood in a new setting.
Making friends and feeling at home as an international student takes time, a bit of effort, and a lot of self-care and self-kindness. As the saying goes, “patience is a virtue”…but there are ways to make the process a little easier.
Whether you’re heading to a student apartment in London, Lisbon or Loughborough, these 10 tips – presented by a team of student housing experts – will help you build real, meaningful connections with others, find your rhythm, and feel more at home – wherever you are.
- Make your space yours
- Cook what you miss (and share it)
- Find your daily rhythm
- Use the support that’s there
- Get out and explore
- Mind your mental health
- Volunteer Your Time
- Let tech work for you
- Say yes, even when it’s awkward
- Don’t rush
1. Make your space yours
Your room is so much more than four walls and a bed; it’s your little corner of calm in a whirlwind of change. Decorate your space with photos, familiar trinkets, and comfort items like your favourite fragrance, blanket or mug that reminds you of home. The smallest detail can make a space feel safe, familiar, and ultimately yours.
2. Cook what you miss (and share it)
Food is a powerful emotional tool that involves all the senses, and the smell and taste of your favourite meal from home can help keep homesickness at bay, while easing away the unfamiliarity of a new country. International supermarkets are great for finding the right ingredients to help you recreate something you love, and you can often find other treats and comfort foods from home that will help you feel more settled.
There’s also something to be said for the shared experience of food. Cooking your national dish for your new housemates or friends can be a wonderful way to build cultural bridges, forge friendships and share comforting stories of home.
3. Find your daily rhythm
Having some kind of routine – even a loose one – can help you feel more stable. Setting a regular time to wake up, picking a cosy café to study in, or taking a walk at the same time each day gives shape, purpose and familiarity to your week.
If you’re still getting used to the local language, apps like Duolingo can help you squeeze in practice for speaking with locals, while weekly check-ins with family and friends back home helps you stay connected.
4. Use the support that’s there
Most universities offer a lot more support for international students than people realise. Academic mentors, mental health services, student societies – these are all great resources to take advantage of. It’s important to take action early in these areas – don’t wait until you’re struggling to reach out.
Beyond the official stuff, try to find your people. It might just be one or two close friends or flatmates, but having a couple of familiar faces to spend time with can make all the difference.
5. Get out and explore
Staying on campus all day might seem tempting, but it’s best to avoid this habit. The more you see of your new city, the more connected you’ll feel to it. Wander through markets, try the street food, get lost in bookshops or sign up for a local event, even if you go by yourself.
Talks, gallery openings, book signings – community events like these are great ways to meet like-minded people. Shared interests often lead to shared experiences, which can be perfect for sparking conversation and building new friendships.
6. Mind your mental health
Homesickness is a very normal part of studying abroad, and it’s true that some days, it’ll hit you harder than others. That’s normal. Take time to be kind to yourself; Try journalling, mindfulness apps, or even just a quiet walk to clear your head. Don’t forget the importance of good sleep and rest for your general mood.
If things start to feel too much, don’t stay quiet. Talk to someone. Your university likely offers free counselling, and using this is a sign of strength, not struggle.
7. Volunteer Your Time
Helping out in the community isn’t just good karma, it’s also a great way to meet people and feel like part of something bigger in your local area. Look for volunteering schemes through your uni or local charities. Food banks, beach clean-ups, fundraising events – pick something that speaks to your values, and you’re more likely to meet like-minded people.
Many universities also have buddy or peer support programmes to connect you with students who have been in your shoes, and know what it’s like to be new somewhere.
8. Let tech work for you
Tech can keep you close to home and help you branch out. Use video calls, shared calendars, or just the occasional meme drop in a family or friends group chat to stay connected with home.
If you’re keen to connect with new people, apps like Meetup are great for finding groups of people with shared interests. Bumble BFF is a good option if you’re looking for mates rather than dates, and even Eventbrite can be great for discovering everything from yoga sessions to language exchanges.
9. Say yes, even when it’s awkward
You don’t need to be wildly outgoing to make friends, but you do need to be open to it. When someone invites you for coffee, an event, or even a casual hangout – go! You can always leave early if it’s not your vibe, but half the battle is just showing up, and you may find you’re glad you did.
Most meaningful connections happen in the small, unplanned moments. Give yourself a chance to stumble into them.
10. Don’t rush
At the start of this article, we said that “patience is a virtue” – and this feels like a good note to end on as well. Truthfully, there’s no time limit for how long it will take to feel ‘settled’ in your new area. Some people adjust faster than others, and that’s okay – it’s not a race to the finish line. Be kind to yourself, and take things at your own pace.
Notice the little, everyday wins: your first real chat in a second language, your first successful supermarket shop, the day the bartender remembers your name. These tiny moments mean you’re already finding your feet and making a new home.
Enjoy Your New Home
Being an international student can be a wonderful experience, and an opportunity to weave your culture, identity, and experiences into a new environment, while letting it grow inside you as well.
Friendships, familiarity, confidence – these things will come, and one day, without even realising it, you’ll wake up and think “this feels like home”.
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