We recognise it can be daunting when you first leave home to go to university. It can be difficult to know what to expect but there’s really no need to worry.
Some universities, like Newcastle University, have an extensive support service and are happy to help you settle in. But if you’re wondering what to expect beforehand, read more below.
- You might miss home for a little while
- Potential culture shock and tips to overcome it
- Transferable life skills that will stay with you forever
- Workload and different teaching styles you’ll benefit from
- New friendships and experiences you’ll cherish forever
You might miss home for a little while
Don’t worry, it’s very common for you to feel homesick after moving away from home to university. No matter how far you've travelled, students leaving home for university will never find it easy to say goodbye to familiarity and routine, not to mention friends and family.
The first few weeks may feel overwhelming but there are all kinds of support and activities to do which helps you feel welcome.
These feelings, which are completely natural, and homesickness can be dealt with easily. When you meet new friends, these passing feelings will soon fade. Joining a club, society or the students’ union for international students can surround you with the tools to make potential friends for life.
When you’ve settled in, you’ll find that you’re too busy with event invitations and enjoyable course lectures to be missing home. When you do visit home, you’ll have stories all about how much fun you’re having at university.
Potential culture shock and tips to overcome it
You might have never experienced roast dinners, the unwritten rule of queuing or the UK’s famous landmarks and architecture. Feeling out of place in this new country is more than likely but it’s a chance to experience new things and get involved with a place that has so much to experience.
There is no defining accent of the UK, it changes noticeably every 25 miles too!
The United Kingdom is diverse and filled with an assortment of cultures and easily accessible on public transport. Here in Newcastle, for example, you’re less than three hours from London via the train.
If you’re wondering how to overcome culture shock, here are our top tips:
- In this time of new and different things, embrace your own culture. People may find this interesting and it can be a great talking point or conversation starter.
- Be open-minded and have the mindset of ‘try everything once’. You won't regret it and you might even discover something you love in the process.
- Ask any questions you have and don’t be afraid to. You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to help out!
Just remember though - if you're upset in any way, we love offering the traditional cup of tea to help solve any problem.
Transferable life skills that will stay with you forever
Preparing and navigating your way to a different country is the first step to your newfound independence. Not only will you learn about organisation and timekeeping but also budgeting and key communication skills.
You’ll grow in confidence the more you conquer difficult topics and learn to express yourself in discussions and reports. These acquired skills can be utilised even after university, playing a large role in interviews and the workplace.
Perfecting another language and being bilingual is one of the biggest advantages of studying abroad. This is appealing to businesses as candidates who can speak another language means they can adapt to different cultures and work styles.
Workload and different teaching styles you’ll benefit from
When attending university away from home, you’ll experience different styles of education. The various styles can also prepare you for the different ways people work in the future.
Having both course deadlines and a social life might seem impossible, but balancing these two key aspects of university life is very much achievable. It’s important to expect lectures during the week and independent learning time, however, as these will be vital to your success at university.
Sometimes you will have to work from your own intuitive, which is good for personal development.
New friendships and experiences you’ll cherish forever
When leaving for university, it might be a little bit intimidating to go to a foreign country without really knowing anybody. However, universities like Newcastle that offer international studies will have a community of students from around the globe. Expect lots of other people who are looking to make friends who are in the exact same situation as you.
A great way to make friends is to join any societies or clubs that pique your interest also. You’ll be with people who share the same interests as you and easily be able to start up a conversation.
Now you know what to expect when you leave home to go to university, learn what the student-friendly city of Newcastle has to offer.
Download our undergraduate guide to 2020 study
Choosing to study abroad is a major decision but we’re here to help. Make sure you have all of the information you need by downloading our guide to studying in the UK. It includes budgeting tips, how you can get around here, what life is like when you study in England and everything you could need to know about the types of university in the UK.
Get your free copy of the eBook now by clicking on the link below.
