From saying yes to new opportunities to putting yourself out there with classmates and roommates, International Student Ambassador Diya shares her top tips for settling in at university.
Moving to Portsmouth as an international student was exciting, but it was also a little scary. I arrived in a new country without knowing anyone, and one of my biggest worries was whether I would make friends. Looking back now, I realise those feelings were completely normal. Almost every international student goes through the same experience, and it just takes a bit of time to find your people.
My first few weeks
During my first few weeks, I definitely felt homesick. Everything around me was different, and I missed my family and the familiarity of home. At times, it felt like everyone else had already found their friendship groups, which made me wonder if I had started too late. After speaking to more people, I realised that many students felt the same. We were all trying to settle into university life, even if it didn't always look that way.
Saying yes to new opportunities
One of the biggest things that helped me was saying yes to new opportunities. During Welcome Week, I attended various events and activities, even though I didn't know anyone. It felt a little awkward at first, but I reminded myself that everyone was there to meet new people. I also attended workshops and events organised by the Students' Union, which gave me the chance to meet students with similar interests.
I made friends from the UK and many other countries, which has been one of my favourite parts of university. I've learned so much about different cultures while sharing my own. I also became close with other international students because we understood what each other was going through. We all knew what it felt like to live far from home and adjust to life in the UK. We shared advice, celebrated different cultures, and supported each other whenever someone was feeling homesick.
One thing I have learned is that making friends takes time. Not every conversation turns into a close friendship, and that's completely okay.
Sometimes you have to be the one to start the conversation, even if it feels a little uncomfortable. The more I did it, the more confident I became.
Making friends in class
Making friends in my classes was surprisingly much easier than I expected. Before lectures, I started saying hello to the people sitting near me, and after class we would sometimes chat about the lecture or our assignments. We created group chats for our course, which made it easier to ask questions and organise revision sessions. Sometimes, a few of us would go for coffee or lunch after class, and those casual conversations helped us get to know each other outside of university.
Living in student accommodation
Living in student accommodation was another great way to meet people. During the first few days, I made an effort to spend time in the shared kitchen instead of staying in my room. My flatmates and I would cook together, share meals from our home countries, and chat while we ate. Those small everyday moments made a huge difference and helped me feel much more at home.
Final tips for new students
If I could give one piece of advice to new international students, it would be to keep an open mind. Go to university events, even if you have to go on your own. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to someone in your lecture or invite a classmate for a coffee after class. Stay in touch with the people you meet because friendships grow over time. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. It won't all happen in the first week, but before long, Portsmouth will start to feel like home, just as it did for me.