Befriending Other International Students

Amongst the fears of moving across the pond, we also fear if we are going to make friends. This is one of the things I was most worried about as without friends, the experience would be very lonely. However, I assure you, it is much easier to making friends abroad than you would expect!

Despite being from different backgrounds, you and your international classmates probably have compatible personalities. It takes a certain type of person to pick up and move to a new continent. You’re probably adventurous, independent, and interested in the world. Of course, every international student is unique, but having those qualities in common can lead to a quick friendship. You will probably find yourself gravitating towards these peers because you have similar ways of seeing the world. You’d be surprised at how many barriers you can overcome when you have a shared love of travel.
 

Utilize Social Media Groups

My first tip for making friends abroad are Facebook and Whatsapp groups. I got to know the group of friends that I have now, due to these groups. Everyone is in the same boat, whether you are an international student or not. This meaning that everyone is trying to find friends, or at least get familiar with a few people before uni starts. I would definitely recommend getting involved in these groups and talking about yourself because I did that, and everyone is so friendly and accepting. The larger groups, so for example I was in the “Law Freshers” group was then divided into a smaller group of just Canadians on the course, this was super helpful again, because it allows you to see who you will be studying with abroad.
 

Attend "Freshers Week"

The second way to make friends with international students abroad is when you first arrive at the uni. There will be “Freshers Week” which has a bunch of activities and parties you can attend to help get familiar around campus and the city, as well as make new friends. For my first week at Leicester, we had a few lectures surrounding the law school and what to expect, this was a great way for me to put faces to names that I had read in the chat. The friends that I made from the chat agreed to go together to these lectures so we would all have someone to sit with, I suggest doing this as well, so you don’t feel so overwhelmed!
 

Join a Club, Tutorial or Study Group

Universities are amazing today in offering clubs and societies to appeal to every intertest and hobby imaginable. Universities can have hundreds of clubs available to students ranging from wine tasters, surfing or even Taylor Swift! Joining one or more of these groups provides a great and easy way to expand your friend network with people who share similar interests as you.

Since you'll be staying on top of your studies anyways, you can also make friends through a tutorial or study group. These are often small (5-8 people) and usually will be in the same program as you. These are people that you see so often and end up befriending. One of my now really good friends is from my tutorial group and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
 

Think Outside your Program

If you're living in university accommodation, this can also be a good way to meet students from outside your program. Befriending flatmates who are studying other programs will also enrich your experience and give you a break from program-specific topics.  While it's good to have a set of friends from within your program to aid with studies or in-class items, adventuring outside of your program and participating in university clubs is a great way to meet like-minded individuals and can lead to some long lasting friendships outside of your discipline. For example, if you're studying Law but like to watch films in your free time, consider joining a film club! If you have a second passion for sports, or want to try a new sport like rowing or football, consider joining a extracurricular! The amount of clubs available at UK universities are endless, and most universities will also allow students to start their own club if a specific subject or club doesn't already exist. 
 

Put Yourself Out There!

Lastly, the best way to befriend other international students is to put yourself out there! Everyone is literally in the same boat as you and they all are nervous about meeting new people and living in a new area. Once you get your core group of friends at the beginning, there is no going downhill from there. 

Make sure when you first meet someone to get their contact info. This can be as simple as adding them on Facebook or following them on Instagram, just a way that you can connect in the future. There is nothing worse then finding someone you really get on with in class or at a party and then not being able to find them again!
 

Don't forget about the locals

Your classes won't be entirely filled with international students, so don't forget to make efforts with local students as well. Having friends from the UK can be a great resource and give you people that can show you around the UK. They might know unique tips and tricks only a local can and help you integrate into the UK culture with more ease. 

It’s not always easy to make friends. Despite all the fun, your time abroad doesn’t last forever; it’s an incredibly unique experience to make close bonds and then months or years later, go in different directions home to entirely different countries. It’s bittersweet to build a support system and then later have that support be accessible only by social media or Whatsapp.  

But it’s worth it. When you make friends with other students, you learn about new cultures, foods to eat, and languages. You learn to associate places in the world with the people that you’ve met – a magical thing that can crush stereotypes and make you a more compassionate and understanding world citizen.

I highly believe that these are the friends that will last you a lifetime. If you have any more questions or concerns, Across the Pond Advisors are always there to help.