Feeling at home in Birmingham as an international student

Before moving to Birmingham, I thought feeling at home would take a long time.

I was excited about my study abroad year, but I was also realistic. I was leaving behind a life I had built in Dubai, my friends, my routines, my favourite places, and the comfort of knowing exactly where everything was. Even though I was already part of the University of Birmingham through the Dubai campus, moving to the UK still felt like stepping into the unknown.

What surprised me most was that feeling at home didn't happen all at once. It happened through a series of small moments.

During my first few weeks, everything felt new. Living in Jarratt Hall, figuring out what to cook, adjusting to the weather, and learning my way around campus all felt like bigger tasks than they probably should have been. There were days when I missed the familiarity of Dubai and wondered how long it would take before Birmingham felt comfortable.

But slowly, things started to change.The first thing that helped was finding a routine. It sounds simple, but having small parts of my day become familiar made a huge difference. Walking to lectures, stopping for coffee, finding my favourite study spots, and knowing exactly which route to take across campus gave me a sense of comfort. What had initially felt unfamiliar started to feel normal.

The people I met also played a huge role in helping me settle in. One of the best things about university is that everyone is figuring things out together. Whether it was people I met through classes, accommodation, or simply through day-to-day interactions, those connections made Birmingham feel less like a place I was visiting and more like a place where I belonged. It’s how you create a family away from home.

Another thing that made me feel at home was how diverse the university community is. Coming from Dubai, I was used to being surrounded by people from different cultures and backgrounds, so it was reassuring to experience that same diversity here. Meeting people from around the world made me feel less like an outsider and more like part of a global community.

Of course, there were moments when I missed home. Sometimes it was a particular meal or a conversation with family. But over time, I realised that missing home and enjoying my experience in Birmingham could exist at the same time. One didn't cancel out the other.

Looking back now, what made me feel at home wasn't a building, a city, or even a specific moment. It was the feeling of belonging that developed over time. It was the friendships, the routines, the familiar faces around campus, and the confidence that came from building a life somewhere new.

As international students, we often arrive expecting to find a new home immediately. What I've learned is that home isn't something you find overnight. It's something you create through experiences, connections, and memories.

For me, Birmingham became home when I stopped thinking of it as somewhere temporary and started thinking of it as somewhere that was part of my journey. And that's something I'll always be grateful for.