How I made friends as an international student

Are you considering studying abroad but worried you might not make any friends? Don’t worry! We’ve all felt this way. Here are a few ways I made friends as an international student.

Stop Overthinking

I know it is easier said than done, but don’t overthink it. Remember that many students are new, just like you, and every student was new at some point. Putting yourself out there might seem scary, but you will be okay.

Student Accommodation

Like most people, my first friends were my flatmates and my neighbours. Before arriving, I joined the University’s Unibuddy community and had the chance to connect with some of my flatmates and neighbours which helped ease my worries as everyone was so nice. Also, frequent social events are run at the University and partner accommodations such as glass painting and dance classes. Attending these was a great way to do activities with my flatmates and meet more people who have similar interests to us.

Events at the Guild

The Guild of Students is the University’s student union. They run several events, starting from Welcome week, all throughout the year. I attended a few of these and met a lot of new people. Some events specifically play international music such as Fusion night. This is a great way to meet other international students who know more than anyone else about how you feel being away from home in a new country.

Societies

During Welcome week, I attended the societies fair and was amazed by the number and variety of societies the Guild of Students offers. From cultural societies like Naija Society to performing arts societies like A Cappella, I felt like I had a range of fun societies I could get involved with. If you’re not sure how you feel about a society, they run taster sessions in the first few weeks, many of which I attended. Through these sessions, and eventually joining some societies, I met some lovely people with similar interests.

Worklink

Worklink is the University’s casual work recruitment agency. As a student, you might be thinking of ways to work part-time and from my experience, having a uni job is a great way to balance studies and work but also to make friends! I have made some really good friends through my part-time job, right from the group assessment interview process. This was such a lovely surprise because it happened so naturally as it was not something I was actively thinking about. Working with my new friends has been a delight and I recommend checking out Worklink for part-time jobs.

I hope these tips have been helpful and help alleviate any worries you might have. Being away from home and family might make you think you will be lonely, but trust me, you will find your new Birmingham family in your home away from home.

Remember, there is no need to be scared! Share this post with someone who might find these tips helpful.