Adjusting to university life

With every new challenge, comes new exciting opportunities – and the transition into university is no exception. Attending university is a great chance for you to meet new people from all walks of life, develop your skills and access amazing career opportunities. Adjusting to university life can also be an overwhelming time, with a lot of change to get used to, so it’s really important to prioritise self care and look after yourself and your mental health.

We have collaborated with leading social mobility charity upReach and the student experts at UNiDAYS on this guide, which offers tips on how to make the most of your time at university, cope with change, make new friends and protect your mental health.

Coping with change

It’s important to remember that it’s really common to find it hard to adjust to change. If you’re finding yourself feeling homesick at uni, anxious or freaked out by being in a new environment with a new routine, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed or that you won’t eventually like your new life – these things take time! Here are some tips to make you feel safe and grounded while you’re adjusting to university life.​

• Make sure you have things with you in your new space that make you feel comfortable and safe. This could be your favourite photos, posters, blankets or your childhood teddy. 
• Book in regular calls with your friends and family to keep that source of support while you are getting used to everything.
• Explore the outdoors in the new area you have moved to, such as the local park; spending time in nature can help to make you feel grounded. 
• Get cosy in your comfiest clothes and escape with your favourite film or series.

Prepare your finances in advance

Keeping track of your finances can be challenging, especially if you’re learning to budget by yourself for the first time! Before you get to university, it’s essential to create a financial plan so you know how you are going to cover all of your expenses each week. If you’ve not created a budgeting template before, you can find a template to get you started in the Aspire Guide, as well as accessing top money saving tips through websites like savethestudent.org.

When it comes to financial assistance when moving to uni, make sure you do your research! A survey in 2022 found that 42% of students felt like they weren’t aware of all the funding options available to them. To avoid being one of them, get in touch with your university’s student services to see what financial support you might be eligible for – many universities will offer grants and bursaries for students from low-income, care-leaver or refugee backgrounds, as well as for those who excel in sports, music and academics.

And remember, if you hit unexpected financial difficulties, your university may also provide you with a “hardship fund” to help you get back on your feet, which you can apply for at any point during your degree. 

Accessing mental health support at university

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of freshers’ year and throw yourself into studying, going out and making new friends, but it’s so important to check in with yourself as well and make sure you are looking after your mental health and wellbeing. The University Student Mental Health Survey (2020) showed that 1 in 5 students will suffer from mental health challenges while at university, so putting some support in place early can really help prevent you from struggling in the future.​

• Counselling can be a great way to talk through your worries and learn coping strategies; many universities offer a free counselling service.
• Make sure you register with your local GP in the first week of moving to university; they are there to help you with your mental as well as physical health.
• The Student Advice Service or a welfare officer based in your college or university building can offer you free and confidential advice. 
• Join an online community and talk to others who are going through the same thing you are, like the peer-to-peer community at The Mix. 

Find a community of people who share your interests

Whether it’s moving away from your hometown, or struggling to keep up with your studies, adjusting to life at university can feel very daunting. Many students who are the first in their family to go to university or come from underrepresented backgrounds can feel “out of place” in this new environment; these feelings are very common and are often eased as you make new friends.

Societies are a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. There are societies for almost every interest – sports, music, politics, religion, and more – so you’re bound to find people you share hobbies with. There are also groups that bring together state school, women, LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority students, to help foster a greater feeling of community. Plus, if the society that you want to join doesn’t exist, then you can always create it yourself! 

Not only will these extracurriculars help you to feel less isolated, they are also a fantastic opportunity to develop some great skills and experiences to add to your CV in the future. For example, by becoming the Editor of your student newspaper, you can hone your writing, proofreading and leadership skills and impress potential employers.

Tips for making new friends 

• Approaching people can feel scary when you’re shy, but try and challenge yourself to go and say hello to other students after seminars or in your halls.
• Remember to smile, and try to look relaxed (even if you’re super nervous) when meeting new folks. Introduce yourself early on in the conversation, and take an interest in the other person’s answers.
• If you spot a potential friend, offer to swap phone numbers or add them on any social media platform. As always, consider your personal safety with anyone you don’t know very well.

Make the most of career opportunities in first year

Alongside sharpening your academic interests, university is also a great place to boost your employability. With dedicated careers teams on hand to help you with everything from exploring different sectors and careers, to applying for work experience, it’s important to take full advantage of this excellent resource. 

A lot of universities also partner with charities to provide additional career support to students from underrepresented backgrounds. For example, the social mobility charity upReach provides free 1-to-1 career coaching for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds across the UK, including free CV reviews, mock interviews, work experience and more.

Many students think that first year is too early to think about graduate careers, but this can lead to you missing out on valuable work experience and summer internship opportunities, which can later be converted into graduate schemes. The earlier you prepare, the more time you will have to figure out your next steps, build your student CV and gain the experience you need to succeed. 

Most importantly, don’t worry!

As nerve-wracking as university may feel to you right now, it’s also a golden opportunity to venture outside of your comfort zone and dive headfirst into a new adventure. Remember, university is so much more than just lectures and textbooks – it’s also a personal journey of self-discovery, as you experience living away from home, meeting new people and pursuing new hobbies and interests. Big life changes will always feel daunting, but that’s also what makes them so transformative. 

So, equip yourself with the knowledge and advice listed above – and know that there are many organisations like The Mix and upReach that can help you in different ways – but also be ready to embrace the unexpected and learn more about yourself in the process!