Being an international student can be hard. The language is hard, the food is weird and British culture often doesn’t make sense. Sometimes when you think you’re on your own it can be extra hard.
You should have a look at our guide for survival, aimed at helping international students cope with the pressure of being away from home.
We have also collected some first-hand accounts from international students in the UK, including a few tips on how to cope. Thanks to the students who shared their experiences with us.
“In my country when we meet a foreigner and he does not recognize what we are saying, we try to pronounce sounds and words more slowly and comprehensibly, and if necessary, even simplify previously said sentences. But in England, no one does that.”
“One of the biggest problems for international students is speed: it takes them longer to understand what has been said. By putting [lecture slides] online, I was able to revise the lecture as soon as I was home and to look up unknown words in my dictionary.”
“The useful thing I found is doing voluntary work and watching English shows because they trained me to think and speak locally. Honestly, there are no differences in intelligence or critical thinking. The biggest difficulty is the language barrier and unfamiliarity with all usual practice.”
“Studying in a foreign country can be a challenge as well, which can be partly overcome by reading books in order to acquire vital study skills and advanced knowledge.”
“Some of my classmates advocate that we can divide into study groups after class and discuss the contents and assignments. Some students well understand some parts of the lecture, while others are good at other parts of the lecture. We can communicate and exchange our ideas.”
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