Current international students share tips and experiences for getting the most out of living and studying at University of Cumbria

Chat whenever you can

As an international student, living abroad can feel very overwhelming. Especially if you don’t feel confident in speaking in English or just in general. From my own experience I can tell you that the people in the UK (and everywhere else) are very nice and don’t judge your language skills. The more you speak, the better your English gets. Don’t be afraid of making any mistakes, nobody is perfect and everybody knows that; instead learn from them. I chatted with so many different people and I learned soooo much. That way I also gained the confidence in being out-going and talking to people I do not know.

Food

I know it can be hard at first, adjusting to what can seem like bland food, but when we come here, we aren’t familiar with what is available here. Once you get to know where to buy what, it will be much easier. Chat to people to find out where they eat out and where they shop for food. Cooking your own food not only has the advantage of enjoying your preferred style of food, it’s much cheaper on the pocket as well. Try not to stick to just pasta too much though, as I did. In my defence, it’s easy and cheap to cook. I added sausages on top like Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory! I loved them and it made it much tastier and healthier.

Budget to make money go further & learn along the way

Try to find shared accommodation. Cook at home instead of spending money in hotels & restaurants. Use public transport instead of hiring a taxi. If you’re seeking job opportunities, follow part time job postings on different online and social platforms, including the UoC Careers Service. Try to learn more and get the maximum advantage from UoC resources, including Linkedin Learning where you will find thousands of courses for free. So, this will be the golden opportunity to learn skills for free. It will also help you to add value to your CV. Check out the money advice team’s budgeting tips too.

Wellbeing

Even though you might feel like you have a lot to do and do not have time for anything else, trust me on this, You NEED to prioritise your mental health and wellbeing, you need to make time for yourself. With the world-renowned Lake District just around the corner, take a bus, take a train, plan with friends, or go solo as you wish, but get out of your room to recharge yourself to Be Ready for the next day. Balance is the key to success, follow your passions. University is not just about studies, it has much more to offer, and you just need to look for it. Knock that door! You never know, what is waiting for you on the other side, but I can assure you it will be good. Believe in yourself, and LEARN as much as you can. It’s not just the degree you will be walking out from the University but the experiences and lifelong learning that will help you in every part of life.

Making mistakes is part of learning

It’s fine to make mistakes, it happens. What matters is that you learn from them and try to not repeat them. You might fail in assignments, you might lose a job, and you might face pressure financially/personally, but remember that this happens. Move on, and come out stronger than ever. Remember the University is there to help you out. There are always people around who will listen to you from friends, family, and colleagues to the lovely Student Support teams at the University, who will sit down with you and help you out. Trust me on this, they are awesome. Ask your tutors, ask your friends, and more importantly, ask yourself, how can you make it better? Remember, it’s our mistakes, that shape us into what we are. No one is perfect, nor are you, but it is not the perfection we strive for, but the inner satisfaction and sense of achievement.

At the same time, be serious about your studies, and take full advantage of the university resources and your lectures. Ask those questions, research that topic, learn how to write academically, and remember everyone here is here to help you but, what you need on your part is initiative, remember no question is a wrong one. You might feel like studies are overwhelming and everything piling on you, but it’s nothing more than you can handle. You can do wonders! Be confident!

My top three tips:

My number one tip would be to just give yourself time to adjust and then once you are comfortable and are ready to conquer, don’t stop!

Make the most of the opportunities you are presented with from working at the university/outside of it, to being part of a student union, to organising society events. Do it. Don’t think you can’t do it, once you take the first step, you won’t feel like stopping.

Set goals, make a timeline and achieve them through effective time management, networking, and making connections that will help you out.

And finally … Be Ready!

A year has passed since I stepped foot in the University of Cumbria, coming from a country where it remains summer almost all of the time, and from never living outside of my home/comfort zone to living in the student accommodation at University. One thing I would tell my newly arrived self is to “Be Ready”. You can do it. I know it will shake you at first, you will feel scared, and feel plethora of feelings like homesickness and loneliness, but time is the biggest healer of all. Embrace and see the positive things the University and the UK have to offer. From beautiful views, lovely people, lifelong friends, and an unforgettable experience. Even though a year can feel like a long time, you can do it. Stay motivated, don’t think too much about the future, and live in the present. Time flies, you won’t even know when the year is over, and you will be looking at yourself right now and who you were a year ago and be like, was that me who did all those things? And, yes it was you, and yes you are going to be fine; it’s all going to be okay! Be Ready to take initiative, Be Ready to go out, Be Ready to explore, and Be Ready to go out of your comfort zone. The sooner you do that, the sooner you will feel this completely different environment turning into something you can call a 2^nd Home. Trust me on this: at the end of the year you might not even feel like going home; that’s how much I fell in love with the University and the UK. Be Ready to experience the best time of your life!

With thanks to our University of Cumbria international student community for sharing their tips and insights, particularly Muhammad Talha, MSc International Management student.