An International Student’s Guide to Making New Friends

Moving to a new country is an exciting but scary time for anyone. You get to explore new places and experience a whole new way of life, but you don’t know anybody here.

Making new friends can be daunting when you move somewhere new, even in the UK. You might not be aware of the customs or you might not feel confident enough in your English language skills.

But don’t worry, Brits are friendly people who will be more than happy to have you as a friend. If you’re concerned about making new friends when you come to the UK, here are a few tips to help you out.

Take Language Classes

One of the biggest reasons international students struggle to get out there and make friends is because they don’t feel confident in with their English. Feeling like your conversational English isn’t good enough to communicate to others can knock your confidence and make you not want to try.

But don’t let that hold you back. If you really feel like your English isn’t so good, take some additional English lessons. In these classes, you’ll meet other international people who are in the same position as you and you’ll be likely to make friends with them.

As your English improves, you’ll be more confident in talking to your classmates and other people at uni and start to make friends.

Hang Out With Your Flatmates

When you come to study abroad, the chances are they you’ll be in student accommodation and sharing with other students. In this shared accommodation, you might be with other British students or with other international students.

Either way, it’s the perfect opportunity to make friends from the day you arrive. Everyone else is new too, so everyone is looking to become friends. Hang out with your flatmates and do fun things together. Go for a meal, head to the pub or just watch TV together!

You’ll find other friends in the coming weeks and months, but having flatmates means you get to make friends instantly.

Use Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool and one you should use as an international student. Find Facebook groups for other international students in your city and join them.

These groups serve as a way for international students to connect with each other and make new friends. These groups often post regular events and activities such as day trips, nights out or general hangouts so you can get to meet new people.

They’re probably the easiest way to meet new people and all you need is an internet connection! Try it out and you’ll be sure to make at least a few new friends as a result.

Join a Society

Pretty much every university in the UK has a whole host of societies that all students are free to join. Find something that interests you, whether it’s yoga, film club, creative writing – whatever. Join it and make an effort to go to the meetings.

Here, you’ll meet people who are already interested in the thing you’ve signed up to, so you already have something in common. Talk to people there and get to know people. If you make a connection, invite them for coffee or drinks afterward to get to know them better.

It’s a fun way to make new friends and you can learn new skills along the way!

Throw a Party

Parties are the best places for meeting new people and forming connections. If you can, host a party one evening. Get your flatmates to invite their friends, and make sure to invite others from your building.

A chilled and fun environment like a party gets people to loosen up and chat with each other, making it easier to make friends.

Make sure that your student accommodation block allows parties before you do this. The last thing you want is to get in trouble for violating your contract!

Moving to a new country is an exciting but scary time for anyone. You get to explore new places and experience a whole new way of life, but you don’t know anybody here.

Take Language Classes

Hang Out With Your Flatmates

Use Social Media

Join a Society

Throw a Party

You’ll Be Making New Friends in the UK in No Time!

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