By Dr Idlan Zakaria, Lecturer in Accounting
Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham
It wasn’t technically my first time in the UK when I arrived here almost two decades ago as a postgraduate student – my family and I spent a few years in the North of England (where my dad was a postgraduate student himself) when I was younger. But even with that experience, nothing could prepare me for the onslaught of change that came with being abroad, alone, as an adult, for the first time. Here are some of my top tips for international students studying in the UK and making the most of their time at university:
1. Prioritise
Things can get overwhelming you first arrive, but there are no two ways about it: it needs to be done! In my experience, the best way to manage an overwhelming amount of things to do is to prioritise what needs to get done first. Things like opening a bank account, for example, is very important; as are registering at university, sorting out accommodation and registering with the local GP. Many of my own students put off – or never get round to – registering with their local GP. Understandably, you’re excited and you don’t want to think about falling sick. But if (or when!) you do, seeing your GP is quite important. Your GP can also provide medical letters that are necessary for official purposes – like if you missed a test or an exam due to illness.
2. Dealing with difference
One of the things that frustrated me the most when I was an international student was how things work differently in the UK compared to what I was used to. Opening a bank account took a week rather than just days, because it was done on an appointment basis. Shops closed at 5pm and sometimes they didn’t open on Sundays. You need to get a license to watch television. And let’s not get me started on the railway ticketing system…
Unfortunately, this was just the way things worked. Confusing? You bet! How to deal with it? That brings me to my next tip…
3. Just ask!
I learnt a lot about how things worked by asking people. I began by asking people who were either local, or had been in the UK for a while longer than I did. What surprised me was that quite a lot of local people also didn’t know too much – my flatmate when I was doing my MA was from the next city over, but had never taken a train before, so had very little idea about how train tickets worked! Fortunately, the University of Birmingham provide lots of support for you – so just ask away if you don’t know.
You will also find that British people are very friendly – so even if you ask a stranger, nine times out of ten, you will get the assistance you need.
4. Create a new you
As you are embarking on a new phase of your life, take the opportunity to do something that you have always wanted to do – but perhaps never got round to. It could be something as simple as reading that book you always wanted to, to learning a new language or a new skill. There are amazing opportunities in and around campus, not to mention Birmingham in general.
Taking up a new activity or project also means you fill up your time better, and this can help you dealing with homesickness. It also allows you to meet new people and make new friends. One good thing to remember is that the majority of people around you are in the same boat as you in terms of being overwhelmed with everything that is new. They might be just as shy as you are to say hello – so why not make the first move and make a new friend?
5. Make friends from a different culture
It is tempting, when you first arrive, to stick with what’s familiar – and there’s nothing wrong with being with people who come from the same country or culture as you. But it would be amiss to not know someone from another country or culture when you have a smorgasbord of international representation in the university alone! And if you’re currently improving your English, what better way to do this than to speak and be friends with someone who doesn’t speak the same mother tongue as you do?
And finally….
What’s with the weather?! Sorry, I can’t help you there – twenty years on and I’m still trying to figure that one out!