Hate my university and course

I'm at SOAS and I'm literally miserable. I'm a second year student. I dont enjoy my course or my time here at all.
There were a couple of incidents with a guy (whom I knew since 2017) which made me extremely miserable. I ve noticed that ever since his departure from my life, my health (got back and neck problems and ocassional issues with legs), my performance and grades have drastically fallen. I managed to get a 2.1 overall last year but this year its dreadful. Due to my physical and emotional problems, I'm at either 2.2 or a third. There are 2 modules which I'm scared of. I think I might fail those modules.

I had friends in my first course I did in early 2017 which was a short one but for the degree course, I virtually have no friends. Just people I talk to but not really friends. It's also difficult to integrate as the atmosphere is centred around groupism. My course also lacks a large student body so it's even more difficult.

Overall I hate my time and I feel really isolated and lonely. This has magnified since that guy left. And he was very dear to me.

I'm a tier 4 student so it's difficult for me to take a gap year as it means I would need to redo my visa and thats a tedious process.
I dont know what to do. Any advice?

Might be worth looking into going to a different uni. Some might let you start the in the second year if you like the course just not the way it's taught. If not, you should still be able to get student finance for another full 3-year degree, if I remember correctly.

Hello,

I am sorry to hear this.

Have you tried to contact the student support and well-being team at your university? Most of the times these services go unused and can be fantastic help in offering services such as counselors and advice experts. I would also recommend if you have not already looked in to it, that you look at what the student union offers in terms of societies and clubs you could get in involved in, to meet like-minded individuals.

I hope this helps,
Tom

Might be worth looking into going to a different uni. Some might let you start the in the second year if you like the course just not the way it's taught. If not, you should still be able to get student finance for another full 3-year degree, if I remember correctly.

The problem is thst my parents dont want me to drop this uni as they say I'm almost finished as I will be progressing to the final year and its all over.

Your parents aren't really the ones who are deciding, it's your life, you're an adult and you can decide. Obviously you can take into account their opinions, but ultimately if you're not enjoying anything about being there, it's not really worth staying. It's a lot of money to be spending on something you hate.

I agree. But I'm at literal crossroads. I dont have a good relationship with my family and I'm 26 so they want me to basically stop being a burden on them and get a degree+job as they cant keep me or keep paying for me all my life.

If I end up leaving they will really make my life hell by claiming they spent so much money on a drop out.

My father used to ridicule me calling me illiterate, drop out, uneducated when I didn't join university. He only shut up when I started pursuing my course but even then causes issues to the amount of money he has to pay for fees and accommodation.

What can I do in such a situation? It's like I'm forced to do this as my family is extremely problematic. I know that in this mental condition I will score really poorly in my final year, if I manage to get through. Is therr anything that i can do or are all doors closed for me?

Apply for student finance so your parents aren't paying for it.
It's not even like you're dropping out and abandoning uni altogether, you just don't like the one you're at. Your parents should not be treating you like that, it's really manipulative. You should do what makes you happy. Do some research, see what student finance you can get and look into other courses/unis would be my best advice.

I dont think I can apply for student finance as I'm non eu student??

Ah yeah, that is difficult. I'm afraid I'm not sure then. Are there any local universities that you like the look of that you can get finance for?

I haven't tried to as I'm a bit scared of approaching them. I feel that they might think I'm too sentimental. I did try to join a few societies but most of them don't meet except one which had only 2 members. I did actively participate in that group but it wasn't much of a help since the society leader is never at SOAS as shes working person (shes graduating this year as well) and the other has her own set of friends.

So I really dont know what to do.