Top Tips: Struggling To Settle In

As great as the first few weeks of university can be for some, many other students can take a bit longer to settle in to the new structure and lifestyle it offers. Here’s a few top tips if you’re struggling to find your footing at university – and if you have any advice yourself, feel free to leave it down below!

Reach Out To Your Personal Tutor
As soon as you enrol, lots of universities (including Kingston!) will assign you a personal tutor, who’ll act as your point of contact for any academic or personal concerns that might be affecting your studies. On top of being a friendly face to chat with, your personal tutor will be able signpost you to any university support services you might need, such as disability support or counselling. Although it can be scary to reach out directly to your course lecturers and staff members – especially if you’re a first year! – personal tutors are there specifically to support you and will be more than happy to help.

Talk To Friends and Family
Heading off to university and establishing your independence can understandably feel a bit isolating at times, so it’s important to remember that your friends and family back home are still there to support you regardless of the any physical distance between you. Whether it’s through a phone call or FaceTime, talking to friends and family can help alleviate those lingering feelings of homesickness and allow you to chat through any issues you might be facing.

Get To Know the Local Area
Moving to a country, area or campus you don’t know very well can be intimidating, especially if it’s quite different from where you grew up. Familiarising yourself with the area can take away the sense of unknown, and help you develop that ‘home away from home’ feeling that can make your time at university much easier. Check out local shops and parks, or visit nearby museums/points of interests.

Try to Create A New Routine and Keep Busy!
Starting university can offer students tons of different opportunities, from joining a bunch of unique societies, picking up a new sport, trying out new foods or a testing out a different work/school schedule. However, sometimes all these opportunities can be overwhelming, and it’s common for students to worry over whether or not they’re doing the ‘right’ thing. Creating a new routine and sticking to it can provide a sense of normality and structure to your time at university, and can be as simple as deciding to go the library every Thursday evening with your flatmates or volunteering in a local charity shop on Sunday morning. If you keep busy and stick to a routine that works for you, the settling in process should become a whole lot easier. 😊

Hope this was helpful, and best of luck to any students currently settling in!
Eve (Kingston Rep).