Getting Settled and Making Friends
Starting university can be an exciting time. But the transition to university life can also be a stressful one for many students. It can generate worries about fitting-in, making friends and meeting academic demands. While these worries can quickly disappear as you adapt to your new environment, it can make starting university a stressful time.
If you are feeling worried, remember that many other students will be feeling the same way, even though you may assume that they’re doing fine. Give yourself time to adjust: you don’t have to get everything right straight away.
You can find below some useful information and links to help you settle into university life, make friends, and get involved.
Getting to know Northumbria
Once you have enrolled at Northumbria you will be invited to take part in a range of Welcome Week activities specifically designed to help you get to know Northumbria University and create opportunities for you to meet fellow students.
This programme of University-wide activities and information runs alongside your academic induction and is designed to welcome you to Northumbria and help to you settle in and meet new people.
Find out more and get to know Northumbria.
Northumbria Students’ Union (NSU) wellbeing support
The Students’ Union are dedicated to having a positive impact on the lives of all Northumbria students. Learn more about what your Students’ Union can offer to support your wellbeing and find out more about Advice Services available. You can also visit the NSU website to discover the wide range of events, activities and other ways to get involved, be social, look after your mental and physical wellbeing and stay connected.
Societies and volunteering
Societies and volunteering are a great way to meet new people. And there are so many volunteer opportunities, activities and societies at university that you should be able to find something that you like.
Northumbria Students’ Union has over 100 societies and, if you can’t find something you like, why not set one up of your own? You can find the list of societies here.
NSU/Community has an array of volunteering opportunities including Animal Shelter, Hospital Arts and Ouseburn Farm – you can check all these on the NSU website.
Sport
We want you to have the best experience at university. Sometimes we have anxieties and worries which we all experience in everyday life, to other longer-term problems that affect our daily functioning. These feelings often pass, but sometimes they are hard to cope with.
There is a lot of evidence which suggests taking part in physical activity can have a great impact on mental wellbeing. Being active can help improve your mood, and decrease the chance of depression and anxiety leading to a better and more balanced lifestyle.
Getting active doesn’t have to be about going full out and doing long intensive sessions. You could mix things up by taking part in individual, group or online challenges. Northumbria Sport has loads of different sports that you can get involved in. Whether you’d like to join a team or just try something new, there are some amazing sports facilities available.
Find out more about what’s available and get active your way!
It’s not uncommon for students to experience homesickness as they begin university. Many students will feel homesick when they come to university, even those students who didn’t expect to feel homesick, can miss the familiarity of home and their friends.
Whilst at university you can contact the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team who offer free and confidential support, self-help tips to assist with managing these feelings and who also run a series of workshops on issues which offer great practical advice on a range of common student issues.
