Student Journey

Lifestyle

You’ve done it. All your planning and preparation has payed off and you’re about to start your amazing journey at the university of your choice. Yes it’s an exciting time, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few nerves. Finding out as much as you can about what will happen in your first few weeks will help make you feel more at ease until you can properly settle yourself into your new life.

What’s orientation?

There are lots of different names for the first few weeks of university. Some call it Orientation, but there’s also O-Week, Freshers’ Week and Welcome Week. The time that orientation takes will also vary, some places just set aside a single day, whereas others have a full week of sessions that will help you feel more at ease with what’s to come.

As well as formal and informal presentations that are designed to give you all the information you need to start settling in, there will also be opportunities to join clubs and get to know your fellow classmates a bit better. You can read our guides to find out more information.

How to handle culture shock

No matter how much you’re looking forward to starting your studies in another country, the change of routine, different culture and the new and unfamiliar attitudes of the people around you can easily cause you to suffer from culture shock.

As anyone who’s moved to another country or travelled extensively will tell you, culture shock is nothing out of the ordinary and comes from feelings of unfamiliarity and a lack of understanding of the new cultural cues you find yourself immersed in.

Learning as much as you can about the country you’re going to study in before you go can really help you settle in when you get there. Other tips include making an effort to make local friends, joining clubs and talking to other students who might be feeling the same way as you are. Just remember that you’re not alone, there are people at your university who will be able to help and support you, and our expert counselors are always available to chat should you need to speak to someone who understands your challenges.