How to settle down into university life 

Whether you’re a fresher or a returning student, settling back into university life can take some time and quite a lot of adjustment. Tackling changes and preparing for the next year of your life can be a stressful time for anyone, so this blog will guide you through the best way to settle down (or back into) university life as the new year runs around. 

Explore the city 

Firstly you should get to know your way around. Whether (if you’re new to Cardiff) it’s the whole city, or for returning students, you should get to know your new local areas in your new accommodations. This can be your local shops, cafes, bars and places to hang out. The most important thing to remember is that freshers’ week is about more than just clubbing. There is plenty to see and do to fall in love with Cardiff, your new home, you can read more on the Cardiff uni blog here.

Familiarise yourself with the campus 

Knowing your way around campus is one of the first ways to settle yourself down into a new area. Visit your course library, and get to know the online Library Search system to ensure that you have access to all of the resources that you need for your studies. Visit your building and make sure that you know your way around. (Remember it’s your campus so unless it says “do not enter”, you’re welcome to explore and get to know your way around campus!)

Work out your route to uni and find your favourite study spaces and coffee shops – don’t restrict yourself to one area. You can read here for some of my favourite university libraries to do work. 

Try out events 

A key tip is not to focus on meeting as many people as possible or making friends, but to go to as many events and embrace as many opportunities as possible. This can help you avoid burnout and frustration at not meeting the right people, which takes time.

Build a routine 

Having a default routine to return to during challenging times can be helpful for managing stress and keeping up with your studies. Build a realistic routine that you’re happy with and includes things to look forward to   This could include a weekly night out or a cafe study date with a friend.

Be kind to yourself 

Struggling to settle in and dealing with homesickness is normal. Moving away from home for the first time is a huge challenge for anyone, so don’t be afraid to take things slow. The most important thing is to be kind and gentle withyourself as you navigate these changes and it takes time to settle into new phases of like – and that’s ok! On top of that, homesickness is another common challenge for students while on campus, so it’s important to take the adjectment slowly.

You can read tips to deal with homesickness here.