Starting University Abroad: What First-Year Students Wish They Had Known

Receiving an offer from a university abroad can feel like the biggest hurdle has been cleared. It confirms the course and destination, but not how the student will manage the move or settle into daily life.

Accommodation may not be quite as expected, whether because of the room itself, its location or the reality of shared living. The first month can cost considerably more than the months that follow. Teaching and assessment may be unfamiliar, while friendships often take longer to develop than welcome-week photographs suggest. These are the parts of starting university abroad that students often understand properly only after they arrive.

This article brings together what first-year international students would benefit from knowing earlier, what should be arranged before departure and which difficulties need attention once university begins.

Key Takeaways

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Accommodation May Affect More Than Expected

A room can look perfectly suitable when it is booked and feel very different once the student moves in.

The space may be smaller or noisier than expected. The journey to campus may take longer, while shared kitchens and bathrooms can require more patience than anticipated. Flatmates may have different routines, standards of cleanliness or attitudes towards noise and visitors.

The OECD report identifies suitable and affordable housing as one of the practical difficulties international students raise most frequently. Students can also encounter limited availability, unfamiliar rental procedures and a higher risk of scams.

Before transferring money

• Verify the landlord, agent or accommodation provider.
• Request a written contract.
• Check what is included in the rent.
• Understand the deposit and cancellation terms.
• Confirm whether a guarantor is required.
• Ask when and how the deposit will be returned.
• Check whether the university knows the provider.
• Be cautious if somebody is demanding immediate payment.

Location matters

A cheaper room may become less affordable once transport costs are added. A long commute can also make it harder to attend early classes, use the library or participate in evening activities.

Students should consider the distance from campus, the cost and frequency of public transport, access to essential services and the safety of the journey.

The best accommodation is not necessarily the most attractive room. A secure, affordable and reasonably located home can make the first year considerably easier.

University accommodation or a private rental?

University accommodation is usually furnished and close to campus. It can provide an immediate connection with other students, while maintenance and billing arrangements may be easier to understand.

A private rental can offer more independence and choice. Students may, however, need to arrange utilities, understand local tenancy rules and communicate directly with a landlord or agent.

Students considering university accommodation should check whether meals are included, what furniture is provided, whether the room remains available during holidays and which charges are payable in addition to rent.

The First Month May Cost More Than Expected

The first month abroad is rarely a normal month.

In addition to rent, students may need to pay a deposit, advance rent, insurance, immigration fees and registration costs. They may also need bedding, kitchen equipment, course materials, a transport pass, a phone plan and clothing suitable for a different climate.

Students should check when tuition payments, accommodation deposits and insurance fees are due. Several large payments may fall within the same few weeks.

The budget should be based on current prices in the university city, not a national average or an estimate from a previous year.

Small expenses accumulate quickly

Coffee, takeaway food, taxis and social events can make the first weeks unexpectedly expensive. Students may spend more while exploring the city or because they have not yet learned where to shop affordably.

A weekly spending limit can make it easier to notice a problem before most of the month’s budget has been used. Budgeting does not mean avoiding every social activity. It means knowing how much can be spent without putting rent, food or transport at risk.

Do Not Depend on Finding Part-Time Work Immediately

Many international students work during their studies, partly because they need the income. Finding a suitable job, however, can take time.

Students may need a local bank account, proof of address and a tax or social security number before they can begin working. Language ability, class schedules and a limited professional network can also affect the search.

Student visas may restrict:

• how many hours a student can work;
• which types of employment are permitted;
• whether self-employment is allowed;
• whether the rules change during university holidays.

Part-time work can support a student budget, but it should not be the only plan for covering rent, food and essential expenses.

The university careers service may advertise suitable vacancies and explain which documents are required. Students should also consider whether working hours are realistic alongside their course.

Visa Responsibilities Continue After Arrival

Permission to enter the country is not always the end of the immigration process.

Depending on the destination, students may need to collect a residence document, register their address, attend an appointment or provide additional information after arrival.

They may also need to:

• remain enrolled;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress;
• report a change of address;
• observe restrictions on employment;
• renew their residence permission;
• inform the university if their course changes.

Students should securely store digital and printed copies of their passport, visa or residence authorisation, university letters, accommodation contract, insurance details and financial evidence where required.

Official guidance is essential when an error could affect enrolment or legal status. Advice from another student may be well intended but out of date.

Students heading to the UK can read Xpat.gr’s guide to the CAS process and UK student visa.

Everyday Life May Take More Effort at First

The beginning of university abroad can be filled with tasks that have little to do with studying.

Finding a supermarket, understanding public transport, opening a bank account and registering with a doctor may take longer than expected. A simple administrative problem can involve several offices or an appointment booked days in advance.

Students should leave enough time to learn the journey to campus, complete university procedures, buy essentials and become familiar with their neighbourhood.

Orientation programmes and local welcome services can provide useful information about banking, insurance, registration and transport. Taking longer to complete ordinary tasks is part of learning a new system.

Establish a basic routine

The first weeks may feel disorganised because almost everything is new. Attending classes from the beginning, keeping track of appointments and allowing enough time to travel can provide some structure.

Students do not need to organise every hour. The aim is to create enough routine for academic and practical responsibilities to remain manageable.

Academic and Language Adjustment

Students may prepare for the difficulty of their subject without preparing for differences in teaching and assessment.

A course may involve fewer classroom hours and considerably more independent reading. Seminars may require regular participation. Written work may be assessed according to unfamiliar expectations around structure, evidence and critical analysis.

Find out how the course works

During the first weeks, students should establish:

• how much independent study is expected;
• how assignments are assessed;
• which referencing system is required;
• what participation in seminars involves;
• whether lectures are recorded;
• how to contact a lecturer or personal tutor;
• where academic writing or language support is available;
• how extensions and mitigating circumstances are handled.

Students should also read the university’s rules on citations, collaboration, artificial intelligence and academic integrity.

Practices that were acceptable in another school or education system may not be permitted at the new university.

Less classroom time does not mean less work

Students arriving from a highly structured school system may be surprised by the number of hours without scheduled teaching. That time is usually intended for reading, research, preparation and assignments.

A timetable with only a few classes on certain days is not necessarily a light timetable.

Language confidence develops through use

Meeting the university’s language requirement does not guarantee immediate confidence in every situation.

Students may understand lectures but hesitate during seminars. Informal group conversations, regional accents and humour can be more difficult than academic reading.

Language can affect classroom participation, communication with lecturers, friendships, part-time employment and involvement in the wider community.

Students do not need to wait until they feel completely fluent before speaking. Confidence develops through regular use. The local language also remains valuable when the degree is taught entirely in English.

The aim is to communicate, not to speak without an accent.

Welcome Week Will Not Decide Your Social Life

Welcome week can create the impression that everyone has already formed a group of friends.

Some students meet close friends immediately. Many do not. The people met during the first few days may not become the people a student spends the rest of the year with.

The OECD report notes that some international students struggle to connect with domestic students and the wider community. Campus events can help, but a sense of belonging usually develops through regular participation.

Students can create repeated opportunities for contact by joining:

• a course or departmental society;
• a sport or exercise class;
• a volunteering project;
• a student publication;
• a cultural or language group;
• a weekly university activity.

International student groups can provide practical advice and familiarity. Local and mixed activities can help students become part of the wider university community.

When homesickness affects daily life

Students may miss their family, friends, food, language and routines. Regular contact with home can help, while involvement in university life gives the student an opportunity to develop new routines and relationships.

Missing home does not mean that studying abroad was the wrong decision.

If homesickness begins to affect sleep, eating, attendance or the ability to complete everyday tasks, the student should contact the university’s wellbeing or counselling service.

Find the Right Support Early

International students often know that support services exist but continue to rely mainly on family and friends.

Family and peers can provide emotional support. They may not know the correct answer to an academic, housing, financial or immigration question.

Students should locate:

• the international student office;
• their academic adviser or personal tutor;
• the university health service;
• counselling and wellbeing support;
• the accommodation team;
• academic writing and study support;
• disability or learning support;
• the university’s emergency contact.

They should also find out how appointments are booked and which service handles urgent problems.

Asking for help early usually leaves more time and more options for resolving a situation.

Problems that require prompt attention

Students should seek help promptly if they are facing:

• unsafe or fraudulent accommodation;
• insufficient money for food or essential expenses;
• problems with their visa or legal status;
• discrimination, harassment or threats;
• persistent anxiety or low mood;
• difficulty attending classes or completing daily tasks;
• an illness requiring medical attention;
• academic problems that could affect progression.

The OECD identifies financial pressure, stress and wellbeing, unmet expectations, language proficiency and visa requirements among the factors associated with international students leaving their course.

These difficulties can reinforce one another. A housing problem can become a financial problem, while financial pressure can affect academic work.

Can the Difficulties Be Overcome?

Early difficulties do not always prevent successful completion.

Although international students can have lower initial progression and higher dropout rates, the OECD found that they were more likely than domestic students to complete their studies within the theoretical duration.

Accurate information, academic preparation, accommodation assistance, language learning, wellbeing services and opportunities to form local connections can all support adjustment.

Students also learn through daily experience. Routes become familiar, administrative procedures begin to make sense and academic expectations become clearer.

How Parents Can Help

Parents may find it difficult to judge when to intervene and when to allow their child to solve a problem independently.

Before departure, families can review the accommodation, finances, insurance and emergency arrangements together. Once the student arrives, regular contact can provide reassurance without becoming constant monitoring.

When something goes wrong, parents should establish:

• what has happened;
• whether the student is safe;
• which university service handles the problem;
• whether the student has contacted that service;
• whether the situation requires immediate action.

Sometimes the student needs practical assistance. Sometimes they need encouragement to take the next step. On other occasions, they simply need somebody to listen.

If the problem concerns safety, serious financial difficulty, immigration status or mental health, more direct support may be necessary.

For another parent’s perspective on supporting students through demanding academic transitions, read The Takeaways of an IB Mom.

Before Departure Checklist

The Final Takeaway

Starting university abroad involves learning how to study, live and make decisions in an unfamiliar environment at the same time.

Housing, finances and immigration requirements need careful preparation. Academic expectations and university support should be understood early. Friendships, language confidence and familiarity with everyday life can develop gradually.

The first year does not need to begin perfectly to become a successful and rewarding experience.

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Source

• International Students in Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Trends, Challenges and Policy Responses, OECD, published 29 April 2026

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