Moving away from home

1. Explore the local area

During your first few weeks at university, why not arrange to explore with your new flat or course mates?

It will be a great way to settle into the local area, find some spots that you like, maybe a coffee shop or two to study in! It’s also a great way to get to know your new friends and maybe spot a part-time job to fund your outings.

We have created pages full of inspiration for each of our campuses and locations. Have a look through to help plan your adventures.

2. Decorate your university halls

Nothing is better than some home comforts to remind you of your loved ones. A lot of our students bring pictures, ornaments, bedding, and various other things from home to decorate their rooms. Bringing a piece of home along with you can make the transition to university life that bit more seamless and comfortable.

In our halls, we have plenty of shelves and a pinboard that you can use to personalise your space, so go wild and make it your own!

3. Try new clubs and societies

By doing this, you will meet like-minded people who share the same hobbies and interests as you.

At USW, we have an abundance of different clubs, sports and societies that you can try. Already this will be a great help in settling in as you will have a support group around you and people to turn to in times of need. It will also act as a good distraction in those moments where you might be feeling a bit more homesick, and you never know, you might discover a new talent or hobby.

4. Call your family and friends to catch up

Put some time in your diary for the times you know you’ll be visiting home to meet up with your family and friends.

This will give you something to look forward to and reassurance that you’ll be seeing your loved ones again soon. Alternatively, why not invite them up to the area where you’re living to show them around? It’ll no doubt be super exciting to be their personal tour guide, show them your favourite spots, and they will also have a sense of where you are and what your life is like at uni!

5. Let people know how you’re feeling

Remember that everyone is in the same boat, it can be reassuring to know that you’re not alone.

If it’s all getting a bit too much, and you’re not sure what to do, don’t panic. We have an abundance of services here at USW to help you with university life. Whether it’s assistance from our library services or wellbeing teams, your lecturers, or your housemates, don’t struggle in silence. Remember to reach out to people when you need guidance, no matter how small the issue may seem, as well as reaching out to your peers when you think they may need help - a problem shared is a problem halved.