Making London your new home as an international student

Moving to a new country can feel terrifying and exciting all at the same time. We know that from experience!

This is Ari (MSc Neuroscience) from Argentina and Christie (MA Cultural and Creative Industries) from South Korea, and we’re both international postgraduate students who were once strangers in London – just like you!

We’re here to share some of our experiences and tips for settling in London and making it feel like home, plus our advice on making the most out of Welcome to King’s.

Ari: ‘“Welcome to King’s” is the programme of events designed to get you started at King’s. There are so many events and activities, both online and in-person, designed to help you to meet new people, get to know the support services available, and start making the most of your time here from day one.  

I recommend you make the most of it and go to every Welcome event you can! Honestly, I was so nervous when I attended my first event – specifically, the in-person International Student Welcome event for postgraduate students. Now looking back, I can see that I got some of my closest and nicest friends from that day. And the experience felt beyond everything I had done at university before – in the best sense!’

Christie: ‘And even if you can’t make it to the main Welcome period, don’t worry! There are events that are specifically online, most of them held in the first week of the Welcome period, so you can still get to know King’s from a distance.’

Christie: ‘It’s so much more convenient to have a UK phone number. I personally recommend giffgaff, because you can sign up on the app and have the SIM delivered to your home country before flying to the UK.

Another thing is to set up a UK bank account. This might take some time, but it is actually so worth it. My suggestion is that you research and compare to decide which bank suits you best, as many student bank accounts offer specific benefits. You’ll need your ID documents and Confirmation of Study, plus proof of address in the UK to set up an account, so make you sure you have those in the meantime. Find out more about this on Student Services Online.’

Ari: ‘Another must is to get the Student Oyster card for transport. You can save 30% on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. You can also get a 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard to save a third on pay-as-you-go off-peak train fares and daily caps travelling on the Tube, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most National Rail services in London. 

To get this deal, you just get an Oyster Card and a National Rail Card, then go to a tube station, ask one of the officers to link both cards, and that’s it! You can tap-in tap-out in your daily rides and get the discounts.’

Christie: ‘Meeting new people isn’t always easy. But if you think about it, everyone else is also new here, and they’re feeling the same way. This is the perfect opportunity for you to make friends; you have a clean slate, everyone’s eager to make friends, and you have nothing to lose! Simply start with a smile, ask what their name is, and where they’re from. Who knows? That could be the start to a lifelong friendship.’

Ari: ‘So true. Also, a more practical tip can be to join societies. A few weeks before starting my course, I went to the KCLSU Welcome Fair, where societies welcome you and share their goals and activities for you to choose from. You’ll meet the nicest people and even a lovely group if you decide to join one!’

Ari: ‘Studying in London was always my dream, but moving away from my family and friends naturally led to some form of homesickness. What helped me was making phone calls back home – maybe a friend who’s up really early (yes, time difference is a bummer) or my family when they are all gathered for a meal.

Another way is connecting with people who come from a similar region or speak your language. For example, joining a KCLSU country-specific society might be a safe choice. However, don’t forget – the beauty of being an international student is the chance to immerse yourself in new cultures and to meet people from all around the world!’

Our final tip: don’t be afraid to reach out if you need some support. King’s has loads of resources for new international students on Student Services Online.

And remember to have fun – there’s more to King’s than just studying!