Starting university can be an exciting time. But the transition to university life can also be a stressful one for many students. It can generate worries about fitting-in, making friends and meeting academic demands. While these worries can quickly disappear as you adapt to your new environment, it can make starting university a stressful time.
If you are feeling worried, remember that many other students will be feeling the same way, even though you may assume that they’re doing fine. Give yourself time to adjust: you don’t have to get everything right straight away.
You can find below some useful information and links to help you settle into university life, make friends, and get involved.
Getting to know Northumbria
Once you have enrolled at Northumbria you will be invited to take part in a range of Welcome Week activities specifically designed to help you get to know Northumbria University and create opportunities for you to meet fellow students.
This programme of University-wide activities and information runs alongside your academic induction and is designed to welcome you to Northumbria and help to you settle in and meet new people.
Find out more here.
Northumbria Students’ Union (NSU) wellbeing support
The Students’ Union are dedicated to having a positive impact on the lives of all Northumbria students. Click here to learn more about what your Students’ Union can offer to support your wellbeing.
The NSU website has lots of information on how you can get involved, be social, look after your mental and physical wellbeing and stay connected.
Societies
Joining a society is a fantastic way to try something new and make friends in the process.
Northumbria Students’ Union has over 100 societies and, if you can’t find something you like, why not set one up of your own? You can find the list of societies here.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to do something positive with your time whilst giving back to the community, as well as meet new people.
You can find out more about the variety of volunteering opportunities available at Northumbria here.
Be Part of It
‘Be Part of It’ is our brand new programme of activities exclusive to all Northumbria University students. See here for more information.
This offers heavily discounted tickets for a huge variety of activities from paddle boarding, cocktail making, trips around the UK and nights out at the theatre.
This is a brilliant opportunity for new experiences, making new friends and ultimately making sure you have the best time while you're here at Northumbria.
Sport
There is a lot of evidence which suggests taking part in physical activity can have a great impact on mental wellbeing. Being active can help improve your mood, and decrease the chance of depression and anxiety leading to a better and more balanced lifestyle.
Getting active doesn’t have to be about going full out and doing long intensive sessions. You could mix things up by taking part in individual, group or online challenges. Northumbria Sport has loads of different sports that you can get involved in. Whether you’d like to join a team or just try something new, there are some amazing sports facilities available.
Find out more about what’s available and get active your way!
Dealing with feeling homesick
It’s not uncommon for students to experience homesickness as they begin university.
At Northumbria, we take your mental health and wellbeing as seriously as your academic career. Our Counselling and Mental Health Support Team can support you during this transitional period, so that your time at Northumbria is the best it can be.
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