Coping with homesickness at university

Adjusting to life away from your home can be difficult

Let’s be perfectly clear, feeling homesick is not a weakness.

It's the elephant in the room. Imagine you've just moved away to University, you're loving the newfound independence, meeting new people. Everyone has told you this will be the best time of your life. But the truth is, sometimes it's difficult.

You might initially miss the people, places, routines that were so familiar to you and catch yourself feeling a little lonely, anxious, overwhelmed and possibly wondering if you've made the right decision. The reality is that you feel a little homesick. It may catch you off guard because you've never felt this way and you're not sure how to deal with it.

It’s easy to imagine you’re the only person struggling, but missing home is something that affects most students.

According to the National Union of Students (NUS), while homesickness typically affects 50 to 70% of students during their first few months at university, most students' symptoms fade after their third week.

In fact, it's an entirely understandable response to a significant life change and certainly not something to feel guilty about.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution or silver bullet to cure the symptoms of homesickness, there is a wealth of practical advice available that may help to get you back in the swing of university life.

Students share their tried-and-tested methods for making the transition to uni life...

Get organised
The first few days and weeks are probably going to be the most hectic, and it’s here that you may feel a bit lost. Sort your weeks out with a simple timetable and you’ll feel more in control of what’s going on.

Join in
A university campus never sleeps, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a time when there isn’t either a fair or a social event on. If you have a hobby then join a club or society, where you’ll find like-minded people. Give yourself a goal of trying something new each week.

Look after yourself
Take some time to look after the basics. Eating well, exercising, getting outside and getting the right amount of sleep at the right time can all have a positive impact on your ability to keep on top of feelings of low mood and anxiety.

Talk to people
It can take time to forge friendships, but you will already be making connections. If you are not naturally gregarious, and find it difficult to talk to new people remember lots of peopel feel the same, so be brave and make that first step.

Get offline and explore
While it may be tempting to remain safely locked up in your room, you have a brand new environment that’s waiting to be explored. Go out and explore.

Practical advice

Asking for help

Hopefully, feeling homesick will pass but, if you’re really struggling, then be assured that help is available.

Student Wellbeing Services
One-to-one appointments, drop-in sessions and a whole range of workshops and groups as well as self-help materials

Pastoral and Spiritual Support Service Lounge

Pastoral and spiritual support for all faiths and none
Support for the whole university community, whether you think of yourself as spiritual, religious, a person of faith, or of no faith at all

Students' Union entrance on a busy sunny day

UPSU advice
UPSU's Advice Centre can offer practical advice about a range of issues