International student living etiquette guide

University culture is becoming increasingly diverse thanks to the continued rise in international students choosing to study in the UK. As more and more nationalities live and work together, it makes sense to understand and celebrate our cultural differences. As such, we have crowd-sourced a range of nuances and cultural habits from international students to help you get to know each other a little better.

Whether you want to avoid awkward misunderstandings or break the ice with a conversation starter, foreign nationals share their top tips for making new friends from around the world. We’ve even shared advice from UK students to help your international friends adjust to life in the UK.

Clara, a French student at the University of Manchester, said: “When I first moved here it was difficult to get used to all of the different behaviours I was surrounded by at university, particularly when it came to socialising. Everyone was used to enjoying their evenings in different ways and it would’ve been good to have a guide like this to know what to expect before moving to such an international university!”

2016 saw a 2 percent rise in international students choosing to study in the UK, with a 14 percent rise in the number of Italian students joining us to complete their degree. So, you might want to brush up on your knowledge of student life around the world before heading to your new halls of residence!

Take a peek into the lives of the world’s students, and learn about the differences that make us unique, with our International Student Etiquette Guide.