Dear international students, it’s time for you to ease your moving anxiety with Master’s in Marketing Student Ambassador Nish Sharma’s tried and tested tips as an international student at LSE.

Things nobody tells you to do as an international student

Once the excitement of your LSE acceptance settles, the overwhelming feeling of moving to a whole new country kicks in and that’s absolutely normal!

There may be a million thoughts running through your head and things may seem out of control. Take a deep breath – because hopefully, the tips I share with you today will make your transition as an international student a tad bit easier.

1.    Train your brain to stop converting currencies

Well, let’s just have a moment of silence because one of the truths of the world is that London is an expensive city. It’s easy to get stuck in the cycle of converting everything you look at into your home currency and having a constant debate with yourself on whether it’s worth it. The key is to set a realistic budget and start to think in £s.

2.    Contact your neighbours and classmates

Your neighbours and classmates will be no less than your new set of family and it’s a good idea to get in touch with them ahead of time. Get to know them and make plans for when you meet. It gives you a sense of comfort and an extra something to look forward to for your life in London.

3.    Don’t overpack

This is probably the biggest piece of advice I wish someone gave me! I was pretty much out of control when I packed, and it doesn’t help to have parents who like to be prepared for the worst. You start with “essentials” and before you know it, you’re putting in your fourth shampoo bottle and booking extra luggage, which won’t even fit on the airport’s cart.

Trust me, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t get in London so just focus on irrefutably necessary items and pack as light as possible.

4.    Do your research – travel, bank, sim

There will be a thousand things for you to do when you reach London and having done some basic research on bank accounts, sim cards, transport, etc can make your life a lot easier in the initial few days. It’s not the most exciting thing but these errands can pile on together to be a big source of stress, welcome to adulthood! 🙁

5.    Attend the offer holder events

LSE’s offer holder events are incredibly helpful in preparing you and setting expectations for your journey as a student. Honestly, I didn’t even realise how many things I didn’t know until I attended these events. Don’t hesitate to ask a lot of questions to ease your mind and up your prep game!

6.    Say yes to more things

You’re stepping out of your comfort zone but into a world where you can create a whole new life tailored to you. Take part in activities that you love, join societies, and say yes to spontaneous plans because you never know what makes for the best memories. It may sound cliche, but your time at LSE will literally fly faster than you blink, and you should be able to look back and be happy to have experienced everything you wanted to.

7.    Don’t hesitate to ask for support

It’s okay not to have all the answers and feel lost sometimes but be open to asking for help when you need it. In fact, it’s very likely that your friends are going through the same thing as you, and you can prove to be the most valuable mutual support system for each other. Additionally, LSE has plenty of support resources you can make use of too.

8.    Bring a piece of home with you

I know I’ve made it seem like everything is going to be rainbows and unicorns but I gotta be honest, when homesickness hits, it hits hard. Make sure you get pictures of your friends and family, birthday cards, gifts, or even your childhood stuffed toy to be your go-to comfort mechanism for when you miss home.

9.    Keep the excitement up

The most important thing to remember is that all aside, you’re going to have the time of your life, literally! You’re going to experience new things, meet new people, go to new places, and of course, make new mistakes but it’s going to be everything you ever wished for and more. So, stay excited, keep adding to your wish list, and get ready to come to London!

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