What international students in UK universities need to know!

To move across the globe and live by yourself while surrounded by foreign people, foreign food, and foreign culture, is a daunting feat regardless of where you're hailing from. For international students who are simultaneously juggling visa work, jetlag, language barriers, and the stress of lugging huge suitcases across the airport, assimilating into university life will definitely come with some bumps; but don’t be too hard on yourself! This article will cover top tips and characteristics of British culture to make this big transition a bit less alien to you.

1. Uni life in Britain - especially freshers week- will be very alcohol and drinking centric. From sports socials, themed nights at the SU, house parties, fresher club nights, and etc, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and peer pressure of it all. But it’s important to strike the balance between night outs and wholesome or academic weapon activities. For chill nights in, check out the Cardiff University ResLife instagram for crafts, movie nights, and coffee lounges.

2. On the previous note, pubs are not just about pints. Pubs are a quintessential part of British life, but don’t be intimidated if you’re not much of a drinker. They’re not just about alcohol! You can enjoy a hearty Sunday roast, a cheeky pub quiz, or even just hang out with mates over a bowl of chips. 

3. British humour is renowned for its distinct dryness and unapologetic sarcasm. Don’t be discouraged if the cultural references, wordplay, or banter is hard to keep up with at first. Brits love witty back and forth, so get ready for lots of satirical riffing!

4. Small talk about the weather! This may seem a minor detail, but whether it's standing in an elevator, by the water fountain, or a random encounter in the shops, the default conversation topic to break the ice or fill the silence will be the weather. It doesn’t matter if it's cold, warm, bleak, sunny, miserably wet, or completely neutral, it will be brought up and you will have to agree. 

5. British politeness, particularly their high regard for queueing and apologising when they actually did nothing wrong, will come as a shock. Don’t be too taken aback if you bump into or inconvenience someone and they say sorry. You’ll pick it up as a habit in no time. 

6. Tea: The Ultimate Solution. Feeling homesick? Stressed about deadlines? Confused about the washing machine instructions? Brits have one universal answer: a nice cup of tea. While the default is usually black tea with milk, don’t worry—you won’t be exiled for drinking herbal teas or coffee. That said, offering someone a cuppa during a crisis (or even a casual chat) will score you instant friendship points. 

7. Accents and slang. Trying to create a comprehensive list of all the lingo and UK-specific terminology used is impossible. But do not be intimidated by them as you’ll get the hang of it in no time. One of the most fascinating (and baffling) things about the UK is its wildly diverse accents. In a country where you can drive from one end to the other in a day, the variety is staggering. You’ll also quickly notice a “north-south divide” in accents—and attitudes. Pro tip: Avoid picking sides in the endless debate between Northerners and Southerners—it’s all part of the fun! Just listen carefully, and don’t hesitate to ask someone to repeat themselves if you’re not sure what they said. Most Brits will be happy to teach you a bit of their local dialect.

With these extra tips, you’ll be blending in like a pro in no time. The UK is a quirky, charming place full of surprises, and your uni experience will be richer for embracing its oddities. Best of luck, and remember—you’ve got this!