Welcome

At Southampton, we take pride in welcoming students from all corners of the world, and we are thrilled to share some valuable tips and ideas to help you settle in.

Rest assured, the information in this induction will have given you all the essential information that you need to make a seamless transition to life in the UK and, more specifically, Southampton. Here are a few details and tips on what you should expect from living and studying in the UK.

Transitioning to the UK

Embarking on your journey as an international student in the UK can be an exciting and enriching experience. However, it's important to recognise that there might be certain cultural differences that could lead to a degree of culture shock.

British culture has distinct characteristics that might differ from what you are accustomed to in your home country. This could be many things, such as fashion, especially favouring warm clothing, cuisine that may have milder flavours, and social norms that could be unfamiliar or even surprising at times.

There is nothing to worry about though, all you have to do is embrace these cultural differences with an open mind and a willingness to adapt. Doing so will not only help you navigate the initial shock but also enable you to fully enjoy your time as an international student.

Practically, this involves engaging in university activities, joining clubs/societies, and interacting with local students. This will help foster a sense of belonging and make Southampton feel like your home away from home! Adapting is important, but if you encounter any situations that make you feel uncomfortable, our teams are available to support you.

You've also probably heard about the UK's renowned unpredictable weather, with frequent rain and cloudy skies and then all of a sudden, pure sunshine. So we'd recommend preparing for every kind of weather and temperature, as you'll likely see it all during your time with us.

Student living costs

Handling your finances is a big part of preparing for university, even more so now that we face challenges with the cost of living. So to give you a head start, here are some key stats and advice on the approximate living costs that you should be aware of:

• The average monthly expenditure for students is £1,014. Rent (usually including bills) constitutes the largest portion, making up approximately 49% (Based on Save the Student's Average student living costs).
• The next biggest monthly cost you'll face is on food. You can lower this cost by cutting back on takeaways, choosing the right supermarket and putting more into meal prepping.
• Other expenses vary massively from person to person. You could have loads of subscriptions or have a slight addiction to clothes. Whatever your thing is, creating a budget will always help you manage your money better.
• Your bus pass and laundry costs are included in your rent helping you save your money. The bus pass gives you unlimited bus travel for the length of stay at no additional cost.
• Always be on the lookout for student discounts. Even though individually they may seem like small discounts, they do add up over time.
• If you can walk or cycle instead of using expensive public transport such as Uber, then do so. It's free exercise and you will save money over time.

Kit yourself out for Uni with UniKitOut.

You can order bedding, kitchen, bathroom kits and more, all deliverable to your halls ready for your arrival. Plus, save 10% with discount code SOUTH10

For more information and advice, you can access our cost of living SharePoint or the SUSU resources.