ANSWERING: How can international students make friends in the UK?
How international students can make friends in the UK
An evidence-led, practical plan for meeting people through courses, accommodation, societies, volunteering and verified student networks.
Prepared with AI assistance for THE OTHER BOOK. Official sources are linked; planning exercises and examples are editorial suggestions, not reports from users.
The most reliable way to make friends in the UK is repeated contact around a shared activity. Start with three small circles: one course-based group, one society or sport, and one recurring activity such as volunteering or a weekly event. Use verified university communities to make the first introduction, then move to safe, low-pressure in-person meetings. Do not judge the first few weeks as the final result; friendships form at different speeds.
What matters most
01Repeated, structured contact works better than waiting for a perfect social event.
02Join fewer groups but attend them consistently.
03Use course, accommodation and society connections as three separate routes.
04University-verified apps can lower the friction of a first conversation.
A four-week plan that is realistic
Week one is for visibility: attend the Welcome or Freshers’ fair, speak to people on your course and introduce yourself in your accommodation. Week two is for selection: choose one society and one activity you can attend regularly. Week three is for initiative: invite one person for coffee, lunch, a study session or a walk. Week four is for repetition: return to the places where conversations felt easiest.
UCAS recommends course groups, accommodation, societies, sport, part-time work and volunteering as practical ways to meet people. The important part is not doing everything; it is creating enough repeated contact for familiarity to grow.
Use apps to start, not to replace, the relationship
If your university offers a verified peer, mentoring or welcome network, it can help identify people with similar interests, courses or society preferences. University and Students’ Union groups can also connect you before arrival. Once you have made contact, propose a specific low-pressure activity rather than keeping the conversation indefinitely online.
- Send a message connected to a shared context: the course, city, society or event.
- Suggest a public campus café, library session or society event.
- Let someone know where you are going when meeting a new contact.
- Do not send money, identity documents or private account details to someone you have only met online.
What to do when it feels slow
A quiet first month does not mean you have failed. International students are simultaneously learning a city, an academic system and a new social rhythm. Keep one familiar-language community for stability while adding at least one mixed group connected to an activity you genuinely enjoy.
If loneliness is affecting your wellbeing, contact your university’s student support or counselling service. Community apps can create introductions, but they are not a substitute for professional wellbeing support.
Where THE OTHER BOOK helps
THE OTHER BOOK is designed to help students discover experience from people navigating similar decisions, save what is useful and examine the context before acting. For making friends, that means separating a genuine campus opportunity from a vague or unsafe recommendation and keeping official support routes close by.
A practical note to keep with your decision
Use this editorial template to turn the guide into a usable record: My question; my university or city; what I have already checked; the original source and date; what is still uncertain; the next person or organisation to ask.
For a social activity, record where the organiser publishes current details and one thing you would like to discuss with another attendee. After trying it, add your own observation and its date rather than presenting it as a universal rule.
Sources used for this guide
Sources were checked on 3 September 2026 · updated 7 September 2026. Open the original page and confirm its latest update before making a consequential decision.
- UCASHow to meet people at university or college
Guidance on meeting people before arrival and through Welcome Week, courses, accommodation, societies, sport and volunteering.
- UKCISALife in the UK
Specialist international-student guidance on living and adapting in the UK.
- University of YorkStudent Voices
First-hand international-student stories published through a university domain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to make friends at a UK university?
Choose recurring activities with shared context: your course, one society or sport, and one weekly activity. Consistency matters more than attending many one-off events.
Should I use an app to meet other students?
A university-verified app can make introductions easier. Move first meetings to public, accountable campus spaces and follow university safety guidance.
What if I do not make close friends during Freshers’ Week?
That is normal. Friendships form at different speeds, and course groups, societies, volunteering and regular activities remain available throughout the year.