International Students
Hello and Welcome to Student Wellbeing Services.
Studying in the UK is a very rewarding experience and can provide you with the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet new people, forge new friendships and improve your English skills.
However we recognise that it may also be a challenging time and there may be some things that you may struggle with such as:
- missing home, friends and family
- adapting to new teaching styles
- making new friends
- meeting people in the local community
- finances
If you are finding any of the above difficult we would encourage you to participate in the many activities available through the university and we would like to reassure you that we can help.
Adapting to new teaching styles
You may experience a change in teaching style where you are encouraged to enter into debates with your tutor, this is a commonly used teaching style in the UK and may be difficult to adjust to but the idea is that it promotes independent thinking. If you have concerns please speak to your Personal Tutor.
Often, international students are used to receiving very high marks for their work (e.g. over 70%). In the UK you will often receive marks between 40-60%. In the UK anything above 60% is considered to be a very good mark and getting a mark of above 70% is very unusual and is considered to be an exceptional mark. With this in mind, please do not be disappointed if you receive lower marks than when you have been studying abroad as this is very normal. Please also note tutors often write feedback in red pen, this is not meant to cause offence. If however you do have any concerns regarding your marks please speak to your personal tutor.
Meet New People
There are many ways to make new friends and interact with the local community.
- HOST - why not spend a day or a weekend with a UK resident
- SCAN (Student Community Action Group) - meet new people and make a difference in the community
- Newcastle University Sport- get fit and have fun by joining in one the many exercise classes
- Student Union - join one of the many societies, give it a go or take part in the culture challenge
- Chaplaincy - For all faiths or none, with regular events ranging from trips to a traditional Christmas Lunch
Financial Support and Assistance
The University recognizes that studying overseas is a major undertaking, both personally and financially, and aims to assist international students who require financial assistance with scholarships and awards. The following pages provide information on funding your studies and the variety of opportunities that are available for your course at Newcastle, depending on whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student applying or presently studying at Newcastle.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/finance/funding/nonukstudents/
Health Care
We know it is often difficult for international students to understand how the health system works in the UK, our guide to the Medical Services for International Students (PDF: 585KB) will help you to understand the wide variety of services available.
Support for International Students with a Disability
If you have a sensory or physical impairment or medical condition/long term illness, you can find further information here.
Need to Talk to Someone
To get the most from your time with Newcastle University and in the UK it is important that you are happy and healthy. However, it is not uncommon to feel sad and lonely when you are away from your home, friends and family especially if this is the first time you have experienced living independently. At times like this you may feel that you need to talk to your family or friends, but you may not want to worry them, or you may feel ashamed that you are not coping or worried that you will disappoint them. You may struggle in some of the following areas:
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Mood Changes, depression, anger, irritability
- Loss of identity
- Lack of Confidence
- Isolation
In the UK it is not unusual to go and talk to a therapist for help if you are struggling emotionally or psychologically. We want to reassure you that Student Wellbeing Services are able to offer support to you. All of our therapists are qualified and experienced in working with international students and understand some of the cultural issues that students experience. The service is used by home and international students and is truly confidential. We do not inform anyone that you have attended the service, this includes staff from your course, and notes are not added to your school records.
So why not make an appointment.
We do hope that you are enjoying your experience in the UK and this information is not meant to scare you but to reassure you that if you need help it is available...just ask.
