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Leeds University Union (LUU) is the students’ union at the University of Leeds. Simply put, a students’ union exists to represent the interests of students at a given university. They are extremely common at British universities, and popular with students across the country – they’re free to join and come with loads of benefits for students.

LUU’s mission is to help you love your time at Leeds, and this involves everything from helping you improve your educational experience, to providing advice, support, and all the fun stuff that comes with being a Leeds student. That includes your Welcome experience, as well as year-round stuff like nights out, events, and the clubs and societies that make uni so fulfilling. You can find out more about everything we offer here.

The Union is led by a team of 6 student Exec Officers who are elected by students each year. They decide the direction of the Union, run campaigns and represent you to the University and beyond. As an international student, you are represented in different areas of your University experience by all of the officers, but this year’s International and Postgraduate Officer, Vicky Zhuo, is dedicated to helping you in her role which represents both International and Postgraduate students. She studied at Leeds as an international student herself, so really understands your wants and needs. Watch the video below for an introduction to Vicky and how she can help you.

Coming to live in a new country can make you feel disoriented and upset, as you are faced with unfamiliar surroundings and a different way of life.This is often called culture shock, and can be described simply as the stress of transition. Things like a new time zone and a time difference with your friends and family back home, as well as new foods, social practices, unfamiliar sights such as lots of road traffic, and even the UK getting dark early in the winter months can cause feelings of culture shock. This blog written by an international student outlines some other things that could cause culture shock upon arriving in the UK. It’s well worth a read.

It can sometimes be difficult to recognise when you are experiencing culture shock, but it can feature feelings of confusion, isolation and low confidence, perhaps followed by anger and hostility before starting to feel more at home. These symptoms might also affect you at times you don’t expect – it won’t necessarily be as soon as you reach the UK. Check out this resource from the UK Council for International Student Affairs for a detailed model of culture shock and how you might be feeling and other useful resources, as well as this article from Tofugu for a list of other symptoms and ways to tackle them.

Academically you might also find that your university timetable here in the UK has fewer contact hours than you are used to at home. Whilst this can be challenging to adapt to, there are lots of resources to help you manage your time and get used to the new way of learning. Most UK students will also be adapting to new ways of learning, so you can lean on each other for support and know that you’re not alone. Fewer contact hours also means more time for your independent study and reading, as well as part time work or doing the things you love, like socialising and volunteering.

Whilst culture shock isn’t a good feeling, it is completely normal for people to feel this way when they move to a new country, and not a sign that you have done anything wrong. It’s also a feeling that disappears over time.

• To help reduce the shock and spend some time with people of your culture, why not see if LUU has a culture society for your country where you can meet other like-minded students, discuss relevant topics and do activities that help make you feel at home?
• Other clubs and societies are also a great way to meet new people, which can take your mind off feeling disoriented and make you new friends to get to know the city with. Embracing the situation and getting to see as much of your new surroundings as possible is the best way to understand your new home and make it feel normal, so get out there if you can.
• Make friends with other international students, whether they’re from your home country or elsewhere. They’ll understand what you’re going through and you can bounce your concerns and questions off one another.
• If it’s food you are concerned about, don’t worry. Leeds is a very diverse city with restaurants and food shops from around the world, so you’re bound to be able to find a taste of home, whether that’s eating out or cooking at home. Our top tip is to not pack any non-essential food items that you’re worried you will miss – you will be able to find them in Leeds’ shops or online in the UK.
• Use that suitcase space for special items like photographs that remind you of home instead – it will be beneficial to have familiar things around you.
• Journalling might help – why not acknowledge and write about your feelings, keep a log of your hopes and expectations, and work to make connections between the UK and your home country?
• Be patient with yourself. As we said above, culture shock can work on a different timetable for different people, so don’t put any pressure on yourself to feel ‘normal’ by a certain date. There are lots of ways we can support you, so if you’re struggling to cope then just get in touch with LUU’s Help and Support team.

It’s also very natural to feel concerned about coming to study in a language that isn’t your primary language. Almost a quarter of our students are international students, so there are many people in the same situation as you, and lots of resources to support you as you get used to speaking primarily in English.

One particular thing you might notice when you arrive in Leeds is the locals’ accent and dialect. The Yorkshire accent is quite different to the ‘Queen’s English’ (Received Pronunciation) or American English that you might have learnt, but you will quickly get used to it as you spend more time speaking to local people. You might also notice some interesting phrases that you might not have expected – for example people calling you ‘love’. This can seem strange at first, but we can assure you that it’s a normal, friendly thing for people in Yorkshire to say – don’t be alarmed!

If you are struggling with someone’s accent or don’t understand a word they have used, don’t be afraid to ask them to speak a bit slower, repeat themselves or define a word – we’re a friendly bunch and won’t mind – and it’s the best way to learn.

There are a number of more formal ways to improve your language skills too. For example:

• The Language Centre offers free workshops and consultations to help you develop your academic English language skills once you’ve started your degree.
• Register for Language Zone activities to develop your language skills independently
• Join the Language Exchange and match with another student from Leeds to share languages
• Improve your academic writing with workshops and online learning with Skills @ Library. And don’t panic – academic writing is difficult for everyone at first.

Alongside feeling a culture shock, it’s very normal for you to feel homesick if you’ve moved to Leeds from another country. We know that this can be a horrible feeling, but luckily there are lots of ways that you can fight homesickness, or avoid it completely. Unfortunately there’s no ‘one size fits all’ cure, but give some of these ideas a go and see what works for you!

• Our number one piece of advice is to keep yourself busy. LUU has more than 300 clubs and societies for you to join and meet people at, and there will be plenty of other events for you to attend, including the Fresh Start Festival. The busier you are, the less time you’ll have to think about home – and getting excited about your new life at university is a great way to minimise any feelings of sadness.
• If you’re living in University Halls, look for events and activities taking place within your accommodation, and keep yourself busy whilst making friends with those around you.
• Explore the University’s Feeling at Home in Leeds guides, which are designed specifically to help international students overcome feelings of culture shock and homesickness. These handy guides are a brilliant resource to help you settle in, and can be accessed from home on your laptop – so are a perfect option for days when you don’t feel like exploring in person.
• Get involved with Global Community activities for intercultural activities.

• Keep connected with the Leeds community online with the University’s Staying Connected resources.
• Talk to your friends about how you are feeling. You may find that they can relate to you and you can support each other, or simply sharing your feelings can be useful in making them feel not so bad.
• Keep in touch with friends and family at home, but don’t over-do it. It’s important to strike the right balance with the amount of time you spend on the phone, Skype or FaceTime – too little and you will continue to struggle, but too much and you will find yourself investing too much time and energy into your ‘old life’ and not enough settling into your new home.Take some time to find the right balance for you.
• If you are still feeling homesick and it is starting to impact your mental health, make sure to get in touch with LUU’s Help and Support team, who can help you get through it. If you prefer, you could also access the University’s Chaplaincy – find out more here.
• Follow LUU on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – search Leeds University Union or LeedsUniUnion. This way you can be the first to know about new opportunities and events which will all help connect you with new friends, keep you busy and reduce your feelings of homesickness.

It takes time to get used to life in a new country, but it is important to go at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Be open minded, enjoy the experience and you will learn and develop so much on the way – but know that there is always support available if you need it.

The University’s Welcome Guide has a special section for everything you need to know about coming to Leeds as an international student, ranging from your visa to UK healthcare. Be sure to check it out if you need practical guidance about your move to the UK. The University’s website has another dedicated section which may contain other useful information that international students might need.

One matter that might be particularly important to you is financial reimbursement for quarantine hotel costs. See the University’s update here.

If your question isn’t covered by the Welcome Guide, we’re here for you. Our Help & Support team can provide advice on anything from housing and academic appeals to helping you find your way around campus – there’s no question too big or small. The service is completely free, so contact them through the website or visit them on campus in the Union building foyer.

There are lots of great events happening for new and returning students as part of our Welcome experience. Check out what’s on for ways to have fun and make new friends.

Want to discover more of your LUU Welcome experience? Visit our Welcome to LUU webpage for events, advice and more.