We'll cover different things that might be causing you anxiety before or during your time at University. We'll help explain them a bit and give you tips and advice for coping with or managing anxiety.
If you couldn't find any help or advice here, then we recommend taking a look at our student support pages or getting in touch with our student support team. They're really friendly and always willing to help, even before your first day studying with us.
This is a longer article, you can use these links to find whichever topic you need:
Preparing for university
It's normal to be nervous about starting university. It's a big life change that requires a lot of thought and consideration. If you're anxious about your preparations, we've written a guide to fully prepare you for starting university.
Missing home and homesickness
For a lot of people, going to university can be the first time they're moving away from home. You might be moving three or four hours away, or moving to the UK from an entirely different country. It's completely natural to be homesick.
Feelings of homesickness can come along during your first weeks as you're still meeting new people and getting familiar with your new home. Making friends can be a big help, but also exploring your new university and city can help root you somewhere new, and help it become familiar.
Making friends
Worrying about making friends at uni is perfectly normal. There are so many opportunities to meet people that we've written a whole separate guide about it. Be sure to take a look to find a few different ways to meet people and make new friends.
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How to make friends at uni
Feeling like you belong
A common thing to feel when starting college, university and even work is feeling like you don't belong - or that you haven't earned your place. This is sometimes called 'Impostor syndrome.'
The most important thing to remember is that you do belong at University and you have very much earned your place. No matter what route you used to enter the course, you have done the work to get to the point you're at today.
In the first few weeks you might feel some of your peers know more in lectures than you do. This is normal - lots of people will have studied different subjects and curriculums on their way to university. Usually, the first year of a course is designed to get everyone on the same page, so you'll pick up everything you need to know for the following years.
I am thankful to UCLan and their inclusive support team for providing me with such a positive experience, especially since asking for help can sometimes be daunting.
Workloads, time management and academic anxiety
At university you might be dealing with workloads and deadlines that you're not used to. You might be finding your course really intense and finding yourself struggling to meet deadlines. Naturally, this could be stressing you out and making you feel anxious.
Planning is a major skill when it comes to managing your time and workloads. Our Study Support Team can help you with both planning and improving your academic skills, and we recommend getting in touch with them to discuss your specific circumstances.
It's also good to research yourself to find a method that works for you. In general, our top tips would be:
Financial anxiety
We have financial support available
Cost of living is tough for students at the moment. We've opened up a cost of living support hub to try and cover as much financial information as possible. We recommend taking a look at the hub and finding more information on anything that might be causing you anxiety.
Your Freshers' Week
There are some big expectations about what your Freshers' Week should be like and this might be making you nervous.
The truth is, your Freshers' experience is exactly what you want it to be. Ignore the perceptions people have about what you should be doing during freshers' and instead do whatever you like.
You can go out, exploring the town and its nightlife or you can stay inside with a nice book, film or game and a hot drink, getting comfortable in your new home. There is no right way to do freshers' week other than doing it exactly how you want.
Your first lectures and finding your way around university
Attending your first lectures can be a bit nerve-wracking - it's your first time in a new room, with new people and a new tutor.
It's important to remember that everyone is in that same boat - everyone is new and are likely nervous too. One big help can be to find your lecture hall or classroom a day or so before your first class and pick out a seat. On the day of your first lesson, arrive a little early so you can get your seat. Having this planned out in advance can help you manage your anxiety on the day.
Finding your way around a big campus can also be intimidating. If you're worried about being late to lectures when trying to find your way around then we have a few tips for you:
Using public transport and commuting
If you're going to be commuting to university, we have a page all about commuting. Our commuter students page has information about our local public transport networks and any student discounts you might be eligible for.
This might be your first time using a new type of public transport, and you might be a little nervous about how it all works. We've outlined some guides below on how to use public transport around our campuses.
Faith and spirituality
We have a number of faith and spirituality based facilities available for our students if you need them.
For more information you can visit our Student Oasis Faith & Spirituality Centre page. It outlines all the services and facilities we have on offer.
Professional help
We hope this article has been useful, but it's important to recognise that professional help is available if you need it.
If you ever feel like your anxieties and worries are getting too much for you then we recommend reaching out for professional help.
