What to do when you feel homesick

There are lots of reasons you might feel homesick at university. You may be:

• adjusting to cultural differences, especially if you're studying abroad
• away from your usual routines and comforts
• feeling isolated in a new environment
• missing your family and friends
• struggling with coursework or academic pressure.

In fact, a survey by the National Union of Students found that 70% of students experience homesickness at some point during their university journey.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to start feeling more at home in your new surroundings. With time, support and a few practical strategies, university can gradually start to feel more like home.

Recognise that homesickness is normal

Homesickness is more than simply missing home.

Ruki Heritage, director of student experience at the University of Bedfordshire, points out that there's no single way to experience it. 'Homesickness can look different for everyone. Some students may feel sad, anxious or lonely, while others might struggle to sleep, find it difficult to concentrate or lose motivation to attend lectures and seminars, and social activities.'

Other common signs include:

• changes in your eating habits
• feeling tearful or overwhelmed
• physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach issues related to stress
• struggling to establish routines
• withdrawing socially.

For Manisha Kumari, a Masters student at the University of Bedfordshire, adjusting to a new environment ultimately helped her become more independent. 'Moving to a completely different environment can be very emotionally challenging. But with the passage of time, I learned to adjust and it made me much more independent.'

You might also find yourself getting in touch with home more often or comparing university life with what you're used to at home. Recognising these feelings can help you start managing them.

As Ruki stresses, 'it's important to remember that experiencing homesickness doesn't mean you're not suited to university life.'

Stay connected with loved ones

Keeping in touch with the people you care about can make being away from home easier, while still giving you space to establish your new life.

'Calls or messages can help you feel connected, while making time to explore your new surroundings and get involved in university life helps you build a sense of belonging,' advises Ruki.

Manisha found this balance useful. 'I tried to stay connected with my family while studying, meeting new people and exploring new opportunities because moving towards a new life does not mean forgetting home.'

If you're planning to visit home, find a balance that works for you. Spending time with loved ones can give you a welcome boost, so don't feel guilty about going back when you need to.

However, if missing home is stopping you from getting involved in university life, set yourself small goals between visits. You could:

• explore somewhere new
• have lunch with a coursemate
• stay on campus for an activity.

You may notice that homesickness feels stronger after holidays such as Christmas, Easter or summer, after you've spent an extended period at home. For most students, these feelings fade within a few weeks.

Give yourself space to explore, meet people and establish new routines without expecting everything to fall into place immediately. In Ruki's words, 'you don't have to do everything at once or work everything out on your own. Give yourself permission to settle in at your own pace.'

Create a comfortable living space

Making your university room feel familiar can improve your sense of comfort and security.

Ruki recommends combining familiar surroundings with activities that support your wellbeing 'make your room feel familiar with photographs or favourite belongings, get outside, stay active and talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling.'

Photos of family and friends can make your new space feel more like home, while a familiar scentcan help create a welcoming atmosphere. Soft textures such as a blanket, pillow or throw can add warmth, while a playlist that reminds you of home may help you relax.

Creating somewhere that feels calm and personal gives you a space to recharge while you adjust to your new surroundings.

Explore our essential guide on what to take to university.

Embrace new experiences

It's easy to compare your experience with everyone else's, particularly during the first few weeks. However, Ruki cautions that appearances can be misleading. 'In the early weeks, it can seem as though everyone else has found their people and is having the perfect university experience, but what we see on the surface doesn't always reflect how someone is really feeling.'

'Many students are experiencing similar uncertainties, even if they don't show it,' she adds.

Manisha experienced something similar. 'One of the biggest challenges for me was to adjusting to a new environment and meeting new people from different backgrounds. Everything felt so unique at first.'

Small interactions can make a difference. 'By talking to classmates, taking part in different activities and being open to conversations with new people, I realised that even small talk can be the beginning of friendship,' recalls Manisha.

There's evidence that social connection can benefit your wellbeing too. A 2026 study of nearly 80,000 students by The Independent found that spending face-to-face time with others was the strongest predictor of mental wellbeing. Interestingly, students who spent more time on responsibilities such as paid work and family commitments also tended to report greater wellbeing.

Don't put pressure on yourself to immediately find a close group of friends, though. Focus instead on doing things you enjoy and creating opportunities to make connections.

There are plenty of simple ways to put this into practice. Ruki suggests that you:

• introduce yourself to someone on your course
• invite a flatmate for a coffee
• join a society, sports club, volunteering group or regular campus activity
• sit next to someone new in a lecture.

If you're an international student, cultural and international societies can offer another way to meet people. Manisha encourages you to 'join different activities that involve different people and talk with them about their backgrounds to get to know about new cultures and to know each other.'

Connecting with people who share your background can also provide familiarity, help tackle feelings of imposter syndrome and build a sense of community while you adjust to university life.

You can experience a sense of homesickness even if you haven't physically moved away from home. If you commute to university or continue to live with family, you might miss the familiarity of your school or college routine or find it harder to feel part of campus life.

Try:

• arranging to study with coursemates
• joining a society
• spending time on campus between lectures.

Remember that you don't need a huge social circle. As Ruki puts it, 'meaningful connections take time, and one or two good friendships can make a real difference.'

Discover the importance of extra-curricular activities.

Seek support when needed

You don't need to wait until homesickness becomes overwhelming before asking for help.

'Consider seeking support if homesickness is persistent, feels overwhelming or begins to affect your studies, sleep, appetite, relationships or ability to take part in everyday activities,' says Ruki.

Asking for support doesn't mean you've failed to cope. 'If homesickness is affecting your wellbeing, reaching out is a positive step. You don't have to face everything on your own, and you certainly don't need to have the right words to explain how you're feeling,' Ruki adds.

If you're nervous about starting the conversation, remember that you don't need to know exactly what to say. You could speak to:

• a trusted member of university staff
• your personal tutor
• your student support or wellbeing team.

'Support isn't only there for students in crisis; it can also help them navigate the everyday challenges of settling in,' explains Ruki.

Your university's wellbeing services may also be able to help you with:

• arranging regular check-ins, particularly during your first few weeks
• combatting stress
• establishing routines
• managing your time.

Peer mentoring programmes can also give you the chance to speak to other students who understand what you're experiencing.

If you need support beyond your university, organisations such as Nightline and Student Minds provide student-run listening services. Your GP or a mental health professional can also help if homesickness is seriously affecting your wellbeing.

Practice self-care

When everything around you feels new, a familiar routine can give your days some structure.

As Ruki highlights, 'routines can make a real difference because they provide a sense of structure and familiarity when everything else feels new.' Try building your day around the basics 'simple habits, such as getting up at a consistent time, eating regular meals, attending lectures and setting aside time to relax, can help students feel more grounded,' she adds.

Taking care of your physical and mental health can make it easier to adjust to university life. Start by making sure you're:

• eating balanced meals
• getting enough sleep
• staying active.

You don't need to follow a rigid schedule. 'Your routine doesn't need to be perfect; the aim is to create a healthy rhythm that helps you feel more settled,' Ruki says.

You could also try mindfulness, meditation or relaxation techniques to manage stress and anxiety. Many universities run workshops or provide online resources on self-care and stress management, while apps such as Calm and Headspace offer guided mindfulness sessions.

Having something enjoyable in your diary can help too, whether that's:

• calling home
• going to a society event
• meeting a friend for coffee.

It can be tempting to withdraw, skip lectures and seminars or rely on alcohol to cope in social situations, but these habits can make homesickness harder to manage in the long term. Instead, try to maintain your routine and connect with other people, even if taking that first step feels uncomfortable.

Be patient with yourself

'There is no set timeline for feeling settled, so try not to put pressure on yourself to have everything figured out in the first few weeks,' says Ruki.

If you experience homesickness later in the term, it doesn't mean you've gone backwards or failed to settle in. Give yourself time to:

• plan activities that reconnect you with university life
• readjust
• return to familiar routines.

Many students later realise that learning to manage homesickness is one of the many life skills you can develop at university, helping you become more independent, resilient and confident when facing new challenges.

Looking back, Manisha wishes she'd known this before starting university. 'I wish I could know that sett Looking back, Manisha wishes she'd known that adjusting to university doesn't happen overnight. 'I wish I'd known that settling into a new life takes time and that it's completely normal to miss home. You don't need to sort everything out straight away because, with time, things get easier.'

If homesickness returns, remember that settling in isn't always a straight line. You can have good days and difficult ones without losing the progress you've made.

'Focus on small steps, celebrate the progress you make and remember that building a sense of belonging can take time,' Ruki advises.

What to do when homesickness feels overwhelming

Try to:

• Do something familiar - cook a favourite meal, watch a comfort programme or listen to music that reminds you of home.
• Get out of your room - take a short walk, visit the library or spend time in a shared space, even if you don't feel like socialising.
• Make a simple plan - choose one manageable thing to do that day, such as attending a lecture, preparing a meal, or going to the gym.
• Reach out to someone - send a message to a friend or arrange a call with family.

Find out more

• Check out 10 things to do before starting university.
• Explore our advice on changing or leaving your course.
• Discover how to make the most out of freshers' week.