In celebration of International Students’ Day on 17 November, we’re spotlighting five stand-out ways UK universities are enhancing the experience of international students. From innovative programmes to dedicated support services, these initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to making international students feel welcomed, supported and set up for success in their academic journey.
The University of Sheffield, one of the original universities behind the #WeAreInternational campaign, offers a comprehensive Welcome to Sheffield section on their website, designed to support students prior to their arrival. The hub includes inspiring stories from current students, live online events, regional events, groups for new arrivals and a range of support sections. It also provides opportunities for prospective students to connect with current students, helping them feel prepared and supported as they transition to university life.
The University of Edinburgh’s dedicated international office offers a peer mentoring programme where trained student mentors provide informal, ongoing support to new international students. Mentors meet with students around every two weeks during the first semesters to discuss academic, social, financial and personal topics, offering advice and guiding students to appropriate university resources. The programme has a longstanding success rate and aims to ease the transition for newcomers, helping them to connect, gain confidence and manage key challenges of university life.
The Global Buddies scheme aims to connect international students with current students to help them adjust to life in the UK. Through regular social events and one-on-one support, the programme aims to build friendships and provide a welcoming environment for new international students.
HOST UK connects international students with volunteer hosts across the UK, offering them the chance to experience British culture through short visits to local homes. Thanks to a partnership with the University of Leeds, students can immerse themselves in a welcoming environment, build friendships with locals and gain deeper cultural insights, often during weekends or holiday breaks.
The International Welcome Programme includes a variety of events to help international students settle in. This includes an orientation day, social activities and information sessions on practical topics like visa support, banking and culture. Students can also participate in guided tours of the city, networking events and meet-ups designed to introduce them to the Imperial community.
We’d love to hear how your institution is celebrating International Students Day! Share your initiatives on social media using the hashtag #InternationalStudentsDay.