Moving to university is an exciting experience, but that doesn’t mean it always feels easy. Between getting used to a new city, starting your course and finding your feet living independently, there can be moments when you wish you were back home.

You might miss family dinners, catching up with old friends, your favourite home-cooked meals or even just having your pets around. And while university brings plenty of new experiences, it’s perfectly normal to miss the familiar things too.

If you’re finding the adjustment a little difficult, there are plenty of ways to make your new surroundings feel more comfortable. Here are some ideas to help you settle into university life and start making Leicester feel like home.

1. Make Your Studio Your Own

One of the best things about living in a studio is having your own space to make exactly how you like it.

When you’re missing home, having somewhere comfortable to return to can make a real difference. Add some photographs, decorate with your favourite colours, bring a cosy blanket or put up some prints that remind you of home.

You could even recreate a little corner of your bedroom, whether that’s your favourite reading spot or somewhere to unwind after a busy day.

Your studio at St George’s Tower is your own personal space, so take the time to make it somewhere you genuinely enjoy spending time.

2. Find Your Favourite Spots in Leicester

A new city can feel unfamiliar at first, but the more you explore, the more comfortable it becomes.

Spend some time getting to know Leicester outside of your university campus. Find a coffee shop you love, discover a new lunch spot or take a walk through one of the city’s parks.

You could explore the shops and restaurants around the city centre, visit Leicester Cathedral or spend an afternoon at Abbey Park.

Try making a list of places you’d like to visit and tick them off as you go. Before long, you’ll have your own favourite places and little routines that make Leicester feel much more familiar.

3. Keep Your Favourite Home Traditions

Just because you’ve moved away doesn’t mean you have to leave all your favourite traditions behind.

Maybe you have a particular Sunday breakfast, a weekly film night or a favourite recipe that reminds you of home. There’s no reason you can’t bring these little traditions into your university routine.

Having something familiar to look forward to can make your week feel a little more comforting, especially when everything else feels new.

4. Stay Connected With Friends and Family

Being at university doesn’t mean losing touch with the people who matter most.

Make time for phone calls, FaceTimes and messages with your friends and family. You could arrange a regular catch-up or plan a weekend visit when your schedule allows.

It can also be lovely to share little parts of your university experience with people at home. Send them pictures of somewhere you’ve explored, tell them about your course or show them how you’ve decorated your studio.

Just remember that staying connected doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time looking back. It’s about finding a balance between your life at home and the new experiences you’re making for yourself.

5. Find Your People

Living independently doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone.

University is a great opportunity to meet people who are going through similar experiences, even if making the first move feels a little daunting.

Consider joining a university society, attending a campus event or getting involved in activities that interest you. You could also arrange to meet someone from your course for coffee or suggest exploring the city together.

Friendships don’t happen overnight, so don’t put pressure on yourself to find your closest friends straight away. Sometimes the smallest conversations can be the beginning of something great.

6. Get Comfortable With Independent Living

For many students, university is the first time they’ve had to manage their own day-to-day routine.

From planning meals and doing laundry to keeping on top of your studies, there’s quite a lot to get used to.

Try creating a routine that works around your lectures and social plans. Having regular times for cooking, cleaning, studying and relaxing can make independent living feel much less overwhelming.

And don’t worry if you don’t get everything right straight away. Learning to look after yourself is all part of the university experience.

7. Give Yourself Things to Look Forward To

Sometimes, when you’re missing home, it helps to have something exciting on the horizon.

This doesn’t have to be anything particularly big. It could be trying a new restaurant, going to a society event, planning a day out with a friend or booking your next trip home.

Having little things planned throughout the month can give you something positive to focus on and help you make the most of your time at university.

8. Don’t Put Pressure on Yourself to Have It All Figured Out

It’s easy to look at other students and assume they’re all having the best time, making loads of friends and loving every minute of university.

But everyone’s experience is different, and you never really know how someone else is feeling.

You might settle in within a few days, or it could take a few months before everything starts to feel familiar. Neither is wrong.

Give yourself permission to have quieter days, take breaks when you need them and enjoy university at your own pace. You don’t need to say yes to every invitation or fill every spare moment with plans.

9. Know Where to Find Support

If homesickness is starting to affect your day-to-day life, remember that you don’t have to work through it by yourself.

Your university will have student support services that can offer advice and guidance, whether you’re struggling with the transition to university, feeling lonely or finding independent living difficult.

You could also speak to a friend, family member or someone you trust. Sometimes talking about how you’re feeling is a helpful first step.

There’s no shame in asking for a little extra support while you adjust to a new chapter of your life.

Making Leicester Your Home Away From Home

Moving to university is about much more than starting a degree. It’s about discovering a new city, becoming more independent and finding your feet somewhere completely different.

There will be days when you miss home, and that’s okay. You don’t have to stop loving where you came from to enjoy where you are now.

Take the time to make your studio feel like yours, explore everything Leicester has to offer and enjoy the little moments along the way.

Before you know it, the coffee shop you visit every week, your favourite walk through the city and the comfort of coming back to your own studio might become some of the things you love most about university life.