Challenges students face

1. Low motivation and lack of concentration - coursework, overwhelming workload, and personal issues can lead to feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
2. Homesickness and Depression - moving out and away can cause homesickness that can lead to depression from isolation which can impact the mental well-being and academic performance.
3. Time management and organization - poor management missed deadlines, increased stress levels, and overall inefficiency. Balancing coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments requires effective planning and prioritization skills.
4. Studying and Exam Anxiety - Fear of failure, perfectionism, and pressure to succeed can affect happiness and performance.
5. Distraction and procrastination - distractions such as social media, smartphones, and online entertainment, make it challenging to stay focused on academic tasks. Which can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress levels.
6. Accommodation - affects well-being and academic success. Noisy environments, long commutes, or unhygienic living conditions can affect well-being and success.
7. Subject choice - you may feel that you haven’t chosen the correct subject. Academic paths can feel overwhelming, with career prospects, personal interests, and aspirations all playing a role. Uncertainty about the chosen subject can trigger anxiety and confusion.
8. Finances - Finances can create challenges for students, impacting their ability to afford tuition, housing, and other essential expenses. Part-time jobs can add more stress as well.
9. Lack of Resources - Access to adequate resources, including textbooks, digital materials, and support services. Limited availability of resources can hinder learning outcomes and academic performance.
10. Lack of sleep from socializing - disrupt sleep patterns and negatively impact cognitive function, leading to decreased productivity and concentration during the day.
11. Loneliness - Feeling isolated or disconnected from peers and support networks can significantly impact students’ mental health and academic performance, leading to feelings of loneliness and social withdrawal.

https://www.thornsett.com/the-most-common-problems-students-face/

Challenges to international students

The University of Exeter has a student blog where they can share, this one was written by Aamina about ‘Challenges faced by international students at University – and how to overcome them’

• Finances - the UK is not cheap so you have to be careful with your money.
  • Plan your groceries and shopping in advance and always make a list. Trust me, you’ll save a ton if you buy what’s on the list. Otherwise, you run the risk of buying stuff that’ll rot in your fridge and ultimately go to waste.
  • Try one or two new foods a week. You can save money by eating local produce compared to your traditional dishes which may require imported ingredients.
  • Fresh produce in the UK may taste different than back home so don’t buy too much in case you don’t like it.
  • Check out different shops to see which one has the best price/deals – especially for international foods.
  • Don’t go shopping hungry
• Academic support service for international students - They had personal tutors and were available to help with studies, advice on communicating with professors, and tips about workload. One-to-one appointments for international students (INTO team)
• Missing home country food - Food is a source of comfort but is very hard to be away from home. Recommendations for learning recipes and finding restaurants that have home comforts.
• Navigating transport - in Exeter, the transport system is very good with trains, buses, and taxis. Google Maps is an accurate and up-to-date way of traveling.