Starting uni? Here’s what nobody tells you (and where to find help)

The SOAS Student Advice and Wellbeing team are here to offer some tips on how to settle into university life and get the support you need.

Starting university can feel exciting, lonely, overwhelming and freeing - sometimes all in the same day. Here are some truths that might make it feel a little less confusing.

It's not all about academia

Your degree is only one part of the picture. University is a chance to try new things, work out what matters to you and start shaping your future, and a lot of the help for that is already included in being a student.

• Wellbeing: The counselling and mental health team offers one-to-one sessions, groups and workshops, online and in person. The therapists work in a trauma-informed way and draw on a range of approaches, so you don't have to be in crisis to get in touch.
• Careers: The Careers Service runs short guidance appointments, CV and application feedback, and practice interviews. You don't need a career plan or a polished CV to walk in. Confusion is a fine starting point.
• Advocacy and community: The Students' Union runs an independent, free advice service and supports student societies and sports clubs, so it's a good place to find your people or campaign for something you care about.
• Faith and reflection: The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy offers pastoral and spiritual support to students of all faiths and none.

Group chats can be awkward

Course chats, halls chats and society chats can feel like walking into a party where everyone already knows each other. Chances are that several of the silent people are also drafting and deleting the same "hi!" A simple message, a reply to someone's question or a suggestion to grab a coffee after a seminar is usually enough to get a connection going.

Support doesn't mean failure

Even students who seem completely sorted have wobbly days. Asking for support isn't a sign you can't cope. It's a practical step, like using the library or asking a lecturer to clarify a reading. The Student Advice and Wellbeing team exists to help every student get through their course successfully. Their services are confidential, and they cover far more than mental health, including:

• Finance, funding and immigration advice
• Disability and neurodiversity support, including study adjustments, exam arrangements and help applying for Disabled Students' Allowance
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Multi-faith chaplaincy

The future can feel uncertain, but you don't have to work it out alone.

What actually helps

• Build systems for success. A shared calendar, a deadline tracker or a weekly plan can take pressure off your brain. Student support can help you find strategies that suit how you work, and specialist learning advisers are available for students with learning differences.
• Know your key contacts. University systems can feel like a maze. Save the details for your personal tutor, the Student Information Desk and the wellbeing team in your phone now, so you're not searching for them on a bad day.
• Find a little routine. When everything is new, small anchors like a regular breakfast, a set study slot or a weekly walk make life feel more manageable.
• Keep in touch. Call, message or video the people who know you best. New friendships matter, and so do the old ones.
• Rest without guilt. You can't pour from an empty cup. Look ahead to your heavier deadline weeks and plan breaks around them, rather than waiting until you're exhausted.
• Ask for help early. It's much easier to get support when things feel wobbly than when they've become a crisis. Out of hours, SOAS has a Student Assistance Programme, and in an emergency you should always call 999. For urgent but non-life-threatening health concerns, NHS 111 can help.

You're not doing this alone

Nobody expects you to arrive knowing exactly who you are, what you want or how everything works. The first weeks are for finding your feet, and it's fine if that's messy. Some days you'll feel like you belong and others you'll wonder what you're doing, and both are part of settling in.

Whatever you're facing, whether it's a small question, a tricky conversation or something heavier, the Student Advice and Wellbeing team is ready to support you throughout your time at SOAS. Their help is confidential and free, and you don't need a "big enough" reason to ask. Keep an eye on your inbox for their newsletter with upcoming events and workshops.

So send that first message in the group chat, put a few key contacts in your phone and give yourself permission to rest. There are plenty of people who want to help you along the way.