Settling into the UK: A Guide for International Students

Moving to a new country can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially when adapting to a new way of life. The UK is rich in traditions, diverse cultures and unique social norms.

For international students, understanding UK manners, slang and essential aspects of daily life can make settling in a smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Understanding UK manners

One of the first things you will notice in the UK is that politeness is a BIG part of everyday life. Words like “please”, “thank you”, “sorry” are used frequently. Even if someone accidentally bumps into you, they will say “sorry”.

I have found it essential to adapt to this polite way of communication- it has certainly changed how I connect with those around me.

Here is my ‘UK manners cheat code’ when I ask for things:

Let’s suppose I’m buying a coffee:

“Hello … can I please get … a latte to take out? … Thank you so much … Take care.”

And there you go! Easy and simple, you will be served with a smile. You can use the same structure for pretty much anything else.

Queuing is another crucial aspect of manners here in the UK. Cutting in line is considered rude, so always wait for your turn. If you are at a bus stop, let people get off the bus before you get on; when waiting for a lift, make sure you don’t stand in the middle of the door, in case there is someone in the lift who needs to get off. It is very easy to accomplish all of this, all you need to do is to think about others, before thinking about yourself.

Also, punctuality is highly valued. It is a sign of respect. You can learn from my mistake - growing up in Mexico, being on time for lectures, meetings and even work was rare - everyone was always 20 minutes late. When I started lectures in the UK, I arrived in the middle of a seminar, missed so much content and was called out for being late. It was so embarrassing, so please make sure you are on time for lectures and pretty much everything else.

Familiarising with slang

Slang in the UK can be confusing. Common phrases often have different meanings. Here are some few examples to get you started:

“Cheers”:   I thought this was used when making a toast; but it is also used when someone is thanking you for doing something, especially something they already expected you to do. For example, you are opening a door and you hold it for the person coming in or behind you. They will say “cheers”. They are thanking you for holding the door for them, even though they already expected you to do it, since not holding the door for them is considered rude.

“Mate”: A friendly way to refer to a friend, similar to “buddy” or “pal”.

“Knackered”: When you are feeling beyond exhausted or tired.

“Chuffed”: When you are really pleased or happy with something.

“Fancy”: If you like something or someone, you say you “fancy” it.

“Dodgy”: Something or someone that seems suspicious or low quality.

“Nicked”: Something got stolen or caught by the police.

“Ta”: A shortened form of ‘thank you’.

UK cuisine

No introduction to UK life is complete without trying some of the iconic dishes. Here are the must-try options:

• Fish and Chips: Classic takeaway, you can have it with peas and tartar sauce.
• Full English Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, tomatoes, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms and toast, make this breakfast a must on your list.
• Sunday roast: Served on special occasions or on Sundays, a roast consists of a roasted meat, potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, vegetables and gravy. There are many places in Aberystwyth where you can try this UK essential meal.
• Shepherd’s pie: Minced lamb, covered with mashed potatoes - perfect for a cold and rainy day.
• Sausage roll: In my opinion, the go-to breakfast for students - cheap and filling.
• Bacon bap/ bun/ roll: A bacon bap has different ways of being named, but it is the same. Just bacon inside a bread roll. You can add brown or tomato sauce.

Settling into the UK as an international student is a journey of exploration and learning. There are so many things to find out about this wonderful part of the world, from music, celebrities and movies, make sure to discover all of them if you can. 

It may not be like home, but remember… that is the point! You are an adventurer, discovering a new part of the world, so it is okay if somethings don’t make sense. Take it all one day at the time- and enjoy it.

Unless otherwise stated, the views contained within these blogs are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Aberystwyth University.