Starting university can bring excitement, nerves and a great deal of change all at once. A new place, new people, a different routine, more independence and pressure to enjoy every moment can feel like a lot to carry.
There is no single “right” way to settle in. Some students feel at home quickly; others need weeks or months. At Forever 19, we believe preparing for mental wellbeing deserves the same attention as accommodation, packing and course timetables.
Take the pressure off the “best years of your life”
University is often described as a time that should be exciting from the first day. That expectation can make ordinary nerves, homesickness or uncertainty feel like failure.
YoungMinds reminds students that starting university involves many changes at once and that it can be easy to imagine everyone else is coping better. Try to treat settling in as a process rather than a performance. You do not have to make your closest friends in Freshers’ Week, attend every event or have everything figured out.
Find support before you need it
Look at the university website before term starts and save the details for its wellbeing, counselling, disability and student-support services. Check whether you can contact them directly, what appointments they offer and whether there is a waiting list.
The NHS says many colleges and most universities offer free, confidential counselling. Universities may also have mental-health advisers, while tutors and student services can help students find the right route.
You do not need to wait until things become severe before asking what support is available. If you have an existing mental-health condition, disability or neurodivergent condition, contacting the university early may help you explore suitable study support or reasonable adjustments.
Register with a local GP
If you are moving away from home, register with a GP near your university. Keep a note of any medication, existing care arrangements and the contact details of services you already use.
If ongoing difficulties are affecting daily life, a GP can help discuss appropriate support. Your university wellbeing or counselling service may also be a useful first contact.
Build a routine that is realistic
A new timetable can make sleep, food, movement and study feel unpredictable. Instead of trying to create a perfect routine, choose a few anchors: getting up at a reasonably consistent time, eating regular meals, attending key sessions and making room for rest.
Sleep can be especially unsettled during a transition. Our guide to sleep and young people’s mental health includes practical ideas without turning rest into another thing to get “right”.
Make a simple money plan
Money worries can affect mental wellbeing. Before term starts, write down the essentials such as rent, food, travel, course costs and phone bills. Check what bursaries, hardship funds and student-finance support may be available.
A budget does not need to be complicated. Knowing roughly what is coming in and going out can reduce uncertainty and make it easier to ask for advice early.
Plan how you will stay connected
Talk with family or trusted friends about what contact might feel helpful. Some students want regular calls; others prefer messages and more space. Agreeing a flexible plan can prevent support from feeling like pressure.
If you are a parent or carer, ask open questions rather than focusing only on attendance, grades or whether they are “having fun”. Our article on starting a mental-health conversation with a young person offers practical ways to listen without judgement.
Expect some loneliness without accepting isolation
Being surrounded by people does not always prevent loneliness. Friendships take time, and social media can make other people’s first weeks look more settled than they really are.
Small, repeatable steps can help: attend one society meeting, speak to somebody after a lecture, join a course group or visit a familiar campus space regularly. If loneliness is continuing or affecting your mental health, speak to student support, a tutor, a GP or somebody you trust.
Know your support plan
Save important contacts in your phone and write down who you would speak to if things became difficult. This might include a family member, friend, tutor, university wellbeing service, GP or recognised support organisation.
Our Mental Health Support & Resources page brings together trusted organisations and routes to help.
For further guidance, visit YoungMinds’ guide to looking after yourself at university and the NHS information about student mental-health counselling.
If you need urgent help
If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to the nearest A&E department.
In England, if you need urgent mental-health help but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
Samaritans can be contacted free, day or night, on 116 123 if you need somebody to listen.
You are allowed to settle in at your own pace
Starting university is a meaningful step, but it does not have to look perfect. Asking questions, taking time to adjust and reaching for support are not signs that you are doing university badly. They are practical ways of looking after yourself through a major change.
Forever 19 Community Interest Company exists to encourage earlier, more honest conversations about young people’s mental health and wellbeing, so nobody feels they have to carry difficult days alone.
This article is for general information and awareness and is not medical advice. If you are concerned about your health or safety, seek appropriate professional help.
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