Freshers' Week is over, lectures have started, money is tight and a group of strangers are hogging the kitchen. Starting university can feel overwhelming, but students in Sheffield have been sharing their tips on settling in.
Lola-Mae Till, now education officer at Sheffield Students' Union, remembers feeling left out and lonely in her first year. Joining a women's rugby team was her turning point, because it gave her a regular activity to look forward to and a routine. She also found that her good friends did not appear until the second semester.
Her advice is not to feel awkward about asking someone to grab a coffee or go to the library, because other students are just as nervous and value the invitation.
Source: BBC News, 10 October 2026