From India to Kent
Varsha and Tarun both made the decision to study at Kent. We asked them to share their experiences with you on what to bring from home, living in uni accommodation, how to deal with homesickness and making friends.
Varsha and Tarun both made the decision to study at Kent. We asked them to share their experiences with you on what to bring from home, living in uni accommodation, how to deal with homesickness and making friends.
‘Before leaving home in Bangalore, I had pre-departure nerves, I’d never lived away from my family before and I was nervous about coming to Kent. Now, when I think about what I’ve achieved since arriving, I feel very proud.’
‘I felt welcome before I arrived as the uni arranged a meet-up in Mumbai with other students coming to Kent. There were about 40 of us, we exchanged numbers and some of us arranged to take the same flights, so we were able to travel to Kent together.’
Bring your spices.
Don’t bring a coat, buy one when you get here.
Bring something from home for your room.
Make the most of Welcome Week! There’s so much going on you don’t have much time to be homesick. I took part in a ‘colour run’, very similar to Holi.
Although there isn‘t a Hindu temple nearby, there are prayer spaces on campus. I‘ve made a space in my room to pray.
Go into Canterbury, it’s just a 25-minute walk away. There’s lots to explore and there are students from other unis around too, so you’ll meet different people and build up your community.
Meeting people from other cultures is fun but the Hindu Society and the Indian Society give you a little bit of home on campus – club nights with Indian music, cricket and football matches.
Try the Ancient Raj or Kashmiri Tandoori in Canterbury. Also London isn‘t far, if you go to Southall or Hounslow, you’ll get great Indian food!
Join societies, a great way to meet people and keep busy. Keep in mind all the good times and focus on enjoying your time at Kent, home will always be there.
I took my family back home on a tour of the campus via video call, that was great.
Hear from Prashant about his time and Kent and the extensive Kent alumni network in India to support students once they graduate.
Check out the website for international students, lots of advice on scholarships, study and life in general!
Visit the India page to see what qualifications you need for your course.
It‘s a whole new way of learning. You can get advice from our Skills for Academic Success team.
Feeling settled and happy will help you to excel in your studies. Our student support services are here to help with advice and initiatives such as the community garden.
