How to navigate the new social world of university life – no matter your background

One of the exciting things about starting university or college is being plunged into a huge community of new people. But it can be a culture shock – you likely shared similar backgrounds with most people at school. But you might now find it hard to relate to new peers. It’s an environment that puts class in the spotlight and contributes to poorer mental health in low-income students.

Impact on student well-being

“We know that many students have to cut spending even on basic necessities,” a spokesperson for charity Student Minds told Big Issue. “This can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The growing wealth gap means poorest students miss out, while the wealthiest get a well-rounded ‘university experience’.”

It’s not just tangible things like involvement in activities. It can also impact students’ confidence or sense of belonging.

Laura’s Story

Laura Smith studied history in her home city at the University of Edinburgh, starting in 2012. Her application was supported by LEAPS (Lothian Equal Access Programme for Schools) as the first in her family to go into higher education.

“I found I was misheard in tutorials by people with ‘posh’ accents,” Smith said. “I was in awe of how well-spoken, confident, sociable and clever everyone around me was. I felt like none of those things.

“Everyone had Apple Macs so I saved and spent a small fortune on one – it was ‘only’ an Apple Air. I had the maximum student loan to live off as my £5.50-per-hour job at McDonald’s didn’t cut it. I was often tired and stressed from juggling both.”

Smith developed anxiety and almost dropped out. But after contacting the student counselling service, sessions with a counsellor helped her turn things around. She became a peer support volunteer, helping first- and second-year students find their feet. Money worries were an issue for most people she supported.

Financial barriers to higher education

People from low-income families are less likely to go to university, largely because those “from working-class backgrounds are the most debt-averse”, a spokesperson for the National Union of Students said. “The average student is left with 50p per week of their loan after housing costs [according to 2023 research by Unipol].”

Rory’s Experience

When Rory Buccheri went to the University of Aberdeen “it was a shock to see how different people my age lived a different lifestyle,” they said. Things as simple as going for spur-of-the-moment meals were isolating. “If somebody suggested a night out, I’d want to know exactly what that entailed before I could commit to it.” Being without the cash for field trips and societies “cut off [my] social network”.

But with time they found friends in similar circumstances who shared their values. “My class position may have created bumps in the road, but I know now that this gave me tools to tackle adult life in a way that others are only faced with later.”

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