The Challenges Indian Students Face in the UK

Every year, over 100,000 Indian students arrive in the UK, often taking on hefty education loans for years to come.

They are drawn not only by education but also by vibrant cities, excellent infrastructure, shopping districts, and exposure to the UK’s cultural diversity.

Students arrive full of excitement but unsure of what to expect.

For many, the initial thrill fades quickly, replaced by the challenge of adapting to a new culture.

A fulfilling student experience requires meaningful connections, yet Indian students often struggle to find common ground.

DESIblitz spoke to several students from different cultural backgrounds to learn about their experiences, the challenges they faced, and the coping methods they discovered along the way.

Acculturation

Mental health issues affect all international students, but Indian students face unique challenges.

Research shows that one in two international students in the UK reports poor mental health.

According to the University of Winchester, factors include social isolation, cultural differences, and the underrepresentation of South Asians.

The main source of stress is “acculturation” – the process of adapting to an unfamiliar cultural, social, and academic environment.

Vishal*, who completed a master’s in Magazine Journalism at City St George’s, University of London in 2025, says his struggle was never academic. It was a constant doubt about belonging.

He says: “Throughout the duration of my master’s course, questions popped up in my mind every day in the university, after every group chat, in every joke I didn’t understand, and with every embarrassment I felt after a failed attempt to pronounce a word in an English accent.”

Cultural shocks left a lasting mark.

Vishal continues: “Was it really my fault if I had no clue who Chappell Roan was when everyone else knew?

“On another occasion, I showed up in trousers when the dress code on a casual day was ‘double denim’. Everyone must have thought I was a bore.”

Short UK master’s courses leave little time to adapt.

Vishal also found his direct manner misinterpreted as rudeness.

“That took a toll on my mental health,” he says. “The more I tried to appease, the more anxious I became.”

He recalls one mental health sign in the university toilets: “I don’t get it the same way as others”, which also pointed students to support resources.

He says: “It dawned on me that I was indeed very different. I became too self-aware, which was stressful.”

Social norms added pressure. Going to the pub, a central hub for student life, felt mandatory.

Vishal says: “If you don’t sit in the pub for hours like others, you feel left out.”

Eventually, he stopped going as he “couldn’t justify drinking regularly as a way to socialise”.

Financial Concerns

International student fees help fund UK universities, but they place a heavy burden on Indian students, many of whom rely on large loans. Financial pressure can also worsen acculturation stress.

Ahona Das, an International Journalism student, struggled with rent, bills, and groceries.

She says: “The mix of loneliness, the pressure to perform, and the financial worry was draining.”

Because she was supported by her father back in India, Ahona felt the emotional weight of every pound spent.

She admits: “Financial worry shaped my routine more than I expected.

“I thought about how every decision would affect [my father] and our budget at home, and this created an emotional pressure.”

Ahona managed stress through strict budgeting, part-time work, and family support:

“I dealt with it by keeping strict budgets, tracking my statements, and talking honestly with my family about what I needed.

“These steps helped me stay grounded and eased the weight of the situation.”

Social isolation added another layer of difficulty. Cultural reference points, from humour to conversation pace, felt alien.

She says: “Small things such as the humour, the pace of conversations, or even classroom discussions reminded me that I was operating in a different context.”

Ahona created grounding routines like walking, cooking, staying in touch with family, and bonding with friends who understood her without judgment.

She explains: “I built small routines that grounded me.

“Having two close friends who understood [me] also made a huge difference.”

Culture as a Cause for Conflict

For some Indian students in the UK, their culture can be a cause for tension, both on campus and in accommodation.

Shared student accommodation is common for international students due to accessibility and cost.

However, an assigned flatmate may create its own set of unpleasant challenges.

Oorja Akshara studies Liberal Arts at King’s College London. An extrovert, the 20-year-old initially struggled with a negative roommate.

Oorja explains: “She was very antisocial. She wouldn’t even be civil with me, like saying hi, hello or good morning.”

Her roommate’s snoring disrupted her sleep for weeks, leading to her falling ill.

Oorja says: “I wasn’t able to sleep for weeks on end. But one day I fell very, very sick. I had a 102°F fever.”

As the only South Asian or person of colour in her course, Oorja also felt socially excluded.

She reveals: “I kept thinking, is it my accent, the way I speak, the way I dress? Maybe they were influenced by stereotypes or negative images of my culture.”

The turning point came when Oorja moved out of her accommodation.

“When I left my room, I was able to invest more in my life. My health became better. I started adjusting better overall.”

Oorja joined various Indian societies at her university, which organise cultural, social, and spiritual events aimed at wellbeing.

She says: “They host a wide range of activities from weekly aarti, mehendi nights, and festival celebrations to fun social events like games nights, movie screenings, and panel talks with prominent Indian guest speakers.”

Through these communities, she found lasting friendships.

“I made a lot of friends who are still with me, who became my best friends.”

Adapting to the UK

Although there can be challenges adapting to new surroundings, some Indian students adapt smoothly.

Mehek, who studied psychology in Pune, completed her master’s in Human Resource Management at Brunel University in 2024.

She says: “It was an amazing experience. I never really felt out of place.

“I might have a more empathetic bone in me; I gel with people, I try to understand their behaviour. Perhaps it’s my interest in culture.”

Even for those who struggle, the experience builds resilience and empathy. Vishal noticed his social interactions improved by the end of his course.

Ahona managed financial and academic pressures through family support and self-discipline, while Oorja found that eliminating her primary source of anxiety allowed her to engage in cultural communities.

Cultural communities in UK universities play a key role for Indian students. They provide emotional stability, spiritual connection, networking opportunities, and career support.

Events include Holi and Diwali celebrations, Bollywood nights, Garba and Kabaddi.

These communities also offer access to mentors, volunteering roles, and academic or industry talks in culturally relevant frameworks.

For Indian students, studying in the UK is rarely just about academics. It is a complex journey of balancing financial pressures, cultural adjustment, and the search for belonging.

While some navigate these challenges with relative ease, others face isolation, prejudice, or mental health struggles.

Support systems, whether family, friends, or cultural communities, can make a tangible difference, helping students not only adapt but thrive.

Ultimately, the experience is as much about personal growth, resilience, and empathy as it is about education.

In embracing both the difficulties and opportunities, Indian students carve a space for themselves in a culture far from home, learning lessons that extend well beyond the classroom.