Name: Managing Your Wellbeing When Studying in the UK
Rating: 4.8125 (16 reviews)

Thrive in your study abroad experience

The UK is known for its world-leading universities, which are highly regarded by employers all around the world. But despite the huge benefits of the UK education, international students can face challenges along the way.

This three-week course from the British Council and Newcastle University provides tailored support and guidance for international students. From understanding British culture to accessing relevant support, you’ll get the information you need to thrive in the UK.

Understand the UK culture and education system

Moving to a new country to study can be daunting, but knowing a bit about British culture will make integrating easy.

In Week 1 of the course, you’ll be given an introduction to the UK culture and education system. You’ll hear from current international students, who’ll tell you a bit about their experience of moving to the UK.

Get tips to help you manage your mental health and wellbeing

The focus of this course is on equipping international students with practical strategies for monitoring and managing their mental health and wellbeing. Guided by mental health experts at Newcastle University, you’ll develop techniques for maintaining study-life balance, building self-esteem, and combating negative thinking.

You’ll join a support network of current and past international students, who’ll share personal experiences and specialised advice.

Learn where international students can go for help and support

In the last week of the course, you’ll discover where and how you can access the support you need as an international student. You’ll also create a wellbeing plan to help you cope during periods when you feel anxious or under pressure.

By the end of the course, you’ll be confident and ready to get stuck into studying abroad.

What topics will you cover?

The course will equip students moving to the UK to study with an understanding of:

What we mean when we talk about wellbeing and mental health
The emotional and wellbeing challenges of moving abroad
Key differences in UK culture and the UK education system
Healthy lifestyle habits that promote adaptation and good wellbeing and how to combat and tackle negative thinking
How to manage some of the challenges, including stress management and study-life balance
What support is available and how you can access it

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

describe what mental health and wellbeing are
describe the main emotional and wellbeing challenges associated with moving abroad
apply your knowledge of healthy lifestyle management to your own life
apply knowledge of your own personal values to making decisions about what to prioritise to maximise your wellbeing
apply your knowledge of the balance of routine, necessary and pleasurable activities to help you get a good study/life balance
demonstrate the ability to manage negative self-critical thoughts and grow positive thoughts
describe where you can get more help if you need it at your university

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for international students studying at higher education institutions in the UK, particularly those doing so for the first time.

Who will you learn with?

Lucy Robinson

Mma Yeebo

Ellen Marshall

Who developed the course?

British Council

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.

We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million people overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Newcastle University

A thriving international community of over 20,000 students. The university’s mission as a world-class civic university means it applies its academic excellence to real-world challenges.

GREAT Campaign

The GREAT campaign showcases all four corners of our nation to inspire the world and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in the UK.

What's included?

British Council are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

Unlimited access to this course

Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes

A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn