How to Deal with Homesickness While Studying Abroad?
Introduction
Let’s talk about exciting experiences. People rarely share with you that the excitement of studying abroad will not prevent you from experiencing intense homesickness while studying abroad that feels like a deep ache.
The experience of homesickness affects students who study abroad. Your departure from home forces you to leave behind your family members, your comfort foods, daily routines, familiar scents, and local conversations with friends. The experience of buying groceries in this new environment creates unfamiliar sensations which can lead to feelings of loneliness.
The positive aspect is that you face this situation alone, while homesickness exists only for a short period. The right combination of mental approach and useful methods and effective strategies will help you transform your homesickness study abroad into personal growth that will make your study abroad experience unforgettable.
The following guide presents effective methods to handle homesickness during study abroad through proven cultural strategies and mental health techniques.
The Causes of Homesickness while Studying Abroad
The experience of homesickness while studying abroad indicates your body and mind need time to adapt to new surroundings. Let’s break it down:
The cultural environment changes when you move to a new place because social rules, eating customs, and comedic expressions become unfamiliar to you.
The use of local slang and different accents creates feelings of social isolation for people who speak English fluently or the local language.
The disruption of your established routine becomes a major challenge when you move to a new location.
The physical distance between you and your family members and daily support system creates an exaggerated sense of loneliness.
The Reality of Homesickness (2024–2025 Data)
The Journal of American College Health (2024) conducted research which showed that 70% of international students experience homesickness during their initial six months of studying abroad. The majority of students experience homesickness according to research findings from 2024–2025 data.
The EdSights survey conducted through text-message AI with 300,000 U.S. studentsThe Reality of Homesickness (2024–2025 Data)
1. The Numbers Speak Volumes in fall 2023 revealed the following results:
11% of students experienced homesickness frequently
45% of students experienced occasional homesickness
International students reported homesickness at 18.6% often and 47% sometimes according to the study results.
College students across all demographics reported feeling homesick according to research findings.
2. International Students Feel It More
Research from 2024 showed that international students developed homesickness in their first week of studying abroad at a rate of nearly 70%.
Research from 2025 shows that 92% of students yearned for home comforts while 57% specifically missed sensory experiences and 74% longed for their hometown sounds.
3. The distance between your residence and campus along with your living situation affects your likelihood of homesickness
Students who lived more than 300 km from their campus experienced 58.7% of homesickness symptoms while those living under 70 km away reported only 21.1%. Students who lived alone experienced higher levels of homesickness than those who shared their residence with family members at 51.5% compared to 29.4%.
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Signs You May Be Experiencing Homesickness
The following symptoms indicate that you might be experiencing homesickness
Homesickness often develops through a subtle progression. The following signs indicate homesickness:
You find yourself constantly thinking about what life used to be like in your hometown.
You spend too much time on video calls and social media while scrolling through memories from your past.
You lose interest in both studying and exploring new places.
You experience strong desires for food and scents that bring back memories of your home.
You experience anxiety together with sadness and you feel completely alone.
The first step toward healing requires you to recognize these emotions.
Practical Tips to Handle Homesickness While Studying Abroad
1. You should maintain contact with family but establish reasonable boundaries.
Video calls and WhatsApp chats and social media platforms provide you with essential communication tools. Excessive use of these communication tools leads to increased feelings of homesickness. Schedule family video calls for weekends to maintain contact without getting lost in homesickness while studying abroad memories of the past.
2. Create a new home environment that feels like your own.
You should add personal items to your room space through photos and small mementos and home spices to create a familiar atmosphere. Preparation of family recipes will help you feel better because it brings back memories of home-cooked meals. A small taste of your homeland will bring back your positive mood instantly. The addition of comfortable lighting and your preferred musical selection will create a welcoming atmosphere.
3. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
The best way to fight homesickness study abroad is to explore your new surroundings. Student clubs and cultural fests and volunteering activities should be your first steps. Your journey toward belonging becomes shorter with each new friend you meet and each new experience you have.
4. Establish a Routine
A structured schedule creates feelings of security. Your daily routine should include specific times for waking up and exercising and eating and sleeping. Your brain will develop a sense of security when it learns to predict daily events which reduces its anxiety about unknown situations.
5. Stay Physically Active
Physical exercise naturally creates a positive impact on your mood. You can join a gym in your area or participate in yoga classes or walk during evening hours. The combination of exercise helps you meet new people while it decreases your stress levels.
6. Find Familiar Communities
International student communities in most cities maintain Indian associations together with cultural organizations and temple and community facilities. The events of cultural groups will provide you with the sense of belonging which you have been searching for.
7. Learn the Local Culture
The process of accepting new experiences will help you overcome homesickness. Your efforts to learn local expressions and taste traditional foods and participate in local celebrations will increase your confidence levels.
8. Limit Social Media Overload
Your homesickness while studying abroad will intensify when you spend time looking at Diwali celebrations and family wedding photos from back home. Devote this time to create your own unique experiences in your foreign environment.
9. Practice Self-Care & Mindfulness
Journaling and meditation and writing down things you are grateful for will help you redirect your attention toward your current situation.
10. Seek Professional Help if Needed
International students at universities can access free counseling services through their institutions. You should immediately contact professionals for help when homesickness interferes with your academic performance or mental wellness.
Cultural Hacks to Ease Homesickness
The practice of food therapy involves bringing home spices and ready-to-cook packets and tea blends to prepare meals abroad. The process of cooking these foods in a foreign environment creates a therapeutic effect.
International students can join forces to celebrate Diwali, Eid and Holi through organized events hosted by embassies and student organizations.
Traveling within your local area helps reduce indoor confinement which leads to homesickness. Use your free time to explore new places and claim the foreign land as your own territory during weekends.
Watching Bollywood movies with friends in a foreign setting creates an instant feeling of comfort.
Emotional Growth Through Homesickness
The positive aspect of homesickness study abroad is that it leads to personal development.
The experience teaches you to become more self-reliant and develop stronger resilience skills.
The experience enables you to understand your origins better while you learn to accept foreign traditions.
The friendships you form abroad develop into your new family unit because they become your support system in a foreign land.
Your homecoming experience will become more precious than ever after this experience.
Final Thoughts
The experience of homesickness during foreign study will test your limits but it will help you develop into a more capable person who adapts well to new situations. Thousands of students worldwide experience these exact emotions daily before emerging as stronger versions of themselves. The time spent away from home will pass quickly because you are actively developing yourself. I continue to develop while acquiring knowledge and establishing my new life path.
Students who want to study abroad face challenges when adapting to their new environment but Gateway International provides complete support throughout their journey. It supports students through every stage of their journey from admission to counseling services to help them establish a true sense of belonging abroad.