Student life is an exciting chapter filled with fun, food and socialising. What makes this experience truly memorable isn’t just lectures but the sense of community that turns a house filled with strangers into a home full of friends.
These days, students moving abroad aren’t just looking for a place to sleep; they want to build a strong social network in a vibrant space that supports growth and makes all the difference to their university experience. So the next time you are on a house hunt abroad, here are a few things to remember that only social spaces can offer.
The Social Side of Student Housing
Social spaces are at the heart of student life. Joint living rooms, shared cookeries, lively gathering spots, and fitness centers aren’t simply features; they truly matter.
Building Connections
We currently live in a time where screens are seemingly valued more than in-person interactions. And that is exactly where a well-designed social space is now more important than ever.
Research confirms what universities have known for decades: students who engage in communal activities report higher levels of happiness and lower feelings of isolation.
Initiating conversations with fellow residents can be hard, but it’s the first step towards building connections. No matter how nervous you are when you arrive, start by introducing yourself and having meals with others.
At Vita, we understand food is the language every student speaks fluently. Our free weekday breakfasts and weekly cooking classes are the perfect place for you to get acquainted with your neighbours.
Making the Most of Common Areas
Common areas like communal study spaces, game rooms, dining areas, lounges, cinema rooms, gyms, as well as various outdoor spaces. These spots serve well as hubs for social interaction and for relaxation. To encourage students to utilise these spaces helps to foster a sense of belonging and improves the living experience. It also fully supports networking as well as certain friendships, and those friendships can last a lifetime.
Celebrating Culture, Diversity and Inclusivity
A student accommodation is full of residents from diverse backgrounds and cultures. People from all over the world come together under one roof, each bringing their experiences and perspectives to the table. Celebrating diversity and cultural differences promotes inclusivity and understanding.
At Vita, we celebrate every culture. You name any festival, and you will find us celebrating it with our students with complete enthusiasm and authenticity. We believe the exchange of cultures binds our residents together.
Getting Involved
The most easy thing to do as a student living abroad is to stay in your room. However, it still is a good idea to participate in some activities and different events in your building.
Active participation is the key to building connections in student accommodations. You could attend social gatherings, HIIT or Yoga sessions, cooking classes, or even a study group. You meet more people and bond over shared interests when you get involved.
Creating Community
When you speak up and voice your concerns and ideas, you engage with more people around you. Open communications encourage a supportive community environment. At Vita, we organise fitness classes, wellness retreats, craft workshops, networking events, skincare masterclasses, career talks and so on to keep our residents engaged. Such social engagement promotes communication and collaboration. Our residential team leaves no stone unturned to assist the students with settling in.
Social spaces represent a foundation of almost all student accommodation. Therefore, they are necessary for promoting friendships and encouraging networks that define the student experience abroad.
