{"id":5407,"date":"2025-09-17T18:20:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/?p=5407"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:16:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:16:28","slug":"your-first-month-as-an-idia-student-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/institute-for-diplomacy-and-international-affairs\/your-first-month-as-an-idia-student-in-london","title":{"rendered":"Your First Month as an IDIA Student in London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/Students-smiling.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/Students-smiling.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/Students-smiling-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/09\/Students-smiling-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting your postgraduate studies at IDIA is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. London is a fast-paced global city, but it will soon feel like home. To help you settle in, we asked outgoing and former students for their advice, with special thanks to Imannur Gul, the IDIA Student Rep, for her input. Below is a practical guide to your first month, with tips on travel, money, study, and where to explore.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practical information for London<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are moving to London, then having some practical tips can go a long way in helping you settle! Here are some great tips that can help you get used to our capital city<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Travel<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In your first month, get both a <strong>16\u201325 Railcard<\/strong> and a <strong>Student Oyster Card<\/strong>. Once you have them, ask a staff member at a train station to link the two. Doing this will give you a 30% discount on Oyster journeys within London, plus cheaper train tickets across the UK. Railcards also offer discounts on long-distance travel, so you can explore cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, or Manchester more affordably. Always check online for additional student discounts before buying.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find more information on travel advice on our <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.lboro.ac.uk\/pluginfile.php\/2918355\/mod_resource\/content\/1\/LUL%20Welcome%20Guide.pdf?utm_campaign=london-current-newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Welcome Guide<\/a> available through <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.lboro.ac.uk\/\">LEARN<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>City guides<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>London Block by Block is highly recommended, it divides the city into boroughs and helps you explore neighbourhoods at your own pace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Money and discounts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student discount platforms: Create accounts on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myunidays.com\/GB\/en-GB\">UNiDAYS<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.studentbeans.com\/uk\">Student Beans<\/a><\/strong>. Both offer significant discounts at caf\u00e9s, bookshops, clothing retailers, and more. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesco.com\/clubcard\/clubcard-plus?msockid=286dd7d902ed6bf40987c18c03ff6ae9\">Tesco Clubcard<\/a><\/strong>: Essential if you\u2019re shopping at the Tesco near campus, which is great for meal deals and everyday savings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Housing, welfare and health<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Finding accommodation in London:  If you need help finding accommodation in London our Student Advice team offer a free contract checking service to help you understand your rights and responsibilities when renting. It is highly recommended that you seek advice from them before you sign any contract or pay any money to a private landlord or letting agent. You can email them at <a href=\"mailto:advice@lboro.ac.uk\">advice@lboro.ac.uk<\/a>&nbsp;or call: +44 (0)1509 222765 for an appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Welfare support:<\/strong> University services are available for mental health, academic stress, or financial concerns. Don\u2019t hesitate to book an appointment <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wE8mz7iun0SQVILORFQIS6BJi5Vezs9Coi32-3OHqYtUNFhWNzdXSkE5REJXNUZYRjNKWDVYQkVWSS4u\">here. <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Health:<\/strong> Register with a local GP (doctor\u2019s practice) as soon as possible. The NHS provides free healthcare for students in the UK, though prescriptions are usually paid. For urgent issues, you can use NHS 111 online or by phone.&nbsp;If you need more information finding a GP please visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lborolondon.ac.uk\/current-students\/student-support-services\/\">students support page. <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shopping<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For your accommodation<\/strong>: Use IKEA\u2019s online delivery service for affordable and quick furniture or household essentials. Argos and Wilko (though closing some branches) are also practical for basics.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Groceries<\/strong>: London is expensive, but Lidl, Aldi, and Sainsbury\u2019s Local are budget-friendly options. Amazon Fresh frequently offers discount codes worth checking.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Food markets<\/strong>: Don\u2019t miss London\u2019s food culture. Markets such as Borough Market, Broadway Market, and Mercato Mayfair are vibrant places to eat, meet friends, and experience global cuisines.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Being a student at Loughborough London<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond all the amazing things going on in London, you are here to get a degree and here are some tips to help you get into the swing of things your academic journey off to the best start.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Studying and Academic Life<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Induction<\/strong>: Don\u2019t miss induction and the first classes. If you do, contact your module leader immediately to catch up.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Block teaching<\/strong>: This system means you focus on one module at a time. At the end of each block, reflect on what you wish you\u2019d done differently and apply those lessons to the next. You\u2019ll soon learn how to make the most of the block teaching. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Time management<\/strong>: London offers many distractions so plan your study hours carefully. Use apps like Notion or Google Calendar to balance classes, assignments, and social life.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Personal tutor<\/strong>: You\u2019ll be assigned a personal tutor who can be your first point of contact if you have any problems during your time studying at Loughborough London. They\u2019ll arrange a time to meet with you in the first few weeks. Don\u2019t miss the meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Friends and Social Life<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One great option to meet people is to look at the LSU societies, whether related to international affairs, sport, or culture. Attend IDIA and campus social events; these are excellent ways to meet other postgraduates. IDIA has several events planned for the first month. Explore London\u2019s diverse neighborhoods together such as a trip to Camden, Shoreditch, or Hampstead Heath.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A time to explore and get settled<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first month is about more than just settling into classes. Use this time to explore what London has to offer, meet people inside and outside the university, and lay the foundations for a rewarding year. London is a city of opportunity. Take advantage of it early, and you\u2019ll feel at home much faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope you found this information helpful but if you need further support please do not hesitate to reach out to our Student Services team at <a href=\"mailto:LondonStudentServices@lboro.ac.uk\">LondonStudentServices@lboro.ac.uk<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting your postgraduate studies at IDIA is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. London is a fast-paced global city, but it will soon feel like home. To help you settle in, we asked outgoing and former students for their advice, with special thanks to Imannur Gul, the IDIA Student Rep, for her input. Below is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":5408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"lboro_blog_alternative_thumbnail_image":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[152,173,8],"tags":[153,92],"class_list":["post-5407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-institute-for-diplomacy-and-international-affairs","category-life-in-london","category-students","tag-institute-for-diplomacy-and-international-affairs","tag-london"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your First Month as an IDIA Student in London - Loughborough University London<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/london\/institute-for-diplomacy-and-international-affairs\/your-first-month-as-an-idia-student-in-london\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your First Month as an IDIA Student in London - Loughborough University London\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Starting your postgraduate studies at IDIA is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience. London is a fast-paced global city, but it will soon feel like home. To help you settle in, we asked outgoing and former students for their advice, with special thanks to Imannur Gul, the IDIA Student Rep, for her input. 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