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Being an international student is fun and rewarding. You get to meet new people, learn about different cultures and share diverse perspectives.

But what if you speak a different language from your campus colleagues and you are slightly more introverted? In such a situation, developing friendships and making connections can be quite difficult.

When I came to China, I had little grasp of Mandarin, and I wasn’t very familiar with the culture. Coming from an inward culture, I felt a bit awkward about directly approaching university classmates.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

Choosing a university and navigating the application process can be daunting for international students. But many people are willing to share their experiences and make the application process go more smoothly.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

Viv Atureta is a PhD student in the University of Exeter’s maths department, working on research into how we measure and predict rainfall. Having completed her previous studies in Nigeria, she welcomed the opportunity to speak to current Exeter students about life at the university before she joined, and now does the same as a student ambassador via Times Higher Education’s Chat to Students platform.

I have always had a passion for experiencing and learning about new cultures. This is probably the reason why at school I enjoyed studying European languages, such as French and Spanish.

It was also likely the driving force behind my decision to study law at the University of Nottingham. I chose to study law with European law because I knew this would give me the option of studying a year abroad through the Erasmus programme.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with the University of Cyprus.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

The reasons to take a Duolingo English Test (DET) go way beyond the requirement of a university or employer to meet a certain standard of written and spoken language. If someone is attending a course in an English-speaking country, they will need to speak the language to manage their lives outside lessons – from opening a bank account to arranging accommodation. 

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

If students and institutions are going to have confidence in a high-stakes test, they need to be happy that it’s secure and gives an accurate indication of the abilities of the candidate.

The Duolingo English Test (DET) costs less and takes less time than many other standardised tests, while still holding test-takers to high standards when providing certification.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with the University of Sunderland.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with the Engineering and Design Institute London.

Traditionally, a typical week in the life of a university student has contained lectures. Regardless of the year, location and subject of study, lectures have been synonymous with degree qualifications. They can be a great way to communicate important information to students, and many people thrive in a lecture environment. But others struggle to absorb information in this way.