A PhD Doesn’t Have to be Lonely – Settling in as an International Postgraduate

Considering studying abroad for your PhD, but concerned about the experience of settling into a new country whilst getting to grips with a doctorate? Anh Hoang Le reflects on his experience as a globetrotting postgraduate and offers some encouragement for others.

Everyone in my family knows I’m a socially awkward person. I grew up as a nonchalant boy, focussed on my studies: comfortable in my own bubble, but too shy to even talk to anyone else outside the family.

Who would think such a person like me could one day leave the country to pursue a doctorate on the other side of the globe?

Before my PhD, I spent a year at college in London. A typical daily ritual of mine involved going to class in the morning, getting dinner in the cafeteria and going back to my room.

I didn’t know what Big Ben looked like and even mistook the House of Parliament for Buckingham Palace (true story). I had no friends. Sometimes, when I think back on those days, I wonder how I survived this repetitive life.

Things got better, however.

My time at university as an undergraduate was the best time of my life. I considered myself to be fortunate enough to share a house with very friendly and talkative housemates. We had this instant connection that made us bond together so easily and effortlessly. I was happy.

The university life was not forever. And when it ended, I was very sad.

It can be difficult for anyone to become distant from people you were previously connected to. For me, this was made harder as my previous anxiety about meeting new people and making friends came back and haunted me.

The transition from undergraduate study into my PhD was tough. I worried that I would be left out and isolated. Would I have the courage to meet new people and to bring back the beautiful social life I had before?

Would it be creepy if I just randomly contacted other doctoral students or people from my new lab? I worried as much. In fact, I wrote and deleted several messages that I planned to send to people. This ongoing uncertainty began after my PhD interview and lasted until I started my course.

During the summer vacation, I began an internship in Singapore. I was excited, but also worried.

This would mean I would be starting a whole month later than other students in my PhD year-group. It may not sound serious to you, but to me, it was a whole different story.

For that whole month in Singapore, my only thought was that I would be the odd one out when I eventually started my doctorate. Other students would be best friends with each other already and there would be no way for me to fit in.

Or so I thought.

The first day of my PhD was kind of awkward. I didn’t know anyone and everyone else seemed to know each other very well.

They talked. They joked around. They shared stories. Meanwhile, I was just sitting there, listening and wondering: ‘Is this how my social life is going to be?’

But, as you’ll know if you read my first blog, things got better.

I burst my awkward bubble: the bubble that I once thought would protect me from the crazy madness of the outside world. I made friends, again!

I spoke to people and shared things with them. I talked with them like I used to talk with the best friends as an undergraduate. I felt like I could truly express myself once again. And I have a great group of friends to do that with.

That hasn’t just meant chatting in the laboratory and discussing research, either.

I’ve taken part in a variety of activities, all of which have helped me settle into my new city and find my feet as a PhD student – from taking part in a pub quiz (we won third prize) to socialising at a friend’s flat and taking part in birthday celebrations (including my own).

The three months or so since my first blog haven’t just been productive for my PhD: they’ve also been a chance to find my place as a researcher.

To some of you, this may sound unremarkable. But, as a relatively shy international student, making their way into PhD study, these experiences have really mattered to me.

It is a great feeling knowing I can trust and relax around my fellow students, despite being thousands of miles away from home.

So, if you’re concerned about starting a PhD at a new university, with a new group of people, you may not need to be. Instead let me reassure you: doing a PhD doesn’t need to be lonely and postgraduate research isn’t just about getting your experiments done.

A PhD is a big challenge, but, socially, I feel like I’m reliving some of the best parts of my undergraduate degree.

Finally, I want to dedicate this post to every person in Laura’s, Robert’s and Dave’s lab and to all of my old friends from Bristol and to my new friends in Glasgow.

Editor's note:This post was originally published on 03/05/2017. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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