By ECE OZDEMIR
Starting university is often described as a symbol of independence, discovery and new beginnings. However, there’s a less discussed aspect of this transition: homesickness. This feeling isn’t limited to international students; it affects a wide range of people, from those studying in the same city to those moving miles away. The excitement of the university experience and the emotional emptiness of leaving home are often experienced simultaneously.
While homesickness is often perceived as a simple feeling of longing, it is actually closely related to identity and belonging. Starting university is not just a physical relocation, but also a change in social environment, routines, and support systems. The interruption of daily interaction with family, the breaking of childhood habits, and the necessity of establishing a new social environment can create a feeling of uncertainty in the student. The loss of the familiar, combined with the fact that the new has not yet settled in, creates an emotional void.
This feeling becomes particularly pronounced during the first few months of university. Common experiences include the silence of the dorm room, feeling lonely amidst the crowds on campus, the desire to return home on weekends, or remembering small details from home. Seemingly ordinary elements like home-cooked meals, family conversations or old friends become powerful emotional references when one leaves them.
As the student tries to adjust to their new life, their mind constantly compares it to the feeling of “being at home.”
Homesickness also has effects on academic and social adjustment. Students experiencing homesickness may suffer from decreased motivation, difficulty concentrating, or social withdrawal. While forming new friendships requires energy, the feeling of homesickness can make an individual withdrawn.
Some students tend to go home frequently, while others try to completely cut ties by suppressing their feelings. Both extremes can prolong the adjustment process; because healthy adaptation requires both maintaining past relationships and forming new ones.
Societal narratives often downplay homesickness. Phrases like “you’ll get used to it,” “everyone lives with it,” and “you need to be independent” diminish the legitimacy of the feeling.
However, homesickness is a developmental transitional response. It can also be seen as an indicator of the capacity for bonding; a person feels homesickness because they are separated from meaningful relationships.
In this respect, homesickness is not a weakness, but a natural emotional process reflecting the value of connections.
To help universities and students manage this process more effectively, normalizing homesickness is crucial. Maintaining regular communication and not completely cutting off contact with family and old friends facilitates adjustment.
Simultaneously, establishing new routines, participating in activities that foster a sense of belonging on campus, and personalizing living spaces support psychological adjustment. Building a bridge between home and new life, rather than a sharp break, softens the transition process.