After completing my first year at university, I realised that my student experience is quite different from that of most people around me. Studying in the UK has placed me in a unique position: I am neither entirely a home student nor an international student. As a Channel Island student, moving to university came with additional considerations, from travel logistics and cultural adjustments to navigating different student funding and healthcare systems.
My top advice is to not let the distance put you off; you’ll quickly get used to organising travel, and many students don’t go home as frequently as you may expect because university life gets busy.
For Channel Island students especially, I think Durham offers the best of both worlds. Its collegiate system creates the same sense of community and belonging that many of us value growing up on an island, while also providing opportunities, experiences and connections that simply aren’t available at home.
If you’re considering studying at Durham University, or any UK university, as a Channel Island resident, I hope my experience and the lessons I have learnt will help make your own transition a little easier.
Choosing a university (or whether to even go!)
One challenge that is often overlooked for Channel Island students is the initial decision of whether to study in the UK at all. As a Sixth Form student, you’re effectively deciding whether to move to a different ‘country’. Alongside choosing the right course and university, you also have to think about travel costs, flight routes, proximity to airports, and even how you’ll transport everything you need across the Channel.
Choosing a university is a big deal for everyone, yet, being a whole flight away from home can make this jump into the next chapter even more difficult. If possible, I would highly recommend attempting to visit your top university. Visiting Durham helped calm many of my nerves because I could picture myself living there and imagine what my future might look like away from home.
Personally, I chose Durham after hearing positive experiences from former students and exploring the university’s online resources. If you can’t visit in person, don’t worry. Many universities provide excellent virtual tours, webinars and student blogs that offer honest insights into university life and answer questions you may not even have thought to ask.
For me, Durham stood out because it offered the perfect balance between a welcoming, close-knit city and the opportunities of a leading university. Coming from Jersey, that smaller city atmosphere made the transition to mainland life feel much less overwhelming. I would encourage other Channel Island students to think carefully about whether they would thrive in a large city or if they would prefer a smaller student community.
Adjusting to life across the channel
Almost immediately you will notice the cultural differences from island life to the bigger mainland way of living. For me that happened within my first week, through navigating a train independently for the first time, having a different student finance system to UK students, but most frustratingly having to explain over and over again where Jersey was located (and repeatedly clarifying that I am not American and do not live in New Jersey)!
As the term progressed, I noticed other differences too. Many UK students are able to visit home regularly during term time, which was something I initially found difficult. Durham doesn’t have reading weeks or half-term breaks, so once the term begins, I was usually away until the holidays. While that was challenging at first, by the end of my first year I realised how much more independent and resilient I had become, and now during the breaks I find myself missing Durham.
Here are some of the key differences I have found
Healthcare system: In Jersey, we have private healthcare with the GP costs being covered by our government, whereas in the UK they use the NHS. Upon arrival, I would recommend signing up for a local GP and registering for the NHS.
National Insurance: You will need to apply for a National Insurance number for healthcare and employment.
Student Finance: Many students in the UK have Student Finance, whereas Channel Island students can apply for respective island governments’ grants.
Packing: UK students can usually pack a car or take a train to move into halls. Going home for a weekend or a reading week is relatively cheap and simple. However, Island students must budget for flights or ferry crossings to travel between the mainland and the islands. Additionally, packing is normally restricted by airline baggage limits, and returning home involves navigating seasonal flight schedules and high holiday travel costs.
Climate: Coming from a south Channel Island to attending a North East university, I have had to adjust to a slightly cooler, wetter climate. Make sure to pack more jeans, jumpers and gloves. An exciting difference is that you are pretty much guaranteed snow at some point in the winter, which is a rarity in the Channel Islands’ winter seasons.
Diversity: UK universities are typically much larger and more diverse than the tight-knit small communities the Channel Islands have to offer, which can feel exciting but also overwhelming at first.
My Durham experience!
Personally, I travel by flight as I found it the easiest, quickest and cheapest option. In an attempt to find the best route, I have tried so many different airport destinations, including: London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
Surprisingly, I have found that taking two flights; Jersey → London Heathrow → Newcastle, is the most convenient and one of the cheapest alternatives. However, I recommend you use flight comparison sites to find the best route for the dates you wish to travel.
Additionally, I have had to rebook at least 3 flights already due to extra commitments running outside of term time – so although I recommend booking flights in advance, check with your college, sports teams and extracurriculars the dates of competitions or events to ensure you are able to attend.
With flying, you will be only able to take significantly fewer belongings to university; however, I managed to buy enough essentials once I arrived on the mainland through IKEA, B&M and Dunelm – all of which you can pre-order or get delivered to your accommodation.
During the summer, rather than transporting everything back to Jersey, I rent a storage unit in Newcastle. It’s been a much more practical and cost-effective solution between academic years.
Final thoughts
Moving from Jersey to Durham felt daunting at first, but it’s also been one of the most rewarding experiences, and despite the extra considerations that come with it, I would never change my decision!
It is normal to feel nervous, as our experiences are much different to UK students’, but everyone is welcoming, supportive and super willing to get to know you. And who knows? By the end of first year, you will probably have a group of friends already planning their summer trip to the Channel Islands to experience island life for themselves.
