One of the major turning points in many people's lives is leaving school and commencing university life. Studying at university not only means adjusting to a new way of learning, but also a new way of living. Many students at USP travel from the various countries throughout the South Pacific region as well as internationally.  For these students in particular, there are many adjustments to make - a lively and diverse new campus environment to negotiate, new accommodation away from the familiar surroundings of home and many new people to meet. Small things, like knowing where to catch a bus, buy fresh food or go swimming, will all be part of the new experience.

Fortunately, the university is well aware of the many adjustments that you, as a new student, have to make when you first begin studying at USP. To assist you with your transition to university life, the campuses have special orientation programmes aimed at helping you adjust to being at university. In addition to the formal orientation programmes offered, you are strongly urged to talk with students who have already been at USP for a while and have had a chance to 'learn the ropes'.

While adjusting to university life can be exciting and fun, it can also be an unsettling period of confusion, particularly if you are feeling homesick and too shy to ask questions about aspects of university life you are uncertain about. The best way to overcome these feelings is to share them with other students. Your old school-friends and family may not be close by anymore, but university life offers you a wonderful opportunity to make a wide circle of new and interesting friends from all over the region and internationally. Many of these people will remain your friends and colleagues for the rest of your life.