Studying abroad was always on the horizon for me. But deciding on London took a while.
I’d heard London is expensive. For a long time, I kept going back and forth. Eventually I started applying to universities and by that point, a lot of them had already closed their applications.
Then I came across the University of Greenwich.
Why London
The campus is beautiful and the psychology course is exactly what I was looking for. So I went for it.
Getting my offer was one of those moments I will never forget. I found out on my 18th birthday. I remember feeling like an adult and a teenager at the exact same time. The thoughts racing through my mind were like, “Yes, I’m technically an officially grown up but also oh my gosh, this is actually happening.”
It was the best birthday gift I could have asked for.
Then came the next big decision: finding somewhere to live.
Discovering the dream setup
I started looking into student accommodation and that is when I stumbled across Vita Student. Honestly, the name caught my attention first. Something about it made me curious so I looked more deeply into it.
And then I saw it.
A dance studio. An actual dance studio inside the building.
I have been dancing since I was a little kid and seeing that completely sold me. I was so in. And then I found out there is 24/7 coffee available and I genuinely felt like this place was built for me.
A dance studio and unlimited coffee? That’s not accommodation. That’s the dream.
The location also made so much sense. Vita Student Lewisham Exchange is right next to Lewisham shopping centre and the station, which means everything is accessible. Groceries, food, getting to uni, going out, it is all so easy. For someone moving to a new city for the first time, that kind of convenience really matters more than people think.
My first impressions
I will be honest though. When I actually arrived at Lewisham Exchange, I was nervous. Like properly anxious. It was my first time living away from home, in a completely new country, and that feeling of not knowing what to expect is a lot.
But the staff here made everything so much easier.
They were warm and welcoming from the moment I walked in and the rooms were spotless. It felt clean, it felt safe, and slowly it started to feel like home.
Throughout the year there were so many tiny things that made life here genuinely good. The events are one of my favourite parts.
Small moments that make life better
What I love about Vita Student is how a long day of lectures or a stressful week of submissions, you don’t have to go anywhere. You can stay in your most comfy outfit and get your social fix inside the building.
I love all the events, from the makeup masterclasses and painting sessions, to the cooking classic.
There are freebies, giveaways and just a nice energy. It is the kind of thing that helps you unwind without any effort.
Practicality that really helps
The all-inclusive service is such a relief. Bills are covered in your rent so you are never stressing about electricity or water.
But honestly, the thing that gets me every single time is coming back after a long day, and walking into a room that is already clean and sorted.
Housekeeping is taken care of, which sounds like a small thing until you actually experience it. After a tiring day, the last thing you want is to come home to a mess. That moment of walking into a clean room genuinely feels like a reset. During deadline season when your brain is completely elsewhere and you are running on four hours of sleep and three coffees, it is one less thing to worry about.
The breakfast situation is also simply perfect for a student. You wake up and it is sorted. One less thing to think about in the morning.
The main reason why I rebooked
The friends I have made here are a huge reason I keep coming back too.
There is something special about living alongside people who are going through the same experience as you. You build a little community without even trying. That’s something you cannot put a price on.
This is my third-year rebooking with Vita Student.
And every time it comes around to making that decision, it has never been a difficult one. It genuinely feels like home now.
Not just a place to sleep but somewhere I actually look forward to coming back to.
Advice for other international students
When you move abroad as a student, especially for the first time, there’s already so much on your plate. You’re navigating a new country, a new university, new friendships, and trying to find your footing in all of it. The last thing you need is to also be worrying about bills, cleaning, maintenance issues, or whether you’ve eaten before the day properly starts.
Vita Student quietly takes all of that stress off you. It sounds simple, but it is actually huge. When you’re not spending your energy on all those little responsibilities, you have more of yourself left for the things that matter. Your studies, your mental health, your growth, the experiences that you will look back on.
I think that is what makes Vita Student different. It is not just about having a nice room or a safe location. It is about feeling genuinely supported while you figure out this big chapter of your life.
It gives you the space to be a student fully, without all the noise that usually comes with it.
For any international student wondering where to start, I really hope this helps. It’s okay to not have everything figured out.
But finding a place that feels safe, warm, and taken care of?
That is a really good place to begin.
