My advice to incoming Black students is simple: find your community, but don't limit yourself to it. Connect with organisations such as the Black Students' Network or ACS, attend events, and build relationships with people who understand some of your experiences. But at the same time, be open to friendships with people from all backgrounds. Some of the most meaningful friendships can come from the most unexpected places.
When I first moved to Bath for my postgraduate studies, I knew it would be different from where I had lived before. What I didn't fully anticipate was just how much of a culture shock it would be as a Black student.
One of the first things I noticed was how few Black people I saw on a day-to-day basis. Coming from more diverse cities and communities, it felt strange to walk around town, go shopping, attend events, or sit in lectures and rarely see people who looked like me. It wasn't necessarily a negative experience, but it was definitely an adjustment.
Then there were the practical challenges that many Black students will immediately understand. Finding somewhere to do your hair isn't as simple as searching online and picking the nearest salon. You often have to travel outside of Bath, ask around for recommendations, or learn to become even more self-sufficient with your hair care routine. (Good news, The Salon on campus now hosts El Roi Hair, a dedicated hairdresser for Afro-Caribbean hair). Similarly, finding certain foods, ingredients, and products can be difficult. While Bath does have international food shops, some African and Caribbean products can be surprisingly expensive and limited supply in comparison to larger cities with more diverse communities.
I quickly realised, it was worth bringing anything with me when returning from home or stocking up during trips to larger cities. It sounds like a small thing, but having familiar foods and products around can make a new place feel a lot more like home.
Despite these challenges, I don't think being a Black student in Bath should stop anyone from embracing the experience. In fact, some of my most rewarding experiences have come from being pushed outside of my comfort zone. Bath is a beautiful city, lovely architecture, green spaces, cafés, museums, and history make it unlike anywhere else I have lived. Once I stopped comparing it to larger, more diverse cities and appreciated it for what it is, I found myself enjoying it much more. There is something special about walking through the city centre, exploring hidden streets, studying in a café, or simply spending an afternoon by the river.
One of the best things I have gained from studying in Bath is the opportunity to meet people from backgrounds completely different from my own. As postgraduate students, many of us come from different countries, cultures, and life experiences. Some of my favourite conversations have been with people whose upbringing was completely different from mine. We exchanged stories about our families, traditions, food, languages, and cultures. Those friendships taught me that university is not just about earning a degree; it's also about broadening your perspective.
I would also encourage students to explore beyond Bath when possible. One of the advantages of studying in England is how accessible other cities can be. Visiting places such as Bristol, Birmingham, London, or even smaller towns can expose you to different communities, cultures, and experiences. Sometimes a weekend trip to a nearby city can be exactly what you need when you're missing familiar foods, wanting to just travel, or simply the feeling of being surrounded by more diversity.
And if you're moving to Bath soon, don't forget to pack your favourite hair products and spices; you'll thank yourself later! (Shout out to Fresh, our campus shop, for stocking some new hair products this year after we put in a request).
Respond
