Making Friends Abroad – Tips on Building a Social Circle in Singapore

By Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore

As someone who once considered themselves an introvert, the idea of packing my life into two suitcases and moving 6,800 miles away from friends and family felt overwhelming. It wasn’t the cultural differences or academic challenges that worried me the most—it was the lingering “What if I don’t make friends?” concern that kept creeping in every time I thought about my exchange.

With that in mind, I wanted to share my experience of making friends abroad—the challenges, the unexpected moments, and the strategies that worked for me. If you’re feeling the same pre-departure nerves, I hope my insights help you feel more prepared and confident about building connections in a new environment.

Utilise The Exchanger Group Chats

One of the first things I did upon arriving in Singapore was getting involved in group chats for exchange and international students. Trust me—there will be plenty of them! My first invite came via email to a Telegram accommodation group chat filled with other exchange and international students. At Eusoff Hall, the International Student Ambassador played a key role in making sure all exchange students felt included, creating multiple group chats to keep everyone connected and involved in block activities.

Since many NUS accommodations are catered, eating alone initially felt daunting. But I decided to push past the nerves and drop a message in the group chat: “Hey, is anyone free to grab dinner?” At first, I worried—what if no one responded? Would it be embarrassing? But then I reminded myself that everyone else was in the same boat, just as eager to meet people. To my surprise, I got so many responses. That one message led to a big dinner gathering, and from there, we naturally formed a group that continued eating together, making the transition so much easier.

Even as the group branched off into smaller circles, it helped me meet so many people and find those I genuinely connected with. In fact, two of my closest friends in Singapore today? I met them through that accommodation group chat!

If messaging the group chat feels intimidating, try adding “Private message me if you want to join!” at the end—it takes the pressure off, and if no one responds, no one will know! 😆

Conversation Starters

The next step in making friends in a new environment is utilising class time to connect with other students. You’ve got your accommodation friends sorted, but having someone in your classes is invaluable, especially when deadlines start piling up and you need someone to vent to (or study with).

But how do you actually start a conversation? For an introvert, this can be one of the hardest parts. Back home, I would usually wait for an extrovert to “adopt” me, but in Singapore, I knew I had to take the initiative. So, here are some simple conversation starters to break the ice in class:

Start with the Basics: “Hey, what’s your name?”

It might feel a bit abrupt, but you’d be surprised how often this happens naturally during breaks or before class starts. Once they tell you their name, introduce yourself and follow up with easy, open-ended questions like:
“What other modules are you taking?”
“How are you finding this class so far?”
“Have you had this professor before?”
Ask About Assignments or Coursework

A great, low-pressure way to start a conversation is to ask, “Did you understand that last part?” or “What did you think of the reading?”
This works well because it’s relevant to the moment and gives the other person an opportunity to engage without it feeling forced.

Make Observations About the Class

If the lecture is particularly interesting (or painfully long), a comment like, “That was a lot to take in” or “I did NOT expect that case study to be so complicated” can be an easy way to open a conversation that will lead to other topics naturally.

Find Common Ground

If you notice someone using the same laptop stickers, wearing a sports hoodie, or carrying a book you’ve read, use it as a conversation starter:
“Oh, I love that book”
“Do you follow that football team, or is that just a random hoodie?”

If you are a football fan, I’ve found that a lot of locals are too, as someone from Manchester, one of the first thing people say to me after I mention where I am from, is “City or United?” They’re usually disappointed with my choice as a City fan, Untied seems to be the popular one here… to my dismay.

Use Group Work to Your Advantage

If you get assigned to a group, introduce yourself and suggest making a WhatsApp group. This is an easy way to stay in touch beyond class and naturally leads to friendships. Some of my closest friends in Singapore were made from group work, so make sure to build good rapport with your group, otherwise group work can be… interesting to say the least.

The Art of Saying Yes

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned during my study abroad experience is the power of saying yes. It’s easy to stick to what feels comfortable, staying in your room, declining last-minute invitations, or hesitating before trying something new. But the reality is, some of the best moments happen when you step outside your comfort zone and just say yes.

At first, I found myself overthinking social invitations: “Will I enjoy this?” “What if I don’t know anyone?” But I soon realised that every “yes” was an opportunity to meet new people, explore new places, and create experiences I wouldn’t have otherwise. Saying yes to an accommodation BBQ led to meeting a Chinese exchange student who helped me in my Level 1 Chinese group interview presentation. Saying yes to a week trip resulted in some of my favorite memories. Even saying yes to random volunteering activities helped me build confidence in unfamiliar settings.

This doesn’t mean saying yes to everything—you still need to set boundaries and choose what aligns with your interests. But pushing yourself to be more open can transform your exchange experience. The awkwardness can only last so long before natural conversation starts flowing. So the next time an opportunity comes up, fight the urge to hesitate. Say yes. You never know where it might take you.

At first, starting conversations felt awkward, but I quickly realised that most people appreciate someone making the first move. Everyone is in the same position, especially in an exchange program, so taking that small first step can lead to some of your best university friendships.