We are conducting a student research project to understand international students’ social experiences in Bristol and to test an early-stage concept for a membership-based offline social community.
Our idea is to organise curated small-group offline events, such as coffee meetups, board game nights, group dinners, cultural exchange activities and city walks. The aim is to help international students make real connections, build confidence and feel more at home in Bristol.
This survey takes around 5–7 minutes. Your responses will be anonymous and used only for academic research and service design purposes. You may skip any question or stop the survey at any time.
1. Are you currently an international student living or studying in Bristol?
Yes No
2. Which institution are you currently studying at?
University of Bristol UWE Bristol Language school Other Prefer not to say
3. What is your current level of study
Undergraduate Master’s PhD Exchange student Language course student Other
4. How long have you been living in Bristol?
Less than 1 month 1–3 months 4–6 months 7–12 months More than 1 year
5. How satisfied are you with your current social life in Bristol
Very dissatisfied Dissatisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Satisfied Very satisfied
6. How easy or difficult do you find it to make new friends in Bristol?
Very difficult Difficult Neither easy nor difficult Easy Very easy
7. To what extent do you agree with this statement: “I feel a sense of belonging in Bristol.
Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
8. Since moving to Bristol, how often have you felt lonely or socially isolated?
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Very often
9. What are the main challenges you face when trying to make friends in Bristol?( Select all that apply）
Language barriers Cultural differences Lack of confidence Difficult to join existing friend groups Not knowing where to meet people Events are too large or awkward Lack of local friends Lack of time Cost of social activities I do not face major challenges Other
10. What methods do you currently use to meet new people in Bristol?（ Select all that apply）
University societies Course classmates Friends’ introductions WeChat / WhatsApp groups Instagram / Facebook groups Meetup / Eventbrite Sports clubs Part-time work I do not actively use any method Other
11. How effective are these existing methods in helping you build meaningful friendships?
Not effective at all Slightly effective Moderately effective Effective Very effective
12. Would you be interested in joining small-group offline social activities designed for international students in Bristol? For example: coffee meetups, board game nights, cultural exchange events, group dinners and city walks.
Yes Maybe No
13. Which event formats would you be most likely to attend? Select up to three
Coffee meetups Board game nights Group dinners Cultural exchange events City walks / Bristol exploration Sports activities Language exchange Career or networking events Museum or gallery visits Day trips Other
14. What would encourage you to attend this type of offline social community regularly? Select up to three.
Small group size Friendly host or facilitator Clear event information Affordable price Safe and trusted environment Chance to meet local students Chance to meet other international students Matching based on shared interests Interesting activity themes Convenient location Follow-up group chat after the event
15. Would you consider paying for access to a high-quality offline social community? If yes, what price would you consider reasonable?
£3–£5 per month £6–£8 per month £9–£12 per month £13–£15 per month More than £15 per month Not sure
16. Is there anything that would make this idea more attractive to you?