How to make a long-distance relationship work as a student: tips and advice

Relationships Top tips Wellbeing

Moving to a new city for uni might mean moving away from your loved ones. If you’re in a relationship, distance can make it a little harder to keep the flame alive.

Whether you and your partner are in different cities or countries, it’s natural to wonder, can long-distance relationships work? With effort and dedication, you can make a long-distance relationship work and thrive while at uni. 

Challenges of long-distance relationships for students

As a student, managing a long-distance relationship can be tricky because you’re balancing a lot of things at once—like coursework, social life and extracurricular activities. Long distance relationships can be another big factor to homesickness.

  • Busy schedules - Between lectures, seminars, and part-time jobs, finding time to talk to your partner can be difficult. The difference in academic calendars can also make it tricky to schedule visits.
  • Loneliness - When you’re surrounded by classmates and couples on campus, it can feel especially lonely not having your other half with you.
  • Trust and jealousy - It’s easy to feel worried or jealous when you see your partner making new friends, especially if they’re far away and you don’t know their social circle. 
  • Cost of travel - As a student, it can be tough to afford frequent visits, which can make the distance feel even more overwhelming.
  • Different life experiences - You might be experiencing university life differently than your partner, and that could create a feeling of disconnection.

Long-distance relationships tips and advice

Wondering how to deal with a long-distance relationship? Don’t worry, we have some tips to help you make things work. 

Daily check-ins

One of the best ways to make a long-distance relationship work is through consistent communication.

Apps for couples in long-distance relationships, like video call platform Zoom, messaging apps and shared calendars such as Google Calendar, can help you stay connected no matter how many miles apart you are.

Send gifts

Taking the time to send a personalised gift can be a special reminder of your bond. If you’re a student in a long-distance relationship you don’t have to spend lots of money to keep the spark alive. Consider long-distance relationship gifts, like handwritten letters or small care packages to keep the romance alive.

Plan regular visits

Discuss how often you’ll talk, when you'll visit, and what your future together looks like. Clear expectations prevent misunderstandings, one of the things that often kills long-distance relationships. When planning a visit, ensure you are up to date with our comprehensive student travel guide.

Celebrate meaningful days

Whether it's birthdays, your anniversary, Valentine’s Day or Christmas, making the effort to celebrate milestones will give your relationship stability - and both of you plenty of special moments to look forward to throughout the year.

Stay positive

Long-distance relationships require optimism and trust. When times get tough, remind yourself why you're in the relationship and how much you care about your partner. 

FAQs

How do you know when it’s time to end a long-distance relationship?

Knowing when to end a long-distance relationship can be difficult, but it often comes down to whether both partners still feel happy. If the distance is creating more pain than good memories, it may be time to have an honest conversation about the future. 

How do you cope with loneliness in a long-distance relationship?

Many people wonder what kills long-distance relationships. One of the main answers is loneliness, which is a natural feeling when you live a long way away from your partner. 

Some find that staying busy with hobbies and personal goals can help. Connect with your fellow students, friends and family, and schedule frequent virtual dates with your partner to ease loneliness and keep you feeling connected. 

Can long-distance relationships work in different time zones?

Long-distance relationships are challenging and being in different time zones can add another element of stress to your relationship. If there’s quite a significant time zone difference, it’s really important that you schedule a specific time to connect so you don’t end up talking too late or too early. 

 

Being away from loved ones doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely - widening your friendship circle at uni can be a great way to feel part of a like-minded community. Visit our iQ Life page to learn how you can expand your circle and get involved in your student community. 

iQ
Nuha S

I’m Nuha, the Social Media Executive at iQ who fell in love with the world of content during my digital marketing apprenticeship. My best year yet? Spending time with my British Shorthair cat, Bubbles