Moving away to university is a huge life step. It’s time to become independent and surround yourself with brand new friends. However, it isn’t like you’ll have to leave your home friends behind for good. They’re usually only a Skype call or Facebook message away and the resulting hometown reunions are always the best.

While leaving old friends behind can seem daunting, it’s important to remember that you’re about to enter a brand new community packed with a variety of interesting and likeminded individuals.

It’s always a good idea to surround yourself with as many people as you can at the start of your university journey in order to avoid feeling lonely or homesick. Having a variety of friends will also make the experience easier and more fun. Here are 10 friends that you should definitely make an effort to get to know.

1. The mum or dad

Usually the housemate who is always on hand with a cuppa, unarguable advice and countless hugs or high fives. It’s normal to feel homesick at first so having this friend around will make things a little easier when you’re missing your real parents.

2. The wannabe chef

Armed with their trusty student cookbooks and obscure, but very useful kitchen utensils, this is a friend that you’ll want to keep. Weekly Sunday dinners? Check. Homemade birthday cakes? Check. Anything other than beans on toast? Check.

3. The bargain hunter

This friend knows all of the local student discounts like the back of their hand and knows the best time to hit the supermarket to pick up ridiculously cheap reduced food. They sort out free guest list entry for every night out and are definitely a friend to have if you’re worrying about money.

4. The Facebook addict

Always seen with their smart phone, this friend will snap and upload photographs from every night out, make sure you’re ‘checked in’ at all the cool new places you go to and have a flawless Facebook stalking technique perfected for when you’re feeling a little bit nosy – which means that you don’t have to do any of it!

5. The course mate

A likeminded individual with similar interests to yourself. You can walk to lectures together and hit the pub for a pint afterwards. Working on assignments and revising for exams is always better with a study buddy.

6. The car driver

Quite tricky to find as not many students bring their car to university, but if you’re lucky enough to have a friend with a car, give them a bit of petrol money and you’ll probably never have to do the weekly food shop on foot again. Impromptu road trips are fun as well.

7. The one who lives nearby

You might be great friends with your housemates, but it’s always nice to have an escape when you’re fed up of your bedroom or when everyone else is busy. Having a friend who lives in the flat next door or the house around the corner is ideal and you might even get on with their housemates too!

8. The one from home

It isn’t unlikely to have someone that you recognise from your hometown studying or living nearby. Strike up a conversation with them if you only know of them, or make sure to stay in contact if you were old friends. Lonely train journeys home aren’t too fun and it’ll be nice to hear a familiar accent once in a while.

9. The exchange student

University is the place to meet people from all walks of life. If you’re lucky enough to get to know an exchange student from another country, use the opportunity to learn as much as you can. It’s a great time to try different food, learn about a completely new culture and maybe even pick up a new language. You can help them explore and learn too. Also, you’ll both have a place to stay if either of you decide to travel in the future!

10. The printer owner

Probably the best friend that you could ask for once assignment deadlines begin to creep up. Ten minutes until deadline, queues for the library printers are ridiculous and everyone is stressed. You’re fine though, this friend has got your back.