Top 5 Discord servers for int’l students

If you’ve spent the past five years online, or have any friends in the gaming sphere, you probably would have heard of Discord. 

Or chances are you’re an avid gamer, hopping onto Discord every night to hang out with your mates, chat about your hobbies, play a few rounds of your favourite games, or even stream a show to watch together.

The best Discord servers offer all that and more — the best part is that it’s entirely free!

While Discord was initially popular only with gamers, the pandemic has allowed this social platform to reach a younger audience. Source: Damien Meyer/AFP

What is Discord?

Jason Citron, one of Discord’s founders, realised how difficult it was for his team to work out tactics in games like “Final Fantasy XIV” and “League of Legends” using the in-game voice-over IP (VoIP) software. Latency differences made it hard to coordinate movements, and there were constant audio issues – it was just a frustrating experience in general.

At that time, similar voice chat services like Skype and Teamspeak already existed. But they were performance-heavy – in simpler terms, they would slow down your computer, which is not ideal when you’re already running a large game file. 

He looked into developing a user-friendly alternative instead; Discord was first released in 2015. Its primary services include real-time text and voice chat in dedicated invitation-only social hubs called servers. 

By 2023, Discord had more than 140 million active monthly users and an estimated average of 26.5 million users per day. The platform earned $220 million in revenue in 2022, and today it is valued at $15 billion. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 boosted its use even more, allowing people to create or retain a sense of community while separated during lockdowns.

Today, its impact is so significant that it has even received acquisition offers from tech giants like Microsoft. While Discord wasn’t initially made for business use – you’ll have to rely on good ol Microsoft Teams for that – you’ll find artists, content creators, educators, businesses, and other individuals using the platform to grow their community. Schools around the world have started using Discord to keep their young learners updated and entertained; some schools even host their own Minecraft servers, allowing students to use Discord to connect with their classmates as they play.

International students, in particular, will find Discord useful for many reasons. It’s a great way to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, while still remaining connected to your community back home. Other avenues include learning a new language, discovering a new career, or finding a study buddy – the options are endless!

Interested but don’t know where to start? Here are five of the best Discord servers you should join as an international student:

Five best Discord servers for international students

 

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1. Study Together

We know how difficult it is to stay focused during a long study session. In 2020, a Berlin startup formed Study Together to tackle this problem. “Created by students, to students worldwide,” is their tagline. 

Today, it’s the largest study and productivity server on Discord, with over 700,000 active members. It’s also 100% verified by Discord itself, making it a safe space for anyone who joins.

Join one of the 24/7 Virtual Study Rooms, designed for you to stay focused and keep track of your work. Talk to students from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa, and America, make new friends, or learn about different cultures.

There are different kinds of study-calls available within the server to suit your individual study needs and pace. Choose from 25-minute sessions or 50-minute sessions using a Pomodoro timer, or screenshare/turn on your camera to keep yourself accountable. Want to study in silence but don’t want to be alone? Join a silent self-study call, or find a study partner to do a private, one-on-one call. If you prefer to study with like-minded people, join group study calls with three to 10 others. 

With their latest update, you can set your study goals and use statistics inside the server to track and improve your study sessions. For those who want to share their accomplishments, Study Together even has a channel that celebrates and recognises students’ achievements so they can achieve greater success.

 

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2. Design Buddies

For those interested in a career in art and design, Design Buddies is one of the best Discord servers to join. Established in October 2020, it is now the largest design community on Discord; they are also a Discord Partner, an award given by Discord to recognise thriving and supportive communities on the server.

Its founder, Grace, created the server in the hopes of helping designers level up their careers. “There’s just something special about interacting with other people who geek out over the same things that you do,” she said.

“Having a community is more fun compared to only having an audience because it’s more interactive. I like to learn from others and get to know them more. Oftentimes I’ll learn something new and feel inspired to dive deeper and create more content about that topic!”

By joining Design Buddies, you will connect, interact, and learn from over 38,000 buddies (a term assigned to users on the server) affiliated with Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and more. Gain access to free learning resources, events, workshops, and the chance to have your resume and portfolio reviewed by experienced designers who act as mentors. 

Unsurprisingly, many designers have connected in real life thanks to the help of Design Buddies, with some even landing full-time jobs or project-based work. 

3. Language Zone

Want to learn a new language? The Language Zone is the first and oldest Discord server offering just that. 

Interacting with people from various cultures to learn and practice a foreign language is a simple and effective way to get a headstart on learning a new language and the culture of its origins. 

From over 200 self-assignable roles, students can select their country, continent, preferred pronoun, and language preferences. They can also explore weekly lessons and custom, educational games, all entirely free of charge. Other weekly events include karaoke, gaming, reading hours, talent shows, contests, and more. 

Young students are especially welcomed here. The Discord server not only helps to improve language exchange but allows you to gain skills such as communication, management, interpersonal, and leadership.

Nothing like learning English directly from the source. Source: AFP

4. English

One of the best Discord servers for international students to practice their English skills. Join over 700,000 active members, consisting of native speakers and other eager learners from diverse backgrounds. 

Practice speaking English in real-time using one of the many available voice channels, or ask questions, discuss grammar and vocabulary and share tips and tricks in text channels. Find language exchange partners to practice conversations, while learning more about their native language and culture. 

The server also offers other services such as English classes, taught by real, experienced teachers, and resources such as virtual quizzes, flashcards, and helpful articles. If you appreciate their services and want to contribute to the server’s upkeep and growth, they have a Patreon offering additional services starting from only US3.99 a month.

5. Learn AI Together

Digital courses have grown popular among international students — with artificial intelligence (AI) being one of the top picks. Unsurprising, considering that many industries are now implementing AI into their business processes; everyone is now scrambling to join the herd.

Louis Bouchard, founder of Discord server Learn AI Together, is on a mission to make AI accessible. He does this by simplifying AI concepts, sharing new research and AI applications, and demystifying the myth of using AI. 

Those interested in all things AI, machine learning, and deep learning can join the server. Share your projects, discuss interesting research papers, find great courses, ask your burning questions, or play around with generative AI tools.

It also has a “Jobs Related” channel where aspiring learners can seek career advice or career opportunities in data science, machine learning and other related fields. 

At the time of writing, Bouchard’s Discord server has over 70,000 members learning about AI through group discussions and learning resources available on the server.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on December 6, 2024.