Top 5 Discord servers for int’l students

best Discord servers
Discord was born from a chatting feature of a video game named "Fates Forever" — a game which struggled to break into the gaming industry. Source: Martin Bureau/AFP

If you are a gaming enthusiast, you would have heard of Discord. Originally, Discord was used as a communication tool for gamers to relay tactics and strategies. Currently, people are finding creative ways to use Discord in building virtual communities based on their interests and passions. Some of the best discord servers can also be used for learning. 

The New York Times reported in 2021 that Discord saw more than 150 million active users logging on monthly — an increase from 56 million users in 2019.

best Discord servers

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

As international students, Discord servers are a great way to interact with people from diverse backgrounds whom you can learn from. Whether you are looking to learn a new language, discover a new career, or find a study buddy, here are five of the best Discord servers you should join as an international student:

Five best Discord servers for international students

1. Study Together

We know how hard it is to stay focused throughout a long study session. A Berlin startup formed Study Together to tackle this problem. On their server, students from Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa and America participate in virtual study sessions.

There are five types of study sessions you can choose from: a Zoom study session, music focus calls where you can set your timers, 25 and 50-minute sessions using a Pomodoro timer, as well as a private study session where you can find a group of two to 25 students to study together.

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

2. Design Buddies

For those who are interested in a career in UI/UX design, Design Buddies is one of the best Discord servers to join. Since it was established in October 2020, it is now the largest design community globally. They are also a Discord Partner — an award by Discord to recognise thriving and supportive communities on the server.

By joining Design Buddies, you will connect, interact, and learn from over 38,000 buddies (a term assigned to users on the server) that are affiliated with Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Google, Amazon, Facebook and more. As a buddy, you will 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.

The server also offers aspiring designers or curious learners to ask these mentors any questions they may have about any problems they are facing with their UI/UX projects or questions related to a career in UI/UX design.

3. Language Zone

Want to learn a new language? Language Zone is a Discord server where you interact with people from various cultures to learn and practice a foreign language. It is a simple and effective way to give you a headstart in learning a new language as you would be guided by someone familiar with that language’s specific intonations.

From over 200 self-assignable roles, students can select their country, continent, preferred pronoun and language preferences. The server also has its custom currency, iCoins, which allows for profile customisation.

4. StudyTme, CEO Gang

This Discord server is an extension of Giulia Mazza’s Twitch community. Mazza, commonly known as G, started streaming her study sessions on Twitch in November 2020 as a way to help her focus and keep herself accountable, notes her website.

While she still streams regularly every Monday to Thursday at 11 a.m. Central European Summer Time, Mazza has grown her Discord community to cater to different interests. Bookclub, which happens every last Sunday of the month, hosts discussions around interesting books. Virtual study rooms are available on a 24-hour basis, supervised by friendly moderators. MasterMinds sessions are an excellent platform for anyone looking to master the English language in a relaxed environment.

best discord server

From learning a new language to venturing into UI/UX, these are the five best Discord servers to learn something new and interact with a global community. Source: Cindy Ord Getty Images North America Getty Images via AFP

5. Learn AI Together

Digital courses have grown popular among international students — with artificial intelligence (AI) being one of the popular picks. Louis Bouchard, founder of 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.

At the time of writing, Bouchard’s Discord server has 26,261 members learning about AI through group discussions and learning resources available on the server. It also has a “Jobs Related” channel where aspiring learners can seek career advice or career opportunities in Data Science, Machine Learning and many more.