More than 70 percent of college freshmen encounter problems adapting to new environments, new research has shown.

A MyCOS Research Institute study of 90,000 students who started university in 2015 and 2016 showed that freshmen had problems related to studying, daily life, spending and relationships.

Of the respondents, 51 percent mentioned studying as a problem, while 90 percent said they had trouble making friends with members of the opposite sex.

The report also showed there are gender differences in dealing with interpersonal relationships.

Female students find it difficult to get along with roommates, while male students struggle to get on with girls.

The research also found that canteen food, living conditions and feeling homesick ranked top on freshmen's list of day-to-day problems.

Female students are more likely to feel homesick, while male students are more likely to indulge in computer and mobile phone games, the study showed.