Turning a Dream into a Plan: How I Made Studying in the UK Possible

My journey towards studying a master’s degree in the United Kingdom actually began after returning from the UK itself. I had spent two months here taking an English course, and if I had already dreamed of living in England before, I returned to Mexico even more in love with the country and with a much cleared idea in my mind: I wanted to come back.

At the same time, I had another important personal and professional goal, to study a master’s degree and begin building a career with an international perspective. So, I thought, why not bring both dreams together? I could pursue my master’s degree while also taking the first step towards the life and international career I wanted to build in the UK.

The first thing I did was simply start moving. I attended university and study-abroad fairs, researched programmes online, and explored the different possibilities available to turn this idea into a real project. It was during this search that I found Across the Pond.

I contacted them and, from the beginning, received guidance about different universities and finance-related programmes. Whit their help, I narrowed down my options to three universities: one in London — because London had always been part of my dream — and two outside the capital.

Each university offered different modules, characteristics and approaches. Going through this process helped me think not only about where I wanted to live, but also about the type of education and experience I wanted to receive.

Then came probably one of the most important and difficult questions of the entire process: How was I going to finance it?

Studying in the UK represents a considerable financial investment, and that was a reality I had to face. At one of the student fairs, I discovered FIDERH, a financing option for postgraduate studies. I researched the conditions, received advice and began the application process. Across the Pond was also incredibly important during this stage and helped guide me through the process.

I will not pretend that I was not scared. I was very scared. It was the first significant loan under my name, and it meant taking on a considerable financial responsibility. I worried about whether it would be approved, while also thinking about my future responsibility to repay it. Even today, I remain conscious of that commitment. However, I also came to understand that I was investing in an academic and professional project that I had wanted to pursue for a very long time.

The process itself turned out to be much easier than I had imagined. Collecting all the required documentation took time and organisation, but I never felt that it was impossible. Eventually, the financing, together with a scholarship I received from the university, allowed me to make a project that had once seemed like only a dream become a reality.

Then came the final decision: Kingston University, I chose Kingston not only because it is in London, but because I found a combination of the place where I wanted to live and the type of education I was looking for. I fell in love with South London, with its more peaceful atmosphere and beautiful areas near the river, but academically I also found many of the elements that were important to me.

I wanted a master's degree that was not limited to theory and research, but one that would also allow me to develop skills that could be applied in a professional environment. During my programme, I have had the opportunity to work with tools such as Excel and use the university's Bloomberg Terminals, as well as access Bloomberg certifications. I was also attracted by the university's connection with professional qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, CFA) and its focus on entrepreneurship, start-ups and Future Skills, particularly as the professional world continues to change rapidly with the development of artificial intelligence.

If I could go back to the moment when I was in Mexico trying to organize applications, financing and all the documents required to move to another country, I would probably tell to myself something very simple: relax and trust a little more.

I wish I had known that I did not need to understand or control every single step from the beginning. There will be documents, decisions, uncertainty and moments when you ask yourself, “What if this doesn't work?” But one thing leads to another. First, you research, then you ask questions, you find people who can guide you, you evaluate your possibilities, and little by little, something that once seemed enormous begins to turn into a plan.

Today, I am still building that path. There are still uncertainties and responsibilities ahead, but if there is one thing I have learned throughout this process, it is to trust myself more, to trust the decisions I make, and to understand that every stage arrives at the right time. For me, this experience has also meant learning to trust deeply in God and remembering that His timing is perfect.

My advice to anyone who dreams of studying in the United Kingdom but does not know where to begin would be start by asking questions. Attend fairs, research universities, ask about scholarships, explore financing options and seek guidance. Do not give up on a dream simply because you do not yet know how to make it possible.

I did not know exactly how I was going to do it either.

I simply started.

And step by step, the dream became a plan, and the plan eventually brought me here.

With love, 

- Nehie