Student Life, Big City Chaos and Small Adventures: A Year in London

London: More Than Just a Big City

My year in London has given me experiences, friendships and memories I could only have dreamed of back home in Norway. Before leaving to the UK, my goal was to make the absolute most of my time here: travel around the UK and Europe, push myself outside my comfort zone and create new memories, both alone and with others. Looking back on this year, I realise that all of this actually happened. Moving from tiny Norway to the sprawling metropolis of London has been incredibly educational — and at times a bit strange. Still, you adapt surprisingly quickly to the package deal that is London life: LOTS of public transport, a strong pub culture and a constant dose of spontaneity. Despite this new everyday life, studying in London has given me huge returns, both personally and academically.
 

What Studying in the UK Was Really like

I did an MSc in International Business Management with a focus on finance and sustainability at Kingston University London. The university is located in Kingston upon Thames, a charming suburb in southwest London, about half an hour by train from the city centre. Previously, I had completed a bachelor’s degree in economics and management in Bodø, plus an exchange semester in Germany. So moving to London was quite a leap. Luckily, I’ve always loved to travel, so language and making international friends were no obstacle. Still, I had never studied in the UK before, and was curious how it would be. While my studies in Norway were almost entirely based on written in-class exams, here it was mostly coursework. Most assignments involved analysing a self-chosen company on different themes depending on the module, which made the studies very practical and interesting.
 

Endless Opportunities and Little Adventures

Living in London opens up a sea of opportunities. Whether you want to travel, enjoy culture and sports, or dance the night away, there’s always something going on. As someone who loves travelling and history, I took the chance to visit a bunch of UK cities: Edinburgh, York, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge, Brighton, Folkestone, Oxford, Manchester, Cardiff, Bath and the iconic chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters. You’d think the distances were huge, but all these trips were either day trips or short overnight stays in affordable hostels. It led to many great memories — with new friends and on solo trips. If you book trains early, the prices are surprisingly student-friendly, and London has direct connections to most of these places. On top of that, I took cheap flights to various spots in Europe, including Italy, Romania and Slovakia. In short: London is the perfect base for anyone who loves to explore.

Cultural and sporting events are also a huge part of life in London. There’s always something happening — musicals, concerts or football matches — and I’ve taken full advantage. It was especially cool to see Bodø/Glimt play Manchester United at Old Trafford, and also such fun to go to Mamma Mia The Party in London. In one week alone, I managed to go to three concerts (Beyoncé, Dua Lipa and Chris Brown). I actually went to the Beyoncé concert on my own, a bit nervous, but it turned out to be a fantastic night and I met loads of lovely people. For me, experiences like these are important because they give that extra motivation and something to look forward to in everyday life. Plus, London offers all kinds of nightlife — whether it’s a night out with my Norwegian gang, techno clubbing with my German flatmate or relaxed pub evenings with friends. These are just a few examples of all the memorable things I have done during the year!
 

A Chapter I Would Never Be Without

My year in London has been one of the most enriching and rewarding chapters of my life. It’s given me new insights, academic growth, memories for life and friends from all over the world. I’ve grown so much — become more independent, confident and curious. This year has shown me just how much can happen when you decide to move somewhere new and try something different.

Finally, I want to give a huge thank you to Across the Pond for all their help with the application process. Without their valuable advice and expertise, this adventure wouldn’t have been nearly as easy to pull off. I can safely say that my study year in London has been truly one in a million, and I’d do it all over again without hesitation.

- Edward