A solid foundation for a future career

I still remember starting my final year of high school with no clear idea or thoughts about what would come next. Counsellors and teachers had talked about study choices and the application process, but studying abroad was never a topic that came up. Studying abroad appealed to me, but I needed to figure out how to make it happen. The thought of being far away from friends and family was daunting and overwhelming. I also knew studying abroad was expensive compared to Norway, which caused some concern. After a year as a law student at the Royal Holloway University of London, I wish to go back in time and tell myself that there is nothing to worry about and everything will be okay.

The main reason I chose to study abroad was that I envisioned a career in international human rights law, and I believed that a law degree in England, compared to Norway, could open more doors for this path, even though it meant I probably wouldn’t end up practising law in Norway. When I got in touch with Across the Pond, I explained my career aspirations and my advisor presented various programs that could appeal to schools across the UK. That’s when I discovered LLB Law with International Relations at RHUL. I got a bachelor’s degree in law, which you need to qualify as a solicitor or barrister in England, and another degree in International Relations, which discusses war, economy, politics, and how the global society is structured from different perspectives.
 

Royal Holloway University of London

Royal Holloway University of London is an idyllic university in a small town southwest of London called Egham. The famous old building called Founders was established in 1879 by the Victorian philanthropist Thomas Holloway, and the school was officially opened in 1886 by Queen Victoria as an all-woman’s college to give women the opportunity for higher education. Today, you can see statues of Queen Victoria, Thomas Holloway, and his wife on campus. Founders has also been used to film several movies and series, such as Avengers, YOU, and Downtown Abbey. I enjoyed living on campus during my first year of studies and understood what this school offers. Everything from parties and nightclubs to two school libraries, restaurants/cafés, a grocery store, and a fitness centre. All of this has made life at RHUL much easier and more attractive. Not to mention RHUL gardens, the school is surrounded by beautiful nature and parks that give you a natural feel of the English countryside. Egham is a small town with enough to offer, but London is just 40 minutes away by train if you want more excitement. I appreciate living in the countryside; I prefer a peaceful and beautiful environment alongside my studies, and I’ve travelled to London several times when the mood struck. The school offers many clubs, volunteer programs, and sports, which are great ways to fill the week when you’re not studying. A friend and I became leaders of an environmental volunteer program; we organised various activities so our fellow students could sign up and support causes they care about. Extracurricular work can be gratifying to have on your CV!
 

Life as a Student Across the Pond 

Student life as an international student has its pros and cons. I have found an excellent social circle at school with friends from all over the world. As an international student, I gravitate towards other international students since we’re in the same boat. We relate to what it’s like to move to another country and adjust to the customs and culture of that country. Now, Norway isn’t very different from England. I didn’t experience a big culture shock compared to others I met from Singapore or Argentina, where the cultural differences are more significant. I felt that my first weeks in England went by quickly because there was so much new to adjust to; I noticed that I didn’t have time to get homesick, and it took a long time before I thought about Norway. I feel fortunate that I adapted to the English lifestyle quite quickly and noticed that apart from family, what I missed from Norway was nature, the language, and milk chocolate since the one in England is not worth mentioning. However, these were just minor issues, and as time passed, I became more comfortable and happy living in England.
 

Finances and Life on Campus 

One practical advantage of living in England is that groceries are cheaper than in Norway. Even though the Norwegian krone is weak, I get much more for my money than I would in Norway. The school offers all textbooks digitally, so I don’t buy books; I read on an iPad and use a computer to write texts, etc. My most significant expenses are tuition fees and accommodation, covered by the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen). I lived on campus during my first year, where there were three payments throughout the school year. I had my room and bathroom and shared a kitchen with seven others. If you are interested in studying at RHUL, in that case, I recommend staying in Tuke, Williamson, Butler, Gower Wedderburn, or George Elliot, as these accommodations are the newest and give you the most value for your money. Many new students choose to live in Founders, and although it’s very picturesque since it looks like something out of Harry Potter, you have to share a bathroom. It’s also catered, so you don’t have the resources to cook your food, and the meals offered must be paid for in addition to the accommodation fee.

I loved living on campus; it’s much cheaper than living in the surrounding area, and all school facilities are within a short walking distance, but unfortunately, you’re only guaranteed a place on campus in your first year. I’ve been lucky enough to get a job in a school service department that helps new students with everything related to living on campus and well-being. Through this job, I still live on campus with my colleagues and students at the school. This job opportunity is open to all students every year; the school also offers many other jobs, which are a great way to earn extra money alongside your studies without travelling far for work. This can include working in the school’s help departments, in cafés, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, or fitness centres.

As a law student, I have lectures 5-6 times a week and seminars four times a week. Seminars are mandatory, while lectures are optional, but I recommend attending. Since you get a bigger picture of the content, and if you feel that the reading material has been complex, attending the lectures can bring clarity. I am delighted with my education; studying law is interesting, although some reading material can dry. Therefore, I appreciate my International Relations degree, which gives me a little break from the law and opens up the possibility for more creative and analytical thinking
 

The Application Process 

The most complicated part of moving to England is the visa and application process, but here, I got excellent help from my advisor at Across the Pond. Looking back, I wish I knew how long the application process could take when you want to study law in England. I didn’t realise until December of my last year of high school that I wanted to study abroad. So, there were many schools I was interested in applying to that I didn’t get the opportunity to apply to because they had deadlines in October. Many schools also require that you take various knowledge tests related to law in good time and then send the result as part of the application process. Had I done research in a reasonable time before, I would have had the opportunity to explore other schools and options. Compared to Norway, the schools don’t just look at your grades at the end of high school, but you also have to write an essay explaining why you want to get into this program. This is an advantage if you don’t have sufficiently high grades since a gym grade shouldn’t ruin your chances of studying, for example, medicine. I also got good guidance from Across the Pond; my advisor gave me tips on improving the essay and what I might consider dropping or including.

England has become my second home. I miss Norway and often relate to the saying, ‘There’s no place like home’, but I can honestly say that after long periods at home, I miss the life I’ve built in England. And after a year, I feel the saying can go both ways. Across the Pond was an essential resource during the application process, and I wouldn’t have been able to fulfil my dream of studying abroad without them. After I explained what I wanted, they found programs and schools that might suit me and sent my applications. They contacted the schools for me when needed and made the entire application process less complicated than it first seemed. So, if you're going to study in England, I would use Across the Pond!

I hope my experiences will be helpful to those of you considering studying Across the Pond. My first year as a student in England has been both challenging and rewarding. Despite concerns about being far from family, costs, and culture shock, I’ve found that many of these fears were unfounded. I feel that I have grown both academically and personally, made friends from all over the world, and now have a broader understanding of law and International Relations. Studying at the Royal Holloway University of London has given me a solid foundation for a future career while also providing unforgettable experiences. Without the help from Across the Pond, I might not have been able to take the step. If you’re considering studying abroad, my advice is to go for it—the challenges you face will be outweighed by the many opportunities and experiences you’ll gain.

- Serena