A unique and unforgettable experience
What motivated you to study in the United Kingdom
After working for six years, and facing the uncertainty of leaving my professional and financial stability, I decided to take the leap and pursue my dream of living abroad. I felt ready to take the next step in my career, as I have always wanted to continue growing and developing both professionally and personally. I was mainly looking for an English-speaking country to practice the language, and what better choice than the United Kingdom? The country where my favourite book and movie series, Harry Potter, was created, and the home of great musicians like Oasis and Dua Lipa, whom I also love. Additionally, there are daily direct flights from here to Chile, so my parents and family could visit easily. Last but not least, the academic excellence of UK universities and their internationally recognised prestige offered an incredible opportunity to develop in a highly competitive and multicultural environment.
How was your academic, personal, and cultural life
Everything in the UK has been a unique and unforgettable experience. I won’t lie, academic life is demanding if you want to achieve distinction, but everything at the university has been amazing. From the facilities to the academic quality, everything is spectacular. The university provides high-tech facilities, events, talks, emotional support, and everything is so well organised that you can focus fully on your studies and enjoy your time. On a personal level, it has been a journey of significant growth. Even at 30, I have always been very close to my parents, and being away from my family was something I had to manage. However, communication through social media and WhatsApp today makes the distance much easier to handle. Time has flown so quickly—it feels like I just arrived, and now this journey is already coming to an end. Culturally, I have learned a lot. The UK is a country with a large immigrant population from all over the world. I have friends from India, China, and the Arab world, and it has been amazing. I’ve tried foods I never imagined eating, learned a few words in Chinese and Hindi, and experienced cultures very different from my own firsthand, which has been incredibly enriching. Finally, being here also allows you to travel easily to other parts of the UK and even Europe, which is amazing.
What you have learned
My experience in the UK has been incredibly enriching. Academically, it allowed me to approach accounting and finance from a critical perspective, developing the ability to analyse practices I had never questioned before. Personally, living alone abroad taught me to be more independent, to face problems on my own, and to appreciate cultural diversity. Practicing English in everyday life helped me gain confidence and fluency, while stepping out of my comfort zone allowed me to make friends and seize new opportunities.
What you wish you had known before arriving
I wish I had known about the StudentBeans app, which offers discounts at many stores and apps of all kinds.
- Ivania