Explore your dreams! Explore the world!
Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of living and studying abroad. I decided quite quickly that the UK was the place for me. Not only do they offer great Universities and beautiful scenery, but it's also not too far from home. My choice of University was uncertain for a long period of time, but luckily I stumbled upon Across the Pond at a study conference in high school which helped me discover everything the UK has to offer.
Subjects such as Sociology and Social Anthropology caught my attention in my final year of high school, and I knew immediately that I wanted to explore it further at University. Although I find Social Anthropology incredibly interesting, I wanted to explore Anthropology from a biological perspective. That's when I came across a bachelor's degree called Evolutionary Anthropology at The University of Liverpool. I read up on what the course contained and was immediately hooked. Learning about the evolution of humans, being introduced to several aspects of archaeology, such as osteoarchaeology and archaeothanatology, working on archaeological fieldwork and experiencing placement at a museum have all played a part of making my experience so fantastic. Everything I have learned is immensely relevant to all aspects of human history and culture.
This degree is only available in Liverpool in the UK, so it was very natural for me to place The University of Liverpool as my first choice. And for that I am so grateful! Liverpool has everything a student could wish for!
This city is full of people of all nationalities and offers everything from beautiful parks and nature to amazing nightlife. Moving to a new country can be very intimidating, so it helps when people are as open and helpful as they are in Liverpool.
The University is also incredibly helpful with any questions you may have as an international student, such as accommodation, moving of furniture, location of classes, how to apply to health services in England, etc. They offer several accommodation options for students that fit most budgets. If you don't want to pay the price for the University’s student accommodations, Liverpool offers a number of private student accommodations that are even more affordable! I ended up living in one of the halls of residence at the University and was placed with 6 English students. Although it may sound scary, we were asked to fill out a form with various questions about ourselves and were thereafter placed with people who best fit those descriptions. It doesn’t take long to get to know each other, and you might even meet some of your best friends that way. And if you don’t enjoy living with the people you were assigned to, the University is more than willing to help you move somewhere else. Living with so many new faces also promotes incredible self-development!
Forming a new social life can be very difficult. For me, it was challenging getting to know people at the start as I was quite unfamiliar with the British slang and humour. If you want to study in England, I recommend reading about local slang so it becomes easier to understand what people are talking about. But fear not! You will learn the social and local language incredibly quickly, leading to a sense of freedom when communicating with local and international people.
I also strongly recommend becoming a member of the societies that interest you at the University, and join all the social events you’re able to! That's how I met some of the best friends I have today!
Studying abroad is truly a memorable experience unlike any other. I wouldn’t have developed and learned as much as I have if I hadn’t chosen to study in the UK. Not only is the academic content engrossing, but you also learn important social skills that you’ll utilise for the rest of your life.
In conclusion, don’t let fear control your life. Explore your dreams! Explore the world!
- Celine