Studying in the UK has been a good experience
Studying in the UK has been a good experience for me, and it has given me the opportunity to grow as an individual but also as a member of groups and societies. I decided to study in the UK, because I wanted to experience other cultures and learn more about international opportunities after graduation.
Why I chose University of Chester
I chose the University of Chester mainly because I am originally from a small town in Norway (Ålesund), and therefore I thought it would be a smooth change to Chester, in comparison to London or any other big cities. The campus is very open and there is a nice opportunity to meet other people and to socialize. I mainly used the library, sports hall, gym, dining hall and the SU Bar on campus.
Accommodation
My first year I had an accommodation trough the University, and that gave me an opportunity to gain more friends because I lived with other people. It also was my preference my first year because the university provides you with good information that you need in order to get sorted. The two next years I rented with Abbey Rentals, mainly because it is a smaller accommodation and it felt homier.
Student life in Chester compared to Norway
The student life is very different from my hometown, mainly because there are a lot of social events, and you have free taster sessions for all the sports and clubs. These two factors made it very easy for me to get friends and improve my social skills because there is a different culture.
Information about my course
I studied Business Management as a Bachelor, mainly because I could get a broad knowledge about all the different topics when it comes to business. In the second year you get to choose one module out of a selection (maybe two, I don’t remember), and I chose Finance because that it what I found the most interesting. My third year I could choose two modules, and they both were finance related. I like this course mainly because I got some knowledge into HR, marketing, entrepreneurship, strategic management and finance.
How is Chester
The town is apparently known for their shopping street, but it is a decent size. There is a lot of pubs, cafes and places to have a nice chat with friends. I love the city because it has a lot of history, there is old buildings and there are many buskers which I don’t see in Norway. It is only five minutes with a bus to Cheshire Oaks, which is a great place to buy discounted brands etc. Cheshire Oaks also have an activity park, cinema and arcade with bowling.
Spare time, socializing
I played volleyball for the university and therefore we had socials every Wednesday with different themes. I got most of my friends from the volleyball society, but also from my first year living in the shared accommodation provided by the university. The friends that I got in Chester was from all around the world such as Germany, Greece, UK, Norway, Spain and Poland.
Transition to studying in the UK
I found the transition quite nice, because English is my second language since it is something that has been learned from the age of 6. However, I experienced a culture shock mainly because they have a different way to speak to each other (banter), and a lot of slang.
Good to know before applying to university in the UK
I had a difficulty getting an English account because it was a process since I am an international person. Therefore, it could be smart to start looking into different banks beforehand. I chose to have an English account mainly because I could transfer to that account when the exchange rate was low, so I was able to make myself a monthly budget in pounds and I knew how much I had in pounds.
How was Across the Pond
I found the application process very pleasant. It was mainly because I got a lot of guidance from my contact in Across the Pond, and therefore it wasn’t that scary applying and figuring things out.
- Fride-Helen