New Perspectives in the UK
What motivated me to study in the United Kingdom?
First, this academic break in my professional career came as part of God’s plan, who led my wife and me to seek different ways to strengthen our professional profile so that we could meet the new challenges posed by the dynamics and demands of socioeconomic development around the world.
After exploring several funding options, we came across Chevening, one of the world’s most prestigious scholarship programmes and one of the few that provides full funding for tuition, accommodation, and living expenses throughout the period of study in the UK. We also found that the references and feedback from Chevening scholars and people familiar with the programme were so positive that they encouraged us to apply, despite how competitive the selection process is.
At the same time, we found that the UK is home to some of the world’s most recognised and prestigious universities across different academic fields. In particular, we discovered that the University of Sussex and IDS were ranked first in the world for Development Studies. In addition, Sussex is located near Brighton, a coastal and tourist city that attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year, exactly the kind of place my wife and I had always hoped to live in.
Finally, a former Chevening Scholar recommended that we complete the entire application process through Across the Pond, whose team was exceptionally diligent and incredibly helpful in securing a place in the 2025–2026 cohort. All these reasons led us to embark on the most exciting adventure we have experienced in recent years.
What was my academic, personal, and cultural experience like?
Living in the United Kingdom was an incredibly enriching experience, both personally and professionally. On a personal level, it was a year full of learning, challenges, new experiences, and quality time with my wife and my little dog. Today, I can say that I have had very few experiences that have truly changed my life, and without a doubt, living in the UK has been one of them.
I can now see what is happening in the world from a different perspective, better understand many realities taking place on the other side of the globe, question things that I once took for granted, and analyse the context of my own country with a much more respectful, critical, and objective perspective. Ultimately, I believe this experience helped strengthen my character, making me more humble, understanding, and tolerant.
Academically, it was challenging because the research approach adopted by British universities represented a radical shift in my way of thinking, as I had spent many years working as a designer and implementer of public policies. However, the university provides extensive academic support and resources to strengthen the areas where we may have certain disadvantages, constantly encouraging you to reach your full potential and produce truly outstanding academic work.
In addition, the course content, seminars, workshops, and the exchange of experiences were genuinely enriching, offering completely new and innovative perspectives from Africa, Asia, Europe, the United States, and Latin America. The amount of information we received was remarkable, always leaving the feeling that there was never enough time to absorb everything that the university, the country, and the network of students, professors, and academics placed before us.
From a cultural perspective, studying in the UK allowed me to discover many unique aspects of British culture, including its good manners, delicious food, enjoying a beer at any time of the day, running outdoors during winter, swimming in the sea, enjoying outstanding Asian cuisine, drinking hot chocolate in winter, spending time in nature and outdoors, sharing quality time with others, and appreciating the warmth and simplicity of the people, among many other things.
Beyond that, however, the United Kingdom brings together cultures from every corner of the world, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in an extraordinary diversity of perspectives, beliefs, and values that, together, greatly enrich your cultural background.
What are the main lessons I am taking away?
Far too many to describe in this space. I would highlight the development of a more critical and academic perspective for understanding the issues affecting our region with greater objectivity; the importance of building a global network with people from around the world; gaining a deeper understanding of global population mobility and its effects and benefits on regional politics and economies; learning to appreciate and make the most of every moment; and recognising the importance of supporting programmes such as Chevening, which give people the opportunity to experience all of this when they would otherwise be unable to do so through their own financial means.
What do I wish you had known before arriving?
I believe that no one arrives in the UK fully prepared for everything they are about to experience. However, I would have loved to have had more specific information about the country’s climate, which is neither as cold as some people say nor as gloomy as others claim.
It would also have been helpful to know a little more about the British character: their love for animals, their respectfulness, honesty, enthusiasm for sports, outdoor activities, good food, and beer.
Finally, I would have liked to better understand the academic approach of each university, as well as the dynamics of seminars, lectures, essays, examinations, and other academic activities. I believe this would help people prepare themselves, even psychologically, before beginning this remarkable university adventure.
- Javier
More than a Master’s Degree
Choosing to pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom was an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, continue developing academically and experience life in another country. I was particularly attracted by the quality of British universities, the possibility of completing a master’s degree in one year and the independent approach of their programmes. I also wanted to encounter new perspectives, improve my English and meet people from different parts of the world.
My MSc in Mathematics was academically demanding, but also extremely rewarding. One of the main differences I noticed was the emphasis on independent learning. Lectures provided the foundations, but students were expected to spend a considerable amount of time studying independently, consulting different sources and organising their own work. I had the opportunity to study subjects from several areas, including number theory, cryptography, group theory, stochastic processes, graph theory and numerical methods. At the end of the programme, I also completed a dissertation on mathematical models of epidemic spreading on networks, which allowed me to combine mathematical theory, programming and simulations.
On a personal level, studying abroad helped me become much more independent and adaptable. At first, adjusting to a different academic system, communicating in English every day and managing the practical aspects of life in another country was challenging. Over time, however, I became much more confident. Meeting students from many different countries was also one of the most valuable parts of the experience. I learned not only about British culture, but also about many other cultures, perspectives and approaches to education.
Some of the most important skills I gained were the ability to work independently, manage long-term projects and ask for support when needed. I also learned that adapting to a new country does not happen overnight. It is completely normal to feel uncertain or overwhelmed at the beginning, but gradually you develop a routine and start to enjoy the experience much more.
Before arriving, I wish I had known just how quickly the academic year would pass. For that reason, I would recommend beginning the accommodation search, document preparation and financial planning as early as possible. It is also important to take advantage of university support services, student activities and opportunities to meet new people from the beginning. You do not need to have everything figured out on your first day.
The support I received from Across the Pond was very helpful throughout the application process. It allowed me to understand each step more clearly and made me feel that I was not going through the process alone. Studying in the United Kingdom involved both academic and personal challenges, but it also helped me grow, meet incredible people and discover new possibilities for my future. It is an experience I would definitely recommend to anyone considering taking the same step.
- Fabián
Why Studying in the UK Might Be the Best Decision
I am a firm believer that if something scares you, you should do it, because that is where you grow, and to be honest, going to study in the United Kingdom was one of the decisions that scared me the most at the time, but I don't regret a thing. Obviously, thinking that you will be far from home and that you will go alone, especially when you haven't travelled abroad alone, is an uncomfortable situation. I thought that the culture shock, the weather, the people, the country, and the way of thinking would be very difficult things to face, but now, after having lived the experience, I can tell you that I couldn't have been more wrong in my life.
Going to the UK was an eye-opening experience; being such a cosmopolitan country, you find people from many countries, many ideas, and many ways of thinking. You can adapt ideas for your return home, if you are thinking about returning, or you can change your way of seeing things, because sometimes what you need is to know how other cultures view things. Often, the people with whom you exchange ideas become people with whom you maintain friendships, despite the cultural differences and the distance.
I can say that I remain friends with a Turkish friend I met in York; he is me, but in a Turkish version. Can you imagine finding your "you" from another country? I would never have imagined it; he even invited me to his wedding. The probability of something like that happening to me in Mexico is very low.
But why might studying in the UK be the best decision?
The experience of living in another country by itself is already attractive; meeting people, places, and cultures is fascinating. However, the academic vision and the years of advancement that the UK has in terms of the problems they solve and teach you, I am very sure you haven't heard about in many places. That experience and that vision you bring back will help you pave your way in the professional field, in your entrepreneurship, or even in your daily life. Going to study doesn't just give you a master's, doctorate, or bachelor's degree; it gives you perspective, and that is something you couldn't get just anywhere.
-Diego
My Best Decision: Fulfilling My Dream After Turning Thirty
Hello, my name is José, I am from the city of Santiago, Chile, and this is my experience studying in the United Kingdom.
The Decision That Changed Everything
The truth is that I had always dreamed of studying abroad, living new experiences, and learning about other cultures. The United Kingdom had always been my goal. However, the years went by, and I never dared to do it; then the pandemic came, and everything became even more complicated.
Despite this, after a holiday trip I took to Edinburgh and London in 2023, that flame of studying abroad was reignited, and I embarked on the adventure, enrolling in the LLM in General Legal Studies at the University of Bristol in 2025, with quite a few more years behind me, but with the same energy and enthusiasm I had ten years earlier.
How to Survive in England
As for my academic and personal life, it was very difficult at the beginning, as I travelled alone, without my partner, and I had to adapt to an academic environment that was very different from the one I was used to in Chile.
However, I took this as a personal challenge and was fortunate enough to build a very good support network with other Chileans who were also studying at the university. Today, there are at least 15 Chileans among us, ranging from undergraduate students to PhD students.
Learning to Live with Bristol’s Diversity and English Culture
Another important aspect was the culture. Fortunately, Bristol is a very diverse city and welcoming to foreign people, so I never had any problems adapting to English culture.
Bristol is, without a doubt, a city of many contrasts: it is a small city, but with the soul of a big city. It has everything you need and, best of all, it is a very friendly city for anyone who wants to explore it on foot, except perhaps for the endless hills on the way up to the university. In addition, it has incredible places and views for anyone willing to explore it. Although I admit that what I have enjoyed the most has been being able to go to different cities to enjoy football at different levels and to talk with people from different places.
Although I still have several months left in the United Kingdom, I take away a great lesson: living abroad literally means starting from scratch and learning to understand how different things work in a different city.
For example, something as simple as crossing the street could often become a difficult task, but not an impossible one. Therefore, without a doubt, the most important lesson has been the resilience and perseverance that one develops, as well as the opportunity to broaden one’s horizons, which undoubtedly helps you grow as a person.
What I Would Have Liked to Know Beforehand
Now then, what would I have liked to know beforehand? Probably how to understand the English transport system and the different opportunities that exist to manage your budget better.
The United Kingdom, and England in particular, is a very expensive country, so planning your budget is essential, as is getting your Railcard in time and always carrying your university ID card with you in order to make the most of the available discounts.
What I've learnt from This Adventure
To conclude what my experience in the United Kingdom has been, I am left with the certainty that it has been, without a doubt, the best decision I have made in my life. I do not regret it for a second, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to live it.
I hope that those who are still in doubt decide to do it. Even if you think the time has already passed, it is never too late to learn and fulfil your dreams.
- José
From a Dream to Reality
Why I decided to study abroad
My name is Othelie, and I'm from a small city in Norway. I’m currently studying for a Bachelor´s degree in Business Management with Entrepreneurship at Edinburgh Napier University. I first discovered the opportunity to study abroad through Across the Pond, and it quickly felt like the perfect path for me.
I had dreamed of studying in the UK ever since I was a little girl visiting London on a holiday with my family. At the time, I was a huge fan of Harry Potter, and that fascination with British culture sparked my early dream of one day living in the UK.
A few years later, I travelled to Edinburgh and Glasgow with my best friend, and that trip completely changed my perspective. I fell in love with Scotland – the atmosphere, the history, the architecture, and the welcoming feeling of the cities made a lasting impression on me. After that experience, I knew I wanted to build my future there, and I became determined to work hard and do everything I could to get into a great university in Scotland. I just had to make this dream come true.
Discovering my passion for business
As I started thinking more seriously about what I wanted to study, I realised that my inspiration had been right in front of me for years.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time following my mother around her flower shop, watching how she built relationships with customers, managed the business and coworkers. Seeing her dedication and creativity inspired me from a young age.
Those experiences made me realise that I wanted to follow a similar path – but with my own ambitions and ideas. I knew I wanted to build something of my own one day, which is what drew me toward studying business. The only thing holding me back was knowing how to apply.
Across the Pond made it possible
Everything changed when a spokesperson from Across the Pond visited my upper secondary school. During the presentation, I learned how the application process worked and received guidance form one of their advisors. Suddenly, studying abroad no longer felt like an impossible dream.
Encouraged by their support, I decided to take the chance and submit my application.
When I received the news that I had been accepted to Edinburgh Napier University, it felt surreal. After years of dreaming about studying in the UK and working toward that goal, I finally knew that a new chapter of my life was about to begin.
Preparing for the big move
After accepting my offer, it was time to think about accommodation. I expected finding a place to live to be one of the most stressful parts of moving abroad, but it turned out to be much easier than I had imagined. Knowing that Edinburgh Napier University offered accommodation for first-year students made the whole process feel much less overwhelming.
In the days leading up to my flight, I packed my suitcases with a mix of excitement and nervousness for this new chapter of my life. Moving to another country was a huge step, but it was also something I had dreamed about for years
Settling into student life
One of the things that made settling into university life so much easier was Freshers' Week. During the first week, there were plenty of activities to help new students meet people, explore the campus, and get involved in university life. It was a great way to make friends and feel at home from the very beginning. As a side note, some of the Freshers' Week activities fill up quickly, so it’s always a good idea to sign up early to avoid missing out.
Once classes started, I quickly realised how much I enjoyed studying at Edinburgh Napier University. The modules are well organised, easy to follow, and the lecturers are easily approachable, supportive and genuinely want their students to do well for themselves.
I also liked how flexible the courses are. The timetable allows me to work independently while still having plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Assignments include both individual coursework and group projects, which keeps studying varied, fun, and at the same time helps develop teamwork skills.
Why Edinburgh quickly felt like home
Edinburgh is a fantastic city to live in as a student. There is always something happening, whether it’s exploring cafes, enjoying the nightlife, attending festivals, or simply walking through the city's beautiful streets. The friendly atmosphere makes it easy to settle in and feel at home.
Another thing I love is how easy it is to travel around Scotland. There are plenty of affordable transportation options, making it simple to visit other cities, towns and beautiful landscapes during weekends and university breaks.
A decision I'll never regret
Looking back, deciding to study abroad has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has allowed me to grow both. Academically and personally, while giving me experiences I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.
If you are thinking about studying abroad but feel unsure, I would definitely encourage you to take the first step. For me, what started as a childhood dream became my reality, and I could not be happier.
- Othelie
