The professors genuinely care about the students
When moving to the UK, I was naive about what moving to a new country was going to entail. From figuring out a new healthcare system, and setting up a bank account, to grocery shopping, there are a lot of logistics to figure out. With all the hardships that come along with moving to a foreign country, comes a lot of triumphs. After making one move, it feels like the entire world has expanded and the possibilities are truly endless.
University of Sussex
Small actions make the biggest difference when arriving in a new country, such as the University of Sussex setting up an office where students can go pick up their visa cards on campus. Not only is it a beautiful campus surrounded by national parks, but it also has a sense of community and comradery between students and professors. If you are ever lost on campus, you can stop anyone walking through and they will happily guide you in the right direction.
The law school at Sussex has an incredible community, with so many resources available for students. The professors genuinely care about the students and their passion for teaching is clear. The law school at Sussex offers incredible opportunities from mooting and client interviewing competitions to practical legal clinic work, students have the chance to build their skills outside of the classroom.
Brighton
Brighton beach has allowed for beautiful summer days and winter walks on the pier. There is always a new café to try and delicious food to be had, the options are overwhelming. Students who attend the University of Sussex tend to live close to each other when living off campus, which allows for close connections to your friends. You get to run into familiar faces at the grocery store and when taking the bus to campus, which are the little things that make living abroad feel like home. The public transportation in Brighton is exceptional and allows every location to be accessible by bus. From central Brighton to the University of Sussex, it is a 15-minute bus ride, with buses coming every 7 minutes.
Advice I would give to potential students is to look up the nearest airport and knowing how to get from the airport to your relevant living area. London Gatwick is a quick 30-minute train ride away from Brighton, with trains scheduled every 20 minutes.
Exceptions vs Reality
With Tik Tok, it is easy to glamorize and romanticize moving abroad, and while there are amazing moments, there comes a side that the internet does not show. The moment after the goodbyes are completed to loved ones and you have the moment of what do I do now, appreciate the butterflies and make the step outside of your comfort zone and reach out to other students. Or when you are craving a piece of comfort, but the restaurants that you have back in your home country taste just a little different in the UK, you will find your new favourite UK restaurant, and that becomes your comfortable meal now. When you are on public transport, trying to get to a new place for the first time, you put on your favourite album, just for that piece of mind.
What I am trying to get at is there will be moments that you are uncomfortable, but you will find what works for you to get through those moments. You will look back at those moments and reflect on how you overcame and grew from them. For inspiration, I suggest listening to your own your own, kid by Taylor Swift, Tik Tok has named it the song for international students living abroad!
Conclusion
To anyone considering moving to the UK for school, the personal growth that you will see in yourself will give you the courage to do anything you want in the future. Not everyone can pack up their life and move for school, there will be challenges that come your way, but it will all be worth it. I have completed my second year abroad, and I cannot fathom how quickly time has gone by. I look at the UK has my home now, and I choose to spend my time outside of term dates still in the UK. When you go abroad, appreciate the nerves, and enjoy the moments of the unknown, these are going to be the moments you remember forever and will be proud of overcoming.
- Sellah
Professors were able to give invaluable insight
I am a Canadian alumnus of the University of Kent’s Law School who graduated with a First-Class Senior Status LLB Bachelor of Laws and the first Canadian to complete the Bar Practice Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy.
I first heard about studying law in the UK from a childhood friend who had just finished studying there herself. Since Canada utilizes the Common Law Legal System, obtaining a degree in England or Wales allowed her to write equivalency exams back in Canada and then the Bar. I learned about the undergraduate nature of law studies in the United Kingdom and that they did not have a requirement of an equivalent to the LSAT. She also told me about the existence of Senior Status programs for those with previous degrees. This piqued my interest as a way to minimize the time required to get my law degree.
I discovered the University of Kent’s law program when looking at the various schools that offered Senior Status degrees. I was attracted to the city of Canterbury and the reputation of the University’s law clinic as the best in the country. One of the coolest features of the Law School was that they had an official mooting chamber which was designed similar to a court room. Having the opportunity to do moots and mock trials in this space created a realistic experience. The city of Canterbury, where the University’s main campus is located, is also on the high-speed rail line to London. This meant that I could travel to London in 50 minutes and easily access social or educational experiences as a day trip. Canterbury’s central location in the county of Kent, also allows for easy access to several seaside towns and beaches where you can take a break from your books and explore on a weekend.
Wanting to experience as much of the local culture as possible, I decided to rent off campus during my studies. Living in a shared house allowed me to make local friends and have a quiet place to study. It was amazing to live in a house that was hundreds of years old and made me appreciate how much history there was locally. I was able to take daily walks past historical landmarks such as Canterbury Cathedral and enjoy the contrast between the modern and historical parts of the city.
I studied law because I want to practise as a lawyer. It was through my exposure to numerous members of the Bar, who were employed by the Law School as professors, that I realized my particular passion was to be a barrister. These approachable professors were able to give invaluable insight into what to expect from the profession and how best to prepare myself for a future at the Bar. The staff also provided opportunities to practice lawyering skills through extra-curricular courses. My success in these activities confirmed for me that I was pursuing the right career.
In an effort to meet new people and make new friends, I joined a number of law societies on campus. These included the Canadian Law Society and the Kent Law Temple Society. Joining the Canadian Law Society has resulted in friendships that I still maintain with people across Canada. Both law societies had educational and recreational events such as guest speakers, workshops, pub crawls and even formal balls. Most notably, these societies were an amazing opportunity for networking. I was able to obtain numerous work-experience opportunities in England and Canada through alumni and guest speakers.
The University of Kent’s Law School also offered a professional mentorship scheme. On my mentor’s advice, I became a volunteer with a local charity called the Young Lives Foundation where I helped vulnerable people in police custody as an Appropriate Adult. This gave me an invaluable insight into the legal justice system, police interview and questioning techniques as well as the role of legal counsel. Working with juveniles in this environment has also inspired me to focus my future criminal practise on the Youth Court.
While most students return to their home country to pursue their law careers, I have chosen to stay in the United Kingdom. Upon completing my law degree at the University of Kent, I was accepted into the prestigious Inns of Court College of Advocacy, a bar school in London. Since then, I have obtained pupillage, a trainee position similar to articling, with the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales.
If you choose to study abroad embrace the adventure! Enjoy the differences in culture and food. Get involved in extra curriculars and volunteer. It is amazing how much you can learn and grow outside your studies.
- Jeremy
Experience University Through My Eyes
BUT, WHO AM I?
Hello, my name is Diana, and I am a 19 years old international student at Falmouth University. In this document, I write a little bit about my university experience in hopes of answering some of the question the majority of us have faced at this stage, like for example, “Which university do I choose?”, “What is it really like to study at university?”, “Is this course really for me?”. Furthermore, providing personal insight into different topics related to this subject, which university websites cannot.
WHY MOVE ALL THE WAY TO ENGLAND?
I have dreamed of studying abroad for as long as I can remember. I am originally from Portugal and have lived there all my life. However, the opportunities of studying my dream course, Acting, are slim where I come from. So, I decided to apply to study in England, a country with far more possibilities in that regard. Also, where I was already fluent in the language. I hope to travel the world throughout my life, and this is hopefully just the beginning of that adventure.
STUDYING ACTING AT FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY
Falmouth University was my top choice form the very first moment. From the description of the course on their website to the facilities to the location it seemed like the ideal choice. So, once I got accepted, I could not wait to begin my studies here.
I am absolutely overjoyed and grateful to be doing what I love every day. Being able to study what I aspire to most is a blessing I don’t take lightly. The course is exactly what I expected it to be, even if it proves a bit challenging at times. I am currently in my second year, and things are only getting better. Bothe the modules and timetable are well-structured. I have so much free time some weeks that I don’t know what to do with myself. Other are so busy that I barely have time for myself. But, in the end, it’s all worth it because it reflects what can happen in real life. Sometimes you get back-to-back jobs, in others instances, you spend an unknown amount of time searching for them.
The AMATA building, where the majority of my classes are held, is also a very cosy and welcoming establishment with incredible facilities and equipment that you can constantly book and use as you see fit. Prepare yourself to be surrounded by students from all disciplines of the performing arts running around and practising in every available corner. When you walk through those doors, it’s as if you are transported to a completely different and new environment from the rest of the university.
One of my life’s greatest ambitions is to pursue a professional acting career. And this course has only reinforced that notion in me more and more. Not only by the lecturers’ dedication and professionalism but also by the practices taught every lesson. They have broadened my knowledge of new subjects and improved my skills in so many areas of my life so far, I can only imagine what I will achieve by the completion of my degree.
BUT WHY FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY?
In addition, this establishment where I have spent most of my time for the past couple of years provides amazing facilities and a huge number of resources at our disposal. It is even finer than what I read bout online. The number of resources, in all different areas, provided to us students is massive. One of my favourites is the library. Both online and in person they supply us with hundreds of books, research documents, and help services. These have aided me so much in the past essay projects, especially since English is my second language. They deliver one on one sessions to help you figure out the structure, content and grammar of the text.
But that is not all. I have to say its proximity to the water also influenced my final decision immensely. I’ve always lived near the beach, so it's like a second home to me. I was hooked after discovering that Gilly Beach was only a few minutes away from campus. This was extremely beneficial during the initial transition of this new chapter in my life away from home. The similarities to my home environment made me feel more secure and at ease in the first few weeks.
FALMOUTH’S LITTLE TREASURES
Falmouth is a small coastal city that thrives during the summer months when the weather is ideal for strolling down to the beach and sunbathing. However, that is not the only advantage of living in this town. It is home to the most stunning views of the hills, sunsets, and sunrises. The cute little shops are also a plus, as are the scattered bars and pubs. Even though it doesn’t have the most exciting nightlife, you can always find something to do, whether you’re alone or in a group. Many of the establishments have weekly activities and quizzes in which you can participate, giving you a wide range of options.
THE LANGUAGE TRANSITION
I have to admit that having to speak English everywhere I went with everyone I interacted with was quite frightening for me in the first few days, if not weeks. I had good fluency in the language, but I had never needed to use it constantly, so the first few moments were a little intimidating. But as I began to form friendships and attend classes on a daily basis, it became easier and easier to incorporate it into my daily life. After a little more than a year, I'm speaking it as if it were my first language. I even mix up both languages on occasion. Developing the habit of reading books in English was also an important part of my language development. Mostly because it prepared me for all of the plays, scripts, and research I’d have to read throughout my course.
HOPE THIS HELPED
This concludes my statement. Thank you for taking the time to read it, and I hope it offered answers to some of the questions you may or may not have had.
- Diana
Life-changing academic experience
After working in the Marketing area of a multinational company in Mexico, I decided that studying a masters degree in the United Kingdom was the next step to take in my academic/professional life, my life plan has always been to own a business, therefore, I chose the MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management, I chose The University of Nottingham since it has a great position in the global rankings, which is beneficial when requiring student loans, additionally, I found the geographical location of the city convenient since is close to cities like London, Manchester or Liverpool but is much more affordable and calm.
Complete guidance
Thanks to Across the Pond it was possible for me to accomplish my goals of studying in the United Kingdom, since the first contact with the agency, the quality of their attention and responses was impeccable, even when I started this process with more questions than answers and not even knowing which course to take, they provided me with tools and information to be able to take the best decision in the most convenient way given my expectations and my means.
Financial aid
When starting to balance my financial possibilities and the requirements of a project like this, my Across the Pond agent could provide clarity about the loans options like FIDERH and FUNED to understand how they functioned and how to make a successful application, it was thanks to this that I managed to obtain the FIDERH loan, Across the Pond once again helped me through all the process and this guide was fundamental for this outcome.
Close contact and follow-up
When this goal started to get more and more real, my adviser kept always in touch until the last step of the process, helping me with practical advice regarding travel planning, looking for accommodation in the city and making the payments and completing the steps needed for the visa and health insurance, without a doubt everything would have been much more complicated and chaotic without their advice, I am very grateful.
Life in the UK
Living in the UK has surpassed my expectations, studying here has allowed me to connect with people from all around the world, there is an extraordinary variety of cultures here and everyday there is something to learn and to share, living in the university’s student halls, I have had the opportunity to engage closely with people from the other side of the planet and this is very enriching, besides there is always an event happening, I am definitely glad that I made the decision to live this experience for my professional and also my personal life.
- Sara
Studying at the University of York was a life-changing experience
Hi! My name is Angélica, I`m a Mexican that studied a Master of Science in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology at the University of York, mainly because the course would complement my career as an Environmental Engineer. When I applied, Across the Pond was a life-saver, they helped me throughout the whole process, solving doubts, providing information about dates and scholarships, as well as giving guidance on how to prepare documents.
Green Chemistry at the University of York
The Green Chemistry Department has cutting-edge facilities and pioneers in the field within the staff. The program I chose combined different types of lectures with practical sessions in the laboratory and included the development of a final research project.
The lectures would consist of 1 to 3-hour presentations or workshops where critical thinking was encouraged. In the UK, postgraduate students are expected to be very proactive and independent, especially when it comes to carrying out research projects. However, most of the lecturers are approachable and willing to clarify any doubts I had.
Moving from Environmental Engineering to Green Chemistry was a challenge for me but I had access to plenty of resources to study and successfully graduate. Such as the University and Department libraries, free access to scientific journals and software, and the insights of friends from different backgrounds.
Being a postgraduate student at the University of York
The University of York has a diverse community of students from all over the world, especially in postgraduate courses. So you may find yourself having lunch with classmates from several nationalities and learning about different cultures every day.
My University days would start between 8 and 10 am and finish around 4 pm having a break for lunch between 12 and 2 pm. Something I have to say is that the 15-minute tolerance we usually consider in Mexico is not applicable in the UK, punctuality is important in the academic context, and the sessions usually start on the dot.
I would work on my assignments in the afternoons from Monday to Friday with occasional visits to the pubs, especially on Thursdays for pub quizzes. On weekends, I would try visiting other cities. The University`s Student Union often offered one-day trips to different destinations such as Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge, etc. I highly recommend joining these trips since they`re a great and affordable way to know different parts of the country while you`re a student.
Accommodation
Finding suitable accommodation for me wasn´t easy so I would suggest checking your options as soon as you can. Start assessing your budget and getting deadlines for student accommodations since they`re the first to get fully booked. In my case, the best option was to book temporary accommodation for the first weeks which gave me time to find a private room in a house close to the University. This is something you can do before arriving but usually is better to do it once you`re in town, mainly cause you can go and see the place properly.
York
York positively surprised me with its history and peaceful, yet vibrant, atmosphere. It is an old City with a big influence from the Viking era, in fact, there is a Viking festival held in the city every year around February.
York is a small city but full of things to do and explore. Most things are within walking distance, with the popular attractions being located in the city centre including museums, ancient buildings, cinemas, parks, cafes, restaurants, shops, and old pubs. Although you can find pubs anywhere in York, actually it is said that it has more pubs than the number of days in the year and I would say it is true.
In summary, a rewarding experience
Studying at the University of York was a life-changing experience, being an international student comes with its challenges but the experience also brings tonnes of satisfaction and learning. Personally, I gained confidence in speaking English, new knowledge, and long-lasting relationships. The situation also reinforced my independence and my resilience and it made me appreciate more my home country.
- Angelica
