The city is amazing
One of my dreams has always been to do my master's abroad. I knew that having an experience in a foreign country would be incredible in all senses. The United Kingdom is well known for its prestigious universities and multicultural life. In that way, I saw a great opportunity to study in the UK as well as the perfect option to improve my English. Furthermore, the possibility of applying for an extension of the student visa after my studies, is a great opportunity compared to other countries.
My course and the University
I am a master's student at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Kent, UK. I chose this university because it is a significant institute with a good reputation, it offers good facilities that enhance the learning experience, it has a good student environment, and it has a good location because it is very close to London.
I selected the Urban Planning and Resilience master's course because one of my professional dreams is to make better cities. I trust that this course will give me the tools to achieve this dream. The course covers a wide range of subjects; cities are very complex with many systems, and because of current concerns, the programme focuses on how cities can survive, adapt, and thrive for new challenges like climate change. For my classes, I had a lot of guest lectures from different backgrounds, which enriched the academic experience. I also attended some conferences in London related to the field.
Furthermore, I have participated in other activities inside the university organised by the School of Arts and Humanities, like workshops and conferences, so you will never get bored as you look for as many events as possible!
University life is full of opportunities, with a lot of academic and creative events. Furthermore, the university is a very beautiful place surrounded by greenery, and it’s possible to have a view of the cathedral from there! which is the most important urban icon in Canterbury.
Accommodation
I live at the university’s accommodation, and it’s very convenient because the campus is just across the street, so I can be in the library within 5-7 minutes, as well as the rest of the buildings in no more than 10 minutes. You can also find other facilities like cafeterias, the grocery store, and the gym. Renting on campus gave me the opportunity to have a free membership to access the gym and any sports facilities. And lastly, but not less importantly, the campus has a nightclub where they have parties for students all the time.
Also, sharing the accommodation has given me the opportunity to meet people and make friends from different cultures around the world, gaining fascinating insights into diverse cultures and lifestyles from both foreign and local students.
Student Life in the UK vs. Home Country
Academic life in the UK is different from what I was used to in Mexico. The focus is on individual learning, critical thinking, and research, which has forced me to broaden my horizons in terms of academic study. Student life has provided me with the opportunity to make friends with students from all around the world, expanding my understanding of international concerns.
Social Life and making friends
You will be surprised by all the people from different countries that you can meet. My time in the UK has given me the opportunity to meet friends from everywhere, frequently having cultural exchanges and sharing knowledge. Furthermore, I like to share my culture, so I have organised some meetings where I cook Mexican food and prepare some drinks to share with my friends. Favorites from them have been the "Chilaquiles" and the "Palomas". And, I have attended some meetings where I have tried food from different cuisines, as well as become a fan of the typical scones and tea from England.
Some associations, on behalf of the university, organise trips. I had the chance to go to Oxford, Bodiam Castle in Sussex, Dover, and Rhye. And one time, the School of Arts and Humanities at the university organised for free a trip to Walmer Castle.
The city
The city is amazing; it has a rich cultural and historic heritage, and a medival environment can be felt due to the architecture of the town, including the amazing Canterbury Cathedral. I try to visit this as many times as I can; as a student at the University of Kent, I have free access. The high street and the green spaces along the river Stout are very charming, perfect for a picnic in the summer along the river!
Canterbury is very close to London (55 minutes by train), so I have visited London many times and also had the opportunity to go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Derbyshire, and Manchester. as well as visiting places in other countries like Amsterdam and Dublin.
Transitioning to Studying in English
The transfer has gone well since the multicultural atmosphere has made it possible for me to develop my language abilities both academically and socially.
Additional Insights
Recently, I started working as a kind of part-time job where eventually I do shift work as a member of staff at weddings, which has helped with my economic expenses and given me the opportunity to meet more people. My only advice would be that if you plan to work at some point during your master's, start to apply with anticipation, because even though there may be opportunities for part-time jobs as a student, it takes time.
Furthermore, I wish I had understood more about the fine details of academic culture before starting the journey, like a career plan according to my goals with different networking options available. as well as general tips to survive and write a dissertation in the British academic context.
Application Process and Across the Pond
Across the Pond, there is excellent help. I have tried in the past to achieve this dream, and it was only with the advice from this agency that I accomplished the goal. The staff is very kind and give you very good advice.
- Martha
This is a dream experience
My name is Sara, I finished my master's degree in Human Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh. Since the first time I visited Scotland, I fell in love and have been looking for a way to study in this beautiful place ever since. Fortunately, I found Across the Pond and they guided me throughout my process to fulfill my dream. I finished my medical degree in Mexico and as soon as possible, I applied to do my master's degree in Edinburgh. I knew that this University was one of the pioneers in medicine and that if I wanted to continue my path to be a surgeon this was the right place.
Accommodation
At first, it was difficult to find a place to live, so I recommend you come 1 month before your master's degree begins so that you don't neglect your studies to find housing. It's a bit heavy, but 100% worth it.
The University of Edinburgh: A dream
At the University of Edinburgh, in the building where I studied, it is the dream of any medical student. She could literally study in the anatomy museum, surrounded by specimens dating back to the 13th century. The staff is prepared to give classes, something that does not happen in my country; normally in Mexico, it is doctors who give us classes, however, in Scotland they are first anatomists and they also have a bachelor's degree in some other health science (in my opinion a plus). My master's degree taught me both theoretical and practical knowledge and I achieved something I thought I would never do, writing a thesis.
Is my English knowledge enough?
I have to say that when I started my master's degree, my English was a C1 and now I have a high C2, I already understand a lot of UK accents (and yes, there are a lot). If what stops you from studying in the UK is English, don't worry little by little you will improve it and the staff is very patient with that issue because there are many students who come from abroad.
People are really nice
Something that made a big difference this year was the group of friends I made. We are 4 in total and come from different parts of the world such as the United States, England, and Iran, we toured Scotland and you can learn from the different cultures of all. In Mexico, I did not consider myself sociable, but in Edinburgh, it is so easy to talk to people and make friends that I can say that I became extroverted. You can literally make friends on the train, at the bus stop, in the supermarket, wherever...
A little glimpse into life in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is an excellent option if you want to get to know the current Scottish life surrounded by medieval, Victorian, and modern buildings (few), with the ease of public transport to go everywhere (bus, tram, taxis, airport). For me, it is the perfect city, it has the sea, first-class schools and hospitals, museums, festivals, markets, hotels, hostels, cinemas, shops, pubs, restaurants, clubs, a zoo and little else outside, the beautiful Scottish countries. If you like history and old buildings, but also enjoy the conveniences of modern life, Edinburgh is for you. In addition, you can experience the 4 seasons of the year, I was able to see the beautiful orange scenery in autumn, I was able to witness my first snowfall, cherry blossom trees in spring, and swimming in the sea in summer.
This is your moment
I highly recommend the Human Anatomy master's degree at the University of Edinburgh if you need to learn or reinforce your knowledge of anatomy. The staff is very capable and the learning tools they offer are invaluable. This is a dream experience worth investing your effort and other resources into. You are very close, do not give up.
- Sara
I highly recommend living an academic experience in the United Kingdom
Hello, my name is Alan, proudly Mexican, I graduated as a mechatronic engineer, and since high school I wanted to have an international experience.
That's finally achieved!
Thanks to social networks I found a post from Across the Pond, I asked them some general questions, they motivated me to start the process and without further ado this new experience began.
As I was thinking of continuing my academic development focused on robotics, I managed to find the University of York, which has a specialized laboratory on the subject as well as professors who have been awarded for their achievements in the area. At first, I was worried about my decision, but I ended up realizing that things happen for a reason, and that is that I ended up more than happy to have studied at this UK university.
It is notorious at the university, and I can tell you that it left me with a very good feeling that 100% of the professors who taught me had a vocation for teaching, which is something that left a great mark on me. I feel that they not only developed me academically, but also personally, in addition to the fact that this opened many doors for me to be able to practice my profession.
Social life at the university and in the city is very easy, since the vast majority are foreigners and socializing become something natural. I would venture to say that most are more receptive, they want to help you and include you in their social circle.
As you can see from the name of the university, I lived in the walled city, York, this city has something special, totally recommendable to live, you can get everywhere on foot, the history of the city surrounds you, it never gets tedious, there are many people there that you can meet and that will leave something good in your life. I can assure you that this city fully met my expectations.
I would like to mention the issue of accommodation because it is something challenging that most experience, and the solution is to look for it in advance, there are many options, some very close to the university and in other locations you only must take a short walk. There is a wide range of prices, my situation was very particular since I traveled with my wife, and as I already mentioned, it is something that can be solved by searching in advance.
In conclusion, I highly recommend living an academic experience in the United Kingdom, not everything can be explained in words what you have to experience, it is something that I feel proud and happy to have done.
- Alan
My Cranfield experience
My Cranfield journey has been one of the most enriching and valuable experiences I have lived so far. Something that one day seemed unreachable and beyond my expectations, became true.
Everything started with the idea of becoming a more prepared professional, throughout the tools, resources and experience that a master’s degree offers, specially in another country, that allowed me to make an impact in my community and be a positive influence for others.
During my research, at the beginning of the process, I realized that UK was among the countries with better rankings for financial masters, offering a wide variety of programmes and resources that fitted with what I was looking for to continue my personal and professional development.
I have to admit, that the process was not easy at all, but what I can assure, is that it totally worth it. During each of the steps that I was required to complete, and for all the information and queries that arise throughout the whole process, scholarships, documents, interviews, etc. Across the Pond offered me their support, which made everything much easier, compared with what would have been without their aid.
Once I arrived to UK, a whole new world was disclosed for me, discovering new customs, cultures, lifestyle, food, weather, etc. Furthermore, >80% of my classmates were from other parts of the world, outside UK, which made the master more insightful, since it helps you to develop a broader vision, mindsets and learning to work with multicultural teams.
There are countless of memories that I most remember and appreciate, including all the friendships, trips, hangouts, social activities both inside and outside the University, football games, professors, classes, teamwork projects, exams, seminars, thesis, etc. It was like living again old times in a very short period of time, trying to take the fullest advantage of each day.
Something that I found really interesting during that time, was having a closer understanding of the different cultures around the world. Some actions that for one person can be natural and part of their daily life, for other cultures might not be interpreted the same. Among all the activities the University organize, I remember one called “the international week”, where different students from their respective countries coordinate for showing others some of their most traditional dishes, customs, clothes, and anything else that represents them. In my case, we prepared some “tacos of cochinita pibil” (or at least we made our greatest effort for that), being a wonderful experience not only showing others part of your own culture, but also learning from others part of them, beyond of what we can learn from any books or videos.
Finally, what I learnt during that time, was that a master’s degree is not the end of the road, there’s a whole world outside, always something new to learn, and that anything that challenge your comfort zone, will always worth the effort.
- Miguel
Giving me the chance to be a beginner again…
It's no secret that getting out of your comfort zone is not an easy process and when I moved to England to start my university life, it was more complicated than I thought.
My dream as a child was always to become an actress or a Tae Kwon Do world champion, but for some reasons, my career as an athlete did not bear fruit. So, I decided to follow my other dream, and what I am studying is "Acting and stage combat”. When I read the name of the career I fell in love because it was like putting together my two dreams, Tae Kwon Do and acting. This career is basically acting, but they also teach you the basics concepts of safety to act in a fight without hurting your teammates, you also learn to handle different weapon systems such as swords, knives, shields, firearms or just your own body for unarmed fights.
The selection of the university was relatively simple, since the University of Essex (East 15 Acting School) was the only one in the world that offered the degree I wanted, so we can say that I did not have many options.
I'm not going to lie I would have loved this degree to be here in Mexico or at least in a country with a Spanish-speaking language. I really did not want to leave, I am a person very attached to my roots, to my family, to mexican food, I love the sun, and on top of that, I’m shy and without the best English (literally I got the minimum qualification to enter university).
I am grateful of that day that I took the flight to London and even though there have been times when I felt very alone, what I have gained from this experience has been much more, especially personal-wise. If we talk about academics, my English is still not the best, but it has improved significantly, I can say that two of my teachers have been the best teachers I have ever had and I have learned to manage the money. But personal growth has surpassed academics, I have learned a lot from myself, and it has made me have to overcome challenges, thus giving me the necessary confidence to trust in my problem-solving abilities.
My advice to you is to give yourself the opportunity to be a beginner again, you will have to find new favourite places, new restaurants, new ways of comfort, even new food products when you go to the supermarket! And if you're not fluent in English and you're a shy person like me, it'll probably cost you a bit more, but once we learn in this life to be comfortable with the unknown, we'll be unstoppable in any field.
THINGS I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KNOW BEFORE I LEAVE…
- Meeting Across the Pond before: I arrived a week late for my classes because the university had not given me a document that I needed to apply for my visa, but I met Across the Pond and they speeded the process, so if it wasn’t for them, I would have been a month late. They are very helpful and friendly, also it is always good to have someone who is guiding you in the process and to whom you can ask all the doubts that arise.
- Your English doesn't need to be the best to survive: The truth is that people are very patient and kind and have no problem with helping, so don't be afraid to ask. With my basic English I survived the train, airports, supermarkets, school services, etc.
- Take your favourite seasonings with you: There are certain seasonings that you will not find in the new country, or maybe they are from the same brand, but they will not taste the same. If they are fundamental to you, I really recommend you to bring them, for example, I filled my suitcase with spicy sweets and sauces.
- Accommodation: There are some student residences that offer three-year contracts and give you a discount for that. However, I recommend that you also take the option of living the first year in the student residence, meeting people and then moving out to a house with your same classmates and it will be much cheaper. Or rent an Airbnb for a month and then find a place to live.
- Clothing: Winter clothes are better to buy here, they are better prepared and probably with more quality.
- Airports: Keep in mind that some airlines if you buy a round trip and you miss the first flight, you also lose the return flight. So you can also evaluate the option of buying the flights separately or talk with the airline to see if they let you to take just the return flight.
- Banks: There are some places that only accept English cards for any deposits or payments. The Revolut bank can help you to get a British card fast and easy to process it, literally all the process is from your phone.
- Internet package: Something that helped me a lot was having internet on my phone to use Google translator, directions on Google Maps, to get ubers or taxis. I use Voxi because I can pay with my Mexican card without any problem and the price is very reasonable.
Good luck guys and enjoy your new experience! ?
- Daniela
