Turning a Dream into a Plan: How I Made Studying in the UK Possible
My journey towards studying a master’s degree in the United Kingdom actually began after returning from the UK itself. I had spent two months here taking an English course, and if I had already dreamed of living in England before, I returned to Mexico even more in love with the country and with a much cleared idea in my mind: I wanted to come back.
At the same time, I had another important personal and professional goal, to study a master’s degree and begin building a career with an international perspective. So, I thought, why not bring both dreams together? I could pursue my master’s degree while also taking the first step towards the life and international career I wanted to build in the UK.
The first thing I did was simply start moving. I attended university and study-abroad fairs, researched programmes online, and explored the different possibilities available to turn this idea into a real project. It was during this search that I found Across the Pond.
I contacted them and, from the beginning, received guidance about different universities and finance-related programmes. Whit their help, I narrowed down my options to three universities: one in London — because London had always been part of my dream — and two outside the capital.
Each university offered different modules, characteristics and approaches. Going through this process helped me think not only about where I wanted to live, but also about the type of education and experience I wanted to receive.
Then came probably one of the most important and difficult questions of the entire process: How was I going to finance it?
Studying in the UK represents a considerable financial investment, and that was a reality I had to face. At one of the student fairs, I discovered FIDERH, a financing option for postgraduate studies. I researched the conditions, received advice and began the application process. Across the Pond was also incredibly important during this stage and helped guide me through the process.
I will not pretend that I was not scared. I was very scared. It was the first significant loan under my name, and it meant taking on a considerable financial responsibility. I worried about whether it would be approved, while also thinking about my future responsibility to repay it. Even today, I remain conscious of that commitment. However, I also came to understand that I was investing in an academic and professional project that I had wanted to pursue for a very long time.
The process itself turned out to be much easier than I had imagined. Collecting all the required documentation took time and organisation, but I never felt that it was impossible. Eventually, the financing, together with a scholarship I received from the university, allowed me to make a project that had once seemed like only a dream become a reality.
Then came the final decision: Kingston University, I chose Kingston not only because it is in London, but because I found a combination of the place where I wanted to live and the type of education I was looking for. I fell in love with South London, with its more peaceful atmosphere and beautiful areas near the river, but academically I also found many of the elements that were important to me.
I wanted a master's degree that was not limited to theory and research, but one that would also allow me to develop skills that could be applied in a professional environment. During my programme, I have had the opportunity to work with tools such as Excel and use the university's Bloomberg Terminals, as well as access Bloomberg certifications. I was also attracted by the university's connection with professional qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, CFA) and its focus on entrepreneurship, start-ups and Future Skills, particularly as the professional world continues to change rapidly with the development of artificial intelligence.
If I could go back to the moment when I was in Mexico trying to organize applications, financing and all the documents required to move to another country, I would probably tell to myself something very simple: relax and trust a little more.
I wish I had known that I did not need to understand or control every single step from the beginning. There will be documents, decisions, uncertainty and moments when you ask yourself, “What if this doesn't work?” But one thing leads to another. First, you research, then you ask questions, you find people who can guide you, you evaluate your possibilities, and little by little, something that once seemed enormous begins to turn into a plan.
Today, I am still building that path. There are still uncertainties and responsibilities ahead, but if there is one thing I have learned throughout this process, it is to trust myself more, to trust the decisions I make, and to understand that every stage arrives at the right time. For me, this experience has also meant learning to trust deeply in God and remembering that His timing is perfect.
My advice to anyone who dreams of studying in the United Kingdom but does not know where to begin would be start by asking questions. Attend fairs, research universities, ask about scholarships, explore financing options and seek guidance. Do not give up on a dream simply because you do not yet know how to make it possible.
I did not know exactly how I was going to do it either.
I simply started.
And step by step, the dream became a plan, and the plan eventually brought me here.
With love,
- Nehie
More Than an MBA: My Experience at Bayes
I chose Bayes Business School for several reasons, but, in short, I felt it was the school that offered me the best value for money. When you start researching MBAs in the UK, you realise the investment can end up being excessively high, so it was important for me to find a programme with a strong academic standard that, at the same time, represented an investment I could justify.
Bayes also holds triple accreditation, known as the "triple crown", and has a very good reputation specifically in the MBA world. But beyond the rankings and accreditations, what ultimately convinced me was the connection I felt from the very first interviews with people at the school. From the start I felt a very close and genuine approach, and that made a big difference for me when it came to making the decision.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the programme was precisely the way it combines theory with practice. Yes, it's an MBA and there's a lot of theory, but you constantly get the chance to bring what you've learnt into real situations. At the end of each module, much of the knowledge was applied to real companies and to situations that were happening at that very moment. We also had an international week in which we worked directly with a company, and, finally, our dissertation project is also carried out in collaboration with a real company. I felt we were constantly moving from learning concepts in the classroom to thinking about how we would apply them in the working world.
I also loved the variety of the programme and the calibre of the lecturers. Each one has impressive experience and specialisation, and it was very enriching to be able to learn from people who are genuinely leaders in their field.
However, if I had to pick just one thing as the best part of my experience at Bayes, it would definitely be the people. I was enormously fortunate to be part of an incredibly diverse cohort, with people from different countries, cultures, industries and career paths. We were a very varied group, not only because of our backgrounds, but also because of our personalities and ways of thinking, and I believe that is precisely what made us learn so much from one another. More than classmates, I'm coming away with friends for life and a network of people I hope to stay in touch with for many years to come.
Bayes also gave me many opportunities to develop outside the strictly academic sphere. We constantly had networking events, workshops and activities focused on skills such as public speaking, giving better presentations, building confidence, working on our emotional intelligence and strengthening our resilience. We also had a leadership programme that pushed us a great deal to step outside our comfort zone. I particularly liked that the MBA didn't focus solely on preparing us professionally, but also on developing the personal skills you need to be a good leader.
Another thing I found amazing is that, by becoming part of Bayes, you truly become part of a community. I didn't expect to build such important relationships during the MBA, nor that the lecturers, alumni and classmates would become a network that could stay with you even after graduating. You even have the chance to take one elective module per year for life as part of the Bayes community, which I think is an extraordinary opportunity to keep on learning.
And that's precisely one of the most important things I'm taking away: understanding that the MBA isn't the end of your learning, but the start of a stage in which you have to keep studying, learning and developing. For me, the programme also gave me much greater professional versatility. It allowed me to get to know different areas, industries and ways of working, and to understand that my experience can be applied across many different fields.
In the end, I think that's what made my experience at Bayes so special: it wasn't just about earning another qualification. It was about learning from people completely different from me, facing situations that pushed me out of my comfort zone, developing new skills and becoming part of a community that I hope to keep carrying with me long after finishing the MBA.
- Rocío
Making My MBA in London Possible
I always knew that, at some point in my career, I wanted to study a postgraduate degree abroad. For me, studying outside Mexico always represented an opportunity for both professional and personal growth, and as I progressed in my career it became increasingly important for me to live that experience. I also think that, often, the longer you put it off, the more you feel you have at stake, especially your stability. That's why sometimes you shouldn't overthink it and should simply take the leap.
I chose the UK for several reasons. One of them was the language. Even though I already had an advanced level of English, it felt a little rusty, and I wanted to keep studying and practising it in an environment where I would genuinely have to use it every day. I also wanted to learn and become comfortable with professional terminology in English, something I consider extremely valuable for my career.
And, of course, there was London. I had visited the city a few years earlier and had loved it. I love the history, the culture, the sheer number of things you can do, the parks, the museums and, above all, the diversity of people you come across. Today, having lived here, I can say it was one of the best decisions I could have made.
But undertaking a postgraduate degree abroad also means facing a very concrete reality: the cost. Although during my five years of professional experience I had worked and saved, an international master's degree, combined with the cost of living in London, amounted to a sum I simply couldn't cover on my own. What's more, when you move to another country, all sorts of expenses start appearing that you hadn't even considered at first: paperwork, visa, flights, deposits, transport, setting-up costs and many other things that add up. My mum also supported me as much as she could, and without her it wouldn't have been possible either, but even putting together my savings and all the support I could gather, I needed an alternative source of financing.
That's why I decided to apply for a loan such as those offered by FUNED and FIDERH. For me, it wasn't just another option, it was what made it financially viable to study in the UK.
My application process was, to be very honest, fairly chaotic. I also acknowledge that this was partly down to me, because I decided rather late that I wanted to do the master's and ended up doing a lot of things in quite a rush. If I could go back in time, I would definitely start the process earlier and more calmly.
What's more, during the process I learnt something important: you won't necessarily receive the amount you initially had in mind. I had a budget and an amount I needed to cover my expenses, but the loans I could obtain ended up being lower than I expected. That made the process quite stressful and meant I had to find ways to supplement my funds through other means.
Despite that, my experience with the people at FUNED and FIDERH was very good. I always found people who were kind, attentive and willing to help me. In a process that can be overwhelming in itself, having that support made a big difference.
And once I arrived in London, the challenges were different. One of my main fears was speaking English, because knowing English is one thing, and quite another is taking part in a discussion, defending an opinion, or simply expressing yourself naturally in front of a room full of people.
I also had a lot of impostor syndrome. I was surrounded by extremely talented people, many of them with more years of professional experience than me, and at first I wondered whether I would really be up to the task.
Over time, I gained confidence. The MBA experience itself, the workshops and the support we received helped me enormously to open up. But, above all, I learnt that it isn't about who knows more or who has the most impressive track record. Everyone arrived with a different background and different skills, and that's precisely what made the experience so enriching. We all had something to learn from one another.
Ultimately, I can say with complete honesty that without this financing my MBA would not have been possible. Even with a scholarship and having chosen a school that, within the context of UK MBAs, was fairly affordable, the investment was still too high for me to cover on my own.
What I value most about this type of loan is that it's genuinely designed to support students who want to keep developing themselves. The terms are far more favourable than those of a traditional bank loan, and, above all, you don't have to worry about starting to repay it while you're studying. That allows you to focus on what really matters at that moment: studying, making the most of the opportunity, and living this enriching adventure to the full.
For me, this support didn't simply mean being able to pay tuition fees. It meant being able to seize an opportunity that, otherwise, I would probably have had to let pass by. Today I can say that studying my MBA in London was one of the most important experiences of my life, and I am deeply grateful to have found a financing alternative that allowed me to make it a reality.
- Rocío
The Girl Who Dreamed of the UK, and the Woman Who Made It Happen
Deciding to come to the United Kingdom to study was not something that began as a perfectly structured plan. It started with the dream of a 12-year-old girl who had always wanted to live in England, an instinct that kept calling me to fulfil that dream, challenge myself, go beyond what I already knew, and experience something completely uncertain but incredibly rewarding.
The more I explored the possibility, the more sense it made, both in my mind and in my heart. The United Kingdom offered me everything I had imagined and much more. It gave me the opportunity to study in an international environment recognised for its high academic standards, which motivated me even further. At the same time, I would be immersed in a multicultural environment, something that can be challenging but is also incredibly enriching because it broadens your perspective and encourages you to think differently. I have loved discovering new cultures, food and languages, especially while living in London, which, within my industry, is one of the most important financial centres in the world.
Another motivation was improving my English. I have always loved languages, but I have a particular ambition to speak English like a native. It is certainly challenging, but moving to a country where a different language is spoken pushes you to develop skills that might otherwise take much longer to acquire.
As an Accounting and Finance student with the ambition of building an international professional career, I was also very attracted by the possibility of learning not only inside the classroom but through exposure to global companies and institutions. For example, I had the opportunity to visit the IASB offices and observe the discussions involved in developing and approving new financial reporting standards.
Last but certainly not least, coming here meant fulfilling a dream that had lived in my heart for years. It has been challenging, but that was exactly what I wanted: to step outside my comfort zone and become a more independent woman.
Academic life was definitely a challenge at first. Being accustomed to a different educational system made my first semester particularly demanding, but it was also incredibly enriching. I discovered another passion of mine: research and critical analysis. I am eternally grateful to my professors, who have guided and supported me throughout this process, and especially to my dissertation supervisor. At the beginning, I had so many ideas but did not know which one to pursue—something very characteristic of me! So, my advice is not to be afraid of undertaking a research project.
As long as we continue thinking and questioning, there will always be something new to create, explore or investigate more deeply, and that is part of the beauty of learning.
The United Kingdom has taught me so much and continues to teach me every day. Academically, I have learned to become a more independent learner. Instead of simply memorising concepts to pass an exam, I have learned to investigate topics more deeply, question ideas, support my opinions with evidence, develop my own projects, and use tools that are applied in a professional environment.
Another important lesson has come from living and studying alongside people from many different backgrounds and perspectives. It has challenged me to become more open-minded and tolerant of different points of view. From my perspective, this is something wonderful: being able to disagree, explore different opinions and understand where someone's ideas come from when their culture and experiences may be completely different from your own.
On a personal level, this has been an incredibly enriching experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to live it. I have had to adapt to the systems of a new country, learn to manage my own resources, solve the difficulties that appear along the way, and accept that many things will not work in the way I was accustomed to. But that is also one of the most beautiful parts of growth.
I learned that being independent does not mean knowing how to solve everything; it means trusting that I will find a way to solve it. Through this experience, I have also developed a beautiful and deeply rewarding relationship with God and learned what it means to trust completely.
Of course, living in another country is not always beautiful. I have also experienced days when uncertainty, homesickness and frustration became part of the journey. This brings me to something I wish I had known before arriving: I did not need to have everything figured out from the very first day.
Adapting to a new country takes time. As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day, and I think the same applies to life. There are incredibly exciting moments, but there are also days when you miss everything familiar: your family, your home, or simply your mum's hug telling you that everything is going to be okay. There are moments when you become frustrated or even doubt yourself.
Over time, I understood that these moments are also part of the experience and part of growing. You can learn so much from them, and for that reason, I believe we can also be grateful for having the opportunity to experience them.
One of my greatest lessons has been understanding that studying in another country does not only transform your academic education. It also transforms the way you see yourself. I have learned to trust my decisions and my instincts more, to navigate unfamiliar environments, to connect with people from different cultures, and to discover abilities within myself that I might never have known existed if I had remained within what was familiar and comfortable.
At the end of the day, I am deeply grateful for this opportunity: for the guidance I received from Across the Pond from the very beginning; for my family, who have always been one of the strongest pillars of support in my life; for myself, for having the courage to take on this challenge and discover a more complete version of Nehie; for fulfilling the dream of that little girl; for life; and for God, because I know He is always by my side and I trust Him completely.
This is only the beginning of the journey, and I am incredibly excited to discover what the future holds. I hope my experience can help someone else who is considering taking the same step, because I believe we are here to support one another and contribute to a more empathetic, compassionate and safe society.
Trust yourself, because dreams really do come true. Nothing is too crazy or impossible to happen. If you can imagine it, you can believe in it, and if you believe in it, you can create it. And when you finally have it, simply be grateful and keep building.
- Nehie
The Whys and Whens of Life: Studying Abroad as a Mature Student
At age 23, I realised that I was living through the motions of life but not experiencing it. The advice I received that helped me was: what are the things you broadly enjoy, and how can those things be involved in a career? For me, it was community and support for creatives. This then translated into careers in artistic industries such as music, gaming, film, and writing. The irony of these things being my interests as a young teenager did not fall on me. Sometimes you really do need to go back to your roots.
So, I decided to take another look, with different eyes, to see what a younger me missed at 18, when applying to universities I never ended up attending. I decided to take my hobby of reading more seriously and looked into the book industry. An English degree is not needed to enter the publishing industry, but it is helpful. I decided to study abroad because I wanted to experience something new and felt that, as I was older, I would be able to enjoy it and get the most out of it.
It really is never too late to pursue something else or learn something new. I urge everyone to allow themselves to enjoy the wonderful experience of life, to allow themselves room to grow and understand themselves before asking the big question, “what do I want to be?” or “what do I want to do for the rest of my life?” Life can have many twists and turns, and stumbling should be encouraged. Now, were some of my decisions influenced by being older? Yes!
I suggest you make a list with three categories: non-negotiable, negotiable, and a middle ground of would prefer to have but not necessary. The items on the lists may change as you research and find universities and what they offer. When I decided to return to school, there were a few things I decided were non-negotiable: Campus life, duration of study, career support, and expenses. Since I decided to study abroad, far from my friends and family, I wanted to ensure that I would be able to enjoy my new life and build community. I knew if I wanted to be successful, I would need to build a new support system. Something on my middle list was a beautiful campus with little city-integrated campus buildings. I didn’t want to feel like I was studying in an office building and wanted to feel like I was on a university campus for that “uni life experience.” Now, this was not a need, but a want, which is why it went in the middle. A negotiable for me was if film classes were offered. I wanted to take a few classes, but at the end of the day, they were an added bonus.
Queen’s University Belfast fulfilled most of my list. The beautiful main campus with Lanyon Building and is voted WhatUni’s number one SU in the UK made Queen’s University Belfast ideal. I was able to meet people, build community, explore hobbies that have helped me build valuable skills, and keep me busy (and not homesick). Degrees in the UK are also one year shorter than in Canada. As much as I enjoy university life, I am aware of why I decided to return to school: a career change. I am also aware of the fact that I am entering university later in life, and as much as I want to enjoy the university experience, I also don’t want to prolong it. The careers department at Queen’s is very involved and holds many events. As someone attending university with a specific goal in mind, I found this very enticing. As much as I wanted to live out my London-girlie dreams, I found the city too expensive, especially given the Canadian Dollar-to-GBP exchange rate. Belfast offered the amenities of a big city with friendlier prices.
Now here I am, living in Belfast, having completed my first year at university and, at 25, just starting again with a sparkle in my eyes, but this time with steady feet. You do not need to compromise on the things you want from a university with location. London has many things to offer, and they often come with a hefty price tag.
Now that we have covered the “whys”, let's touch on the “when.” I am truly glad I waited to begin university. I was able to work many different jobs (and save up some money along the way), learn more about myself, and grow as a person. I have soft skills that help me in everyday life that I was able to hone, and I am more confident as a person. These are things that have allowed me to be successful in everyday life, especially studying abroad. However, I am not saying that if you are young, you should avoid university or studying abroad. I encourage everyone to do what feels best for them, but I also encourage people that in the current age of “instant”, waiting or starting later isn’t a bad thing.
My advice to anyone looking at post-secondary education in the UK is to understand what matters to you and what will best serve you in achieving your goals!
– Memphis
