Applying with the help of Across the Pond, and why it saved me from giving up my dreams
I am Thea, a 22-year-old film production student from Norway, currently starting my 3rd and last year at the University of Winchester. I decided 3 years ago to study abroad in England and got I help through Across the Pond to get there. Getting guidance through Across the Pond was a defining decision for me, as it made the whole process a lot easier. Before I knew about Across the Pond, I tried to look into everything on my own. However, I did not know where to begin and I found it all very overwhelming. It reached the point where I almost gave up. I thought to myself, “if I cannot even figure out how to start the process, am I even ready to do this?”
After almost giving up on studying in the UK, I stumbled upon Across the Pond. I reached out and before I knew it, I had my own student advisor to help me figure everything out. I no longer had to do everything on my own. Having my own advisor from Across the Pond, that I could contact regarding anything, at any time, helped a lot more than I could ever imagine.
Even after starting my studies, I found that I could always rely on my advisor. Starting a new journey in a different country all by yourself can be scary and overwhelming, so I found a lot of comfort in having my counsellor so easily accessible to contact whenever I had any issues or questions.
The student advisors in Across the Pond are not only nice and approachable but also know what it is like to study abroad. I found it very easy to talk to the advisors, as I knew they had been in my shoes, and knew how I was feeling.
- Thea
A foreigner’s guide to studying in the UK
Moving to a new country to pursue higher education is a major step—filled with both excitement and uncertainty. As a Norwegian student who chose to study Film Production at the University of Winchester, I can confidently say that this decision has not only shaped my professional future but also transformed me as a person.
One of the biggest reasons I chose to study in the UK was the sheer scale and reputation of the British film industry. Compared to Norway, the UK offers significantly more opportunities—larger productions, stronger international connections, and a much broader network of creatives and professionals. The industry here is thriving, constantly evolving, and always in need of new talent. Being a student in this environment has given me a clear advantage and opened pathways that would have been harder to access back home.
The Film Production course at the University of Winchester is incredibly practical and focused on real-world experience. From the very beginning, I have been encouraged to create, collaborate, and take the lead on projects. One of the highlights of my journey so far has been having my own short film screened at a film festival—an unforgettable experience that gave me a real sense of achievement and motivation.
Throughout the course, I’ve also had the opportunity to attend various film festivals, both as a viewer and as a creator. These events have exposed me to different styles of filmmaking and allowed me to see how my work fits into a wider creative landscape.
Another major advantage of the program is the strong link to the film industry. We frequently have guest lectures and workshops with professionals who are actively working in the field—directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers, and more. These sessions are not only educational, but they’ve also given me the chance to build a valuable network for my future career. Knowing that I’ve already started making connections within the industry makes me feel more confident about life after graduation.
Of course, moving to a new country comes with its challenges. There were moments in the beginning when I felt out of place or overwhelmed. But over time, I adapted—and looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing. Living and studying in England has taught me how to be independent, open-minded, and resilient. I’ve had the chance to learn about different cultures, broaden my vocabulary, and gain insights that I never would have discovered if I’d stayed in my comfort zone.
Most importantly, I’ve made lifelong friends—people from different backgrounds who’ve helped shape my experience and who I know I’ll stay connected with long after my studies are over.
Studying Film Production at the University of Winchester has been a life-changing experience. It’s given me the tools, experience, and confidence I need to pursue a career in film, while also helping me grow as a person. I’ve gained industry exposure, created and screened my own work, built a strong professional network, and found a new home away from home. Despite the challenges, the journey has been more than worth it—and I am so grateful for everything I’ve learned, both inside and outside the classroom.
- Thea
From Laundry Rooms to Lifelong Bonds
When I moved from Norway to the UK to study, I chose to live in student accommodation. At 20 years old, I was slightly older than many of the first-year students, and I wasn’t sure how it would feel to live with people who were mostly 18 or 19. But very quickly, I realized that age doesn’t matter as much as I thought—especially when you're all in the same situation, trying to find your place in a new environment.
Age and Cultural Differences – A Surprising Benefit
Coming from Norway, where many people take a gap year or two before university, I felt slightly out of sync at first. But to my surprise, the cultural differences actually helped me connect more easily. Most British students were open, welcoming, and curious about where I came from. And while I was technically older than many of them, that difference quickly faded away in daily life.
In fact, I found it easier than expected to bond with younger students, simply because we were all figuring things out together. Living in the same building, sharing new experiences, and navigating challenges like homesickness or student budgeting made us feel equal, no matter our age.
A Built-In Social Life
One of the biggest advantages of student accommodation is how you’re almost “forced” to be social—in the best possible way. It might sound intimidating at first, especially when you're in a new country, but it actually makes it much easier to form friendships. Everyone is new, everyone wants to connect, and the shared spaces naturally bring people together.
This atmosphere helped me quickly build a safe and supportive network of friends, and gave me a sense of belonging from the very beginning. Knowing that the people I trusted were just a few steps away gave me a kind of comfort that I really needed in that first year.
How I Met My Boyfriend… Thanks to a Laundry Machine
One of the most unexpected and special moments happened during my very first week at university. I was struggling to figure out how the communal laundry machine worked (as many students do), and so was a fellow student standing next to me. We started talking, trying to help each other out, and ended up laughing about how unprepared we were for something as simple as washing clothes.
That moment turned into a conversation, which turned into a friendship—and now, two years later, he’s my boyfriend. We met purely by chance, in the most ordinary setting, but it’s a perfect example of how student accommodation creates opportunities for connection in everyday situations.
Community and Closeness
What makes student accommodation so unique is how everyone lives so close together. Whether it’s your flatmates or people just down the hall, it’s easy to plan spontaneous dinners, movie nights, or study sessions. You don’t have to arrange big plans or travel far—your social life is just a few doors away.
Because of this setup, social activities become more frequent and more natural. Some of my favorite memories were made in the shared kitchen, sitting around chatting late into the night about everything and nothing.
Flatmates Who Became Lifelong Friends
One of the most meaningful parts of living in student accommodation has been the relationships I built with my flatmates. At first, we were just a group of strangers figuring out how to live together. But soon, we became like a small family—celebrating birthdays, helping each other through homesickness and exams, and sharing some truly unforgettable moments.
Some of these flatmates have become lifelong friends—people I know I’ll stay in touch with long after university. Living together created a bond that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Final Thoughts
Moving to the UK and living in student accommodation was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It helped me settle into a new country, meet people I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise, and build lasting relationships—including my boyfriend.
The experience gave me confidence, independence, and a sense of community. So if you’re a student moving abroad and wondering whether student accommodation is right for you, I can honestly say: yes, it is. You never know who you might meet—or where a broken laundry machine might lead you.
- Thea
Exceeded everything I had imagined
My first encounter with Europe was a very special discovery: everything that had once been a story or an image was right in front of me. Since childhood, I had heard about castles, kings, ancient monuments, and magical places, but seeing them in person was something else entirely; it was like stepping into a fairy tale. Europe struck me as a place full of living history and tangible culture, where what had once only belonged to a book or a movie now unfolded before my eyes.
When it came time to choose a destination for my master’s degree, it was the United Kingdom that completely captured my attention and my heart. My decision was a mix of reason and emotion. I had always been fascinated by the British accent for its elegance and subtlety, and I was deeply drawn to the palaces, gardens, historic universities, and that architecture that seems to come from a parallel world. Discovering that many of the Harry Potter filming locations really existed was like proving that magic, in a way, is real.
The weather was also a point in its favor. I like cold days, but I also enjoy when the sun appears and paints the sky a deep blue, with fluffy clouds drifting at different speeds. In Mexico City, we have sun almost all year round, but those clear skies are rarely seen because of environmental and visual pollution. In Oxford, on the other hand, sunny days are spectacular, and starry nights offer a peace that’s hard to describe; looking up and connecting with the immensity of the universe through the sky became an unexpected gift. And of course, I was always fascinated by the way the British value education, culture, and history in every corner of their daily lives.
With that blend of dreams, hopes, and expectations, I arrived in Oxford, and what I found exceeded everything I had imagined. My university experience was profoundly transformative. From the beginning, I was surrounded by classmates from different parts of the world, which not only enriched classroom discussions but also broadened my worldview. I learned that diversity is not just a concept, but a daily experience that teaches you to listen, respect, and value realities different from your own.
Academically, the challenge was constant. The resources provided by the university were key to how much I felt I advanced and learned during this time: from private virtual platforms where we consulted real-world statistics, reports, and analyses, to simulators designed to apply our business knowledge in practice. One of the most enriching experiences was access to a one-week international business simulation. The class was divided into teams, and each group had to create a smartphone company. We organized ourselves to make decisions on logistics, finance, marketing, business strategy, design, and brand identity. The dynamic was to compete for the highest profit possible using the platform’s resources, while maintaining presence in various countries, each with its own challenges. It was an intense and very complete experience, where each decision forced us to think about the realities of the market, and it confirmed how much I enjoy applying theory to practical scenarios.
In addition, the university also offered collaborations with Google, which gave us access to thousands of courses related to artificial intelligence and Google Cloud tools. Exploring this fast-growing field was another major privilege of my education, as I was able to complement my academic learning with cutting-edge technological knowledge, gaining a better understanding of how digital innovation integrates into global business.
Another exercise I remember with special fondness was building a Lego tower with limited time and resources. Although my instinct was to assume leadership immediately, I consciously decided to let go of control and allow the team dynamic to flow. That moment taught me humility, collaboration, and, above all, self-awareness.
On a personal level, I always felt supported. The professors and academic staff were open to answering questions and supporting our learning in a close and empathetic way. I also discovered the importance of emotional well-being in university life: there were spaces designed for comfortable studying, student societies organized by Brookes Union that fostered a sense of community, and a holistic view of learning that allowed me to feel the university not just as a place of study, but as a true home.
Outside the classroom, I also found experiences that left a mark on my life. One of them was volunteering for children with terminal illnesses, where we wrote personalized letters for each child according to their interests. That activity reminded me of the power of empathy and how a small gesture can transform someone’s day. At the same time, my time in the UK strengthened my environmental awareness: I understood that caring for the planet is not a luxury or a trend, but an urgent necessity and a responsibility we all share.
Throughout the whole process, attending and having access to the recordings of all the webinars organized by Across the Pond was key for me, as they gave me a great deal of confidence and clarity. Some things I hadn’t anticipated, but they were minor. For example, I never thought of packing a blanket, and upon arriving late at night in Oxford, I had to improvise with a couple of sweaters. I also found out too late about the wide variety of sports and physical activities the university offered; had I known earlier, I would have taken greater advantage of that opportunity to stay active and meet people with similar interests.
In the end, it’s important to know that not everything can be planned, and that part of the magic lies in the unexpected. The key is to be open to making the most of every moment, even those you hadn’t considered. Studying in the United Kingdom was much more than an academic stage: it was a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and deep learning. I leave with memories, tools, and values that I know will always accompany me, and with the certainty that, beyond titles and books, this experience gave me a personal and ethical compass that will guide my path.
- Selene
Studying Abroad; A Modern Englishman in New York?
It’s the cliché of all cliches, leaving your small town and watching the horizon broaden. Writers way above my paygrade have relished in watching your life disappear in the rearview and waiting for your bones to grow old enough that you want to come back. Regardless, it was indeed my lived experience. University was always the dream, and I was around eight years old when I realized that I wanted to go to the United Kingdom. I was young, had unsupervised internet access, and used it to browse the QS world rankings. This lead me to the conclusion that I belonged in a big, bustling city of academics, and once my youth was on the cusp of expiration, a quaint town consisting of nothing but perhaps a Tesco and bridges between castles. The Boris Brexit Escapade was none of my concern because I was to study the stars. Freshly nineteen, I did indeed make it to the University of Manchester to complete an integrated master’s in physics. Disheveled I stumbled off my Ryanair flight, overwhelmed and my pockets deep in debt. I arrived, like many students, to the Fallowfield campus where my journey began.
I didn’t know what to expect, and I certainly didn’t know to expect Fallowfield. A cultural embroidery with south-Asian silk, and so undeniably run by and for students; I’d never seen anything like it, nevermind lived it. The campus itself stuck out like a sore thumb with the backdrop of Rusholme, and small-town life had grossly underprepared me in terms of scale. Everything felt few and far between, even though I’d never been surrounded by more options and diversity in my life. As I came back from my first official day of university and said my teary goodbyes to the family that had helped me move, it dawned on me that for the first time, I didn’t have any friends. Yet, anyway. A massive yet; I’ve found that being alone in Manchester attracts experiences, friends, and opportunities pretty immediately. My wide eyes and annoyingly American accent was a flame that few welcoming northern moths could resist. I signed up for lacrosse, a sport where the extent of my knowledge was that it was Regina George’s true calling in Mean Girls, I started volunteering and I cemented my love for astrophysics with a membership at “astrosoc” and a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, third biggest radio telescope in the world, international headquarters in an interferometry project; the Jodrell Bank. This is where I met one of my best friends, a lovely five-foot scouse girl that has carved a home into my heart forever. She and I have been inseparable since; she introduced me to British (northern, rather) drinking culture, small-talk, and showed me grace when I repeatedly exclaimed “I don’t do if buts and maybes, I do absolutes”, sounding more Irish if anything. It was like my heart settled into every nook and cranny of Manchester, but my anxiety still ran wild regarding the actual degree aspect of it all.
I had absolutely no idea what it meant to “have A-levels” and I was absolutely sick to my stomach to learn that people sat three papers per subject. I also realized that a difference in syllabus, regardless of how slight, could really impact your enjoyment of a module, and unfortunately your view on a lecturer. I’m actually quite glad to say that first semester was a humbling experience. It was hard to adjust to exams and the way they were conducted; I suppose anyone pursuing a university degree can relate to that, but studying in the UK means you also have to accept that everyone else has actually sat exams of this time crunch before. I was used to the Nordic five hours; snacks decorating the desk, computers and textbooks front and center, but restricted internet access. The most valuable thing I learned in Manchester in January was that it was okay to be a little more lost than you thought you were. I learned that regardless, I couldn’t lose my spark. I stayed a student rep, and even joined the EDIA (equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility) committee. If there is ever a moment of darkness, the best support will be immersing yourself in what you love and what you know. I adapted my study methods to improve how much information I retained and reduce how much content needed proper revision once the spring exam time arrived. I swear by the Cornell method and even though the sound of stylus hitting iPad screens is becoming evermore deafening in the Engineering building, you can pry my paper notebooks from my cold, dead hands. With even more challenging material, I found myself improving in second semester and being excited to see what second year has in store.
Unfortunately, I can’t claim that this is transferable to anyone else. I can’t guarantee that you develop a strange fondness for the Sainsbury in Fallowfield but a preference for Morrisons, or that your local Costa coffee will be where your pre-uni de-briefs take place. All I know is that studying at a world leading university, at such an accredited and famous department, in a city so vibrant, is going to change your life. I’m forever grateful for the massive suitcases my family and I dragged across the sea, the lecturers I’ve met so far, and for the nights I’ve spent in both libraries and club lines. Fear, uncertainty and imposter syndrome can turn into something so truly exciting and beautiful. I am so glad I had the chance to refresh my email on the beach, and to see that UCAS confetti in the backseat of our family car- it altered the course of my life, and it can yours too.
- Ajla
