I am studying at Middlesex as an exchange student thanks to the ERASMUS+ programme. I was given a list with universities to choose from for the exchange by my home university, and Middlesex stood out to me for three reasons. One is the location. It had always been a dream of mine to live in London for some time, and the exchange seemed like the perfect opportunity for that. London is a great city to live in as a student. There is always something to do or see. And while living here can be a bit expensive, there are lots of student discounts that make it more affordable, and Middlesex’s MDXworks not only helps students find part-time jobs, but even has flexible employment opportunities itself. 

My second reason is the university’s diversity. Much like London itself, Middlesex is home to students from various nationalities, and I had hoped that this would make me feel more welcome. My expectations were definitely exceeded. With their International Orientation, Middlesex made it really easy for me to find friends and settle in right from the beginning. And when classes started, the other students in my course as well as the staff made sure I felt accepted.

Thirdly, I found the course particularly intriguing. At my home university, I study German and English Philology, which is quite theoretical. My Middlesex course, Creative Writing and Journalism, however, promised a very different approach. The teaching is much less formal than what I am used to and more practical – instead of writing only academic texts, I am mostly graded on the creative content I produce. Since I had never really done any proper creative writing and knew only very little about journalism, I was a bit worried at first. But my classmates and teachers were incredibly helpful, and having the Learning Enhancement Team there to help me is also really reassuring. Being at Middlesex allows me to learn skills and gain knowledge I could not have gotten otherwise, and I am convinced that my time here will prove very useful for finding a job in the book publishing industry after I finish my studies.

- Sandra

I found out about Across the Pond through a graduate school fair where I did my undergraduate. From the outset, they were very helpful in helping me identify suitable programs based on my interests as well as finding relevant scholarship options. It was also immensely helpful to have someone give me advice on both my statement of intent and how to go about the visa process. It was very reassuring to know that I had someone I could ask for help if I was confused or unsure.

I am now doing my MA in Global Development and Education and have received a full international fees tuition scholarship from the university. I am really enjoying the course as well as the city of Leeds. I have started volunteering with a local development education center and have joined the Oxfam society. I have also had the opportunity to travel to York and will be heading to Edinburgh in a few weeks.

I really recommend that North American students coming to Leeds take advantage of this great service, as it can make applying to universities across the pond feel less daunting and overwhelming. They really are very supportive.

- Stacey
 

My name is Christian, I study at the University of Leeds and I am enrolled in their PhD programme in Biological Sciences, studying systems neuroscience specifically. I was attracted to this university because of their research in the field of neuroscience and the principal investigator I work for was interested in taking me on as a student and regularly kept in contact with me over the entire application process.

Settling in at the university was an easy and comfortable experience. Currently I live in halls, moving in and learning about my accommodation was explained by the staff. I find the staff to be good natured and willing to help you resolve a problem. Cost of living at an accommodation is the same as it would be in North America, cost covers rent, utilities, internet and sometimes food. My current room has a bed, desk, storage space and a personal bathroom; there is a shared kitchen, laundry and living room space. I will be moving into private accommodation soon which is substantially lower than what I pay now however food, internet and utilities are not included. In terms of moving for first year, I would advise you to either select halls or a single unit private accommodation without housemates. In terms of settling into my programme, the University of Leeds provides an excellent week-long training event where you meet other PhD’s in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. I’ve kept in touch with nearly all the people in attendance and this event provides important information about research degrees in the UK and opportunities following your studies. The university also provides a webinar series for foreign students to familiarize new students with the university, accommodation and city itself. This webinar series is quite useful since the people answering your questions are current international students at the university.

Leeds is a wonderful city, it’s quite large but as a student nearly all the important things are easily accessible in the main areas in the city. You can usually get around in the city centre and the suburban areas closer to the university just by walking and you can take a bus to further destinations for a little over £1. Leeds is also student friendly, student discounts can be found at some food outlets, travel and even the cinema. The city also has a number of events all year round that you can check out; my personal favourite was the Leeds International Film Festival. On those sunny days I highly recommend spending a day at Roundhay Park which has a number of trails, an indoor zoo and cafes. Just under an hour away is the city of York which has an incredible Christmas market and also is just a neat city to walk around in. Downtown York has cobblestone walkways and was also where some of the Diagon Alley scenes were shot for the Harry Potter films.

I was a bit nervous when moving to Leeds simply because I was so far away from home however now I love Leeds and would like to continue studying in the UK following my PhD. If you want to study at the University of Leeds or other UK universities I would advise you to start planning now, if you are an undergraduate start emailing the administrative staff of the Faculty you’re interested in and provide an academic transcript. If you are a postgraduate I would highly recommend looking through projects advertised on the Faculty’s website or on FindaPhD.com or alternatively read about the different researchers and contact them, discuss your interest in their work and propose an area you’d like to work in and most importantly provide a CV and transcript.

Across the Pond was also an important part of my application, guidance provided by my Across the Pond advisor proved to be invaluable and her input throughout the process was excellent. If you describe what you are interested in studying, Across the Pond can also provide a list of universities for you to look through. Another important aspect about Across the Pond is they provide a webinar series which covers the visa application process, accommodation, travel advice, general knowledge about the UK. This webinar series should not be missed, I strongly encourage any prospective students to attend the live webinars and ask questions.

Studying in the UK is an amazing experience; the research environment here is excellent providing you with opportunities to work with different researchers to explore new frontiers of science. If you are interested in studying at a UK university, you should contact the administrative staff (undergraduate) and potential supervisors (postgraduate) soon. Providing a brief intro about yourself and areas of interest, a CV and transcript is extremely helpful to both Across the Pond and the universities you are interested in. I wish you the best of luck in your studies and your application!

- Christian
 

I highly value the chance of being in such a diverse environment, it has allowed me to get to know people from so many places with a range variety of understandings. I have been able to learn not only from the life experiences and culture of my fellow classmates, but also from the business environment and the challenges of modern banking in different geographies, enriching my perspective and network in a world of integrated financial markets and global companies.
 

Why did you choose this university? 

I chose to study MSc Banking and International Finance at Leeds University Business School because the course content cover the central issues in modern banking and financial markets, the University has a strong research culture as part of the Russell Group, LUBS holds triple accreditation from the three leading bodies AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS being part of the top business schools in the world and has also been named a Centre of Excellence by the Chartered Banker Institute.
 

How do you find university life? How is this different from student life in your home country?

One of the things that is different from my previous academic experience, and I love about the postgraduate programme, is that it is design to have a big proportion of time spent as independent study, I like been able to manage my study time and combine it with my personal interests, hobbies, and a part-time job.

Another difference is the focus on employability. Since day one the university has encouraged me to think about the future of my career and how the tools and resources that they offer can help me boost my CV. For students doing Banking and International Finance, I think the most relevant credentials are the Bloomberg certifications, the CFA University Affiliation that signals the curriculum is closely tied to the practice of investment management, and the membership to the Charted Banker Institute while studying being eligible for Chartered Banker status upon graduation.
 

What are you studying and why? 

I am studying MSc Banking and International Finance. Before coming to Leeds, I studied a bachelor’s degree in economics, and I worked as a Business Consultant collaborating to implement strategic projects in some of the biggest banks of Mexico. Although I gained a general perspective of the Banking Industry through my previous education, and my work experience helped me to develop management and negotiation skills, I wanted to deepen my knowledge in Finance to keep growing professionally.

The best thing about my course are the modules. The core modules have a perfect mix of quantitative and theoretical views, fomenting critical thinking and connecting ideas across subjects. We also choose optional modules to have a more personalized learning experience and to gain skills for real-world application in the financial labor market.

The knowledge acquired has allowed me to understand from another perspective situations that I lived on a day-to-day basis in the company where I worked, but now I can be more critical with certain things that I took for granted, and I think this will allow me to move from the execution of projects to a more strategic role in the future.
 

Describe a typical day as a student/on your course

A normal day begins at 7am when I have breakfast and start getting ready to go to class. I usually have two to four hours of classes a day, starting between nine and eleven in the morning. After having classes or seminars I usually go to the cafeteria to eat something with my classmates, we usually use these spaces to discuss our doubts and ideas from previous sessions. Most people are very independent, so in general after having this snack each one continues with their activities on their own. Sometimes I go back to the residence and study in my room, other times I go to the library. Between 6 and 7pm I go to the gym where, depending on the day, I take spinning, body combat or resistance band classes. After exercising, I return to the accommodation where I prepare lunch and dinner, most days I meet one of my roomies (who are from Azerbaijan, India, Uganda and Thailand) and we have a little talk about how the day was.

On Thursdays I don't have classes, but I go to a meditation session organized by the University's Wellbeing department, it is guided by a specialist, and it helps me control stress and manage my emotions better. On Tuesdays the University organizes a space called Global Café designed to meet people from other countries and make friends. On Fridays I like to go to the pub with my friends or go out dancing at a club. On Saturdays I usually meet friends to go to museums, see places or go hiking. On Sundays, I organize myself with my roomies to clean the house, I go to the supermarket and organize the activities for the week ahead.
 

Tell us about the town/city and what you love about it!

Leeds is a young, diverse, and vibrant city for creativity and culture. One of my favourite areas of the city is Hyde Park, here you can find great places to study, chill or meet pals. I really enjoy a good cup of coffee and nice music while I’m working on my assignments, exploring vintage shops, running at the park Woodhouse Moor, and discovering art galleries, exhibitions, and music performances.
 

Tell us about your accommodation

I decided to apply to the university residences because the process was easy, and it seemed more reliable than going to an external company. The apartment I'm in was the cheapest option available since I decided to sacrifice space or comfort in exchange for having more money available to travel and not being so tight in day-to-day expenses. However, sometimes I find it difficult to adapt to sharing the apartment (and the two bathrooms) with 6 other people or that the facilities, being old, have constant failures. On the positive side, the room I have is comfortable, I have adequate space to store my things, rest, and study, and best of all, the business school is a 10-minute walk away.

One piece of advice that I would give to someone looking for an accommodation is that they not only consider the prices, but also the number of people with whom they share, if the room has its own bathroom, the distance to the university, the safety of the neighbourhood, and the common areas. And contrast these elements with the budget that is available.
 

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I enjoy exercising, The Edge has amazing facilities and literally over a hundred classes to join and keep yourself fit, have fun, and meet people. The University’s societies host events all the time from cultural activities to networking and skill-development sessions which has also permitted me to explore other interests.

 
If English is not your first language, how did you find the transition into studying in English?

Despite considering that I had a good level of English, having to adapt to different accents and using it all the time was a process that required time and patience. However, week by week I was gaining fluency and understanding everything better. The strategies I followed to adapt were to talk to other people as much as possible, listen to the radio and watch videos on YouTube about common phrases in England.

The professors are very understanding when it comes to international students studying in a language that is not their mother tongue and the university has many resources to improve your language skills: computer centers with online courses, exchanges with native students who want to learn your language, sessions in the library on writing essays, public speaking, or tips for reading and answering exams.

 
Is there anything else you´d have liked to know before you applied, started university or went to the UK?

Yes, like many other people from Latin America, I found that most of the individuals in my program were younger than me, because in Europe and Asia most of the degrees last only 3 years (my degree lasted 5) and I had 4 years of work experience. So, my classmates can be up to 6 years younger and that's something I didn't expect. However, having experience allows you to have another perspective of what you are learning and to know how what you see in the classroom is relevant in practice.

- Ilse
 

I found Across the Pond while doing research for UK programs. At first, I did not believe the website due to being skeptical that a program existed in which there would be advisors who help students to apply to universities all across Britain. My experience in working with Across the Pond has been a smooth and enlightening experience of what another country has to offer.

It has also been wonderful getting to work with my advisor and knowing that I can count on her to answer every question and doubt I may have. She has made it an easy change by letting me know that I am not alone in this transition. I really liked the personal feeling I got instantly when my advisor reached out to me and made sure to give me all the help I needed.

I would summarize this experience on a whole as amazing, helpful and the greatest decision I have ever made. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone and everyone who is looking to study abroad in Britain. This program is everything I hoped it to be and more. Anyone who joins this program will be grateful. I cannot wait to finally be in the UK and fulfill my goal of completing my master's through the help of my advisor at Across the Pond!

- Kimberly