Studying in the UK? How about Studying and Traveling?
When you are about to embark on your trip to the UK, you think that you are only going to bury yourself in your studies, because it is normal to want to focus 100% on studying since you aren't spending a small amount of money or time. You want to dedicate 100% of your energy to it, and I understand that at the beginning you are nervous, so maybe the first month you say "Ok, I will use the first month to adapt, get to know the surroundings a little bit, and get used to my routine," but you will have another 11 months to do other things. This is where the idea of "I want to travel, I want to explore, I'm already here, I want to go to Scotland" comes in, because that was exactly what I thought. I said, "if I already know York", in my case I went to the University of York, which is a wonderful school, it is one of the best and you can feel it in every class you attend, and the professors are very good, but even they tell you, "You know what? Relax, stop thinking about school stuff and travel, explore, you are already here."
And the truth is, you wouldn't be wasting it, nor do you have to sacrifice a lot of school time to be able to explore. I think it is one of the things you absolutely have to do, aside from studying, because the system gives you the time to disconnect from school. There is even a week they call rest week, intended for your brain to rest from the things you are doing for school, and you can use it to travel.
Recommendations? Scotland... London!
Honestly, I recommend going to Scotland. I think that if you go to the UK, specifically England, you have to go visit Scotland. It is very close; it takes about three hours by train, more or less, and you can easily pick a city, tour its most important spots in one day, and return that same night. Will you end up exhausted? Yes. Is it an experience I would recommend? Also, yes. Another recommendation: if you are in York, which is sort of a midpoint on the island of Great Britain, going to London isn't very far either. It is a very large city, though, so keep in mind that you won't be able to cover it in a single day, but it is also a must-visit. In fact, visiting other cities will also help you reconnect a little bit with your home country, because often when you are there, the food doesn't taste the same, and that is the first thing you miss from your country. In bigger cities like London or Edinburgh, finding restaurants that make good food from your country is easier.
There are many other places I visited, for example, Manchester, Liverpool, and the coastal town of Scarborough. While they aren't huge cities, if you are used to living at the speed of a big city like Mexico City, which is where I come from, visiting those cities will give you a little bit of vigour in life. There are very good restaurants in those cities too. I would recommend one in Manchester; I honestly don't remember what it's called, but look for it as a restaurant that gives you "machetitos", it's excellent with steaks.
Do not miss the opportunity to try other food, I mean, food from other countries, because since the UK is such a cosmopolitan country, it is very easy to find food from other places that you perhaps wouldn't find in your own country.
Zero fears of tourism
The truth is that the people there are very warm. You might think otherwise, but traveling, talking, and getting to know other places is something you just have to do. You are already there, take advantage of it; don't just bury yourself in studying. Yes, that is what you are going for, but it's not that difficult either, and you will realize that. It seems that when someone tells you about it, they are just paying lip service, and you think "it's very easy to say but doing it is complicated," but take it from me, I already went and lived that experience, and it is not as difficult as it seems. Make time to explore, and whether you go with a scholarship or your own funds, make room for it, it is truly worth it. If you had to choose just one destination out of all the ones over there, I would recommend, and I repeat, Scotland.
There are many good seasons to go to Scotland, specifically Edinburgh. I went during the December season, which is when the Christmas markets are there, and honestly, it is totally recommended. Don't miss it, the Christmas markets are very beautiful, there is a lot of food, try everything. Something else I can recommend to you is a map. There are many places that sell little maps, buy one. I think it is something that when you look at it, you will say "I toured that city," and you will remember the spots you went to. For example, I vividly remember going to the castle; by the way, if you go to the castle at 1:00 PM, there is an impressive cannon shot, you must go. Getting back to the map, it makes a great souvenir.
I hope this is useful to you because I want to emphasize that not everything is studying. The professors say it, and I think it is also healthy to disconnect a little bit. At least in Latin American countries, we have a culture where we always have to be doing something, we always have to be productive, we always have to do things; you can't disconnect, maybe you can't even take a 5-minute breather. But you will realize that the culture is very different over there. All that's left is for me to wish you good luck on the next trip you take to clear your mind from your studies, because I know you will go and you will make it happen.
-Diego
What I wish I had known before going to the University of York
The UoY, or University of York, is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom, and although you might think, "that is just a ranking," or "maybe they aren't that good," I can tell you right now that they are indeed very good, and you notice it in every single class.
They have curricula at the vanguard of the world's needs, and mind you, I don't just mean the UK's; they are preparing people to be ready to face the challenges that haven't even reached our countries yet, but when they do, we will be a few steps ahead. Now, you already know the university is very good, but what about the accommodation, the life, and the country?
Your home in York
The university is huge, and the truth is I didn't explore all of it, but I can tell you that the options for staying on campus are very diverse; whichever college you are assigned to, you are very lucky, as they all have their charm. I don't want to take away the merit of living on campus, because it is very convenient, both because you don't have to worry about paying for utilities, and because you can get to the classroom in 5 minutes. However, I think a better option would have been to live off-campus, because generally speaking it is cheaper, and you are closer to urban life. You can ask the government to exempt you from council tax payments because you are a foreign student, and that is a big help regardless. But what happens? At least in my experience, the time difference between when I got my visa and when I travelled to York was 10 days, 10 days! I wouldn't have had time to find accommodation in time; what I did was secure housing at the school well in advance, which takes a lot of pressure off you.
Making money
This is one of the things that I really wish I had known, especially because you think, "I won't have time," or "I want to focus 100% on my studies," and I can tell you that you will have more than enough time for everything: traveling, working, and studying. Now, in York there are many options for working, restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries. It's just a matter of finding a place you like, since being a student city/town, there are many places that give you the flexibility to work, and that helps you a lot, because when you are a student that is vital, and even more so because you also want to travel. So, my advice is: work from month 1.
I know it sounds difficult, but that's just it, it sounds more difficult than it actually is. If you have already dared to go to a country you might not know well, working will help you not only to make money, but to gain experience so that later you can look for something more specialized in what you want, because let me tell you that it's something the English value a lot, that you already have experience working in their country, but It will also help you socialize, improve your use of idioms in the language, and distract you from school.
Grocery shopping is expensive?
Here I must say yes and no, because it will depend a lot on where you shop. I recommend certain stores like Lidl or Aldi, which are very good, cheap, and have sales very often, and as a student, you appreciate that. I think it depends on tastes and budgets here, but in general, I could tell you that it is not expensive; there are many products that are expensive in our countries, but there they are absurdly cheap, like bread, for example. It's not that it's expensive in Mexico, but I don't know why, they almost give it away to you over there.
There are also many student discounts in restaurants or cafeterias; take advantage of them, you can stock up on bread for several days there. Also, use apps like Too Good To Go; that app gives discounts to people who want to buy the leftover food at the end of the day at a restaurant. It's not bad, it's just that the restaurant offers fresh food daily and they won't offer that food the next day, and as they would say in my hometown, "better in my belly than in the trash."
There are many other things that, although I would have liked to know before going, I think it was also good that I discovered them along the way. I hope you can also discover them like I did because going to the UK was one of the things I will always recommend.
-Diego
Why Studying in the UK Might Be the Best Decision
I am a firm believer that if something scares you, you should do it, because that is where you grow, and to be honest, going to study in the United Kingdom was one of the decisions that scared me the most at the time, but I don't regret a thing. Obviously, thinking that you will be far from home and that you will go alone, especially when you haven't travelled abroad alone, is an uncomfortable situation. I thought that the culture shock, the weather, the people, the country, and the way of thinking would be very difficult things to face, but now, after having lived the experience, I can tell you that I couldn't have been more wrong in my life.
Going to the UK was an eye-opening experience; being such a cosmopolitan country, you find people from many countries, many ideas, and many ways of thinking. You can adapt ideas for your return home, if you are thinking about returning, or you can change your way of seeing things, because sometimes what you need is to know how other cultures view things. Often, the people with whom you exchange ideas become people with whom you maintain friendships, despite the cultural differences and the distance.
I can say that I remain friends with a Turkish friend I met in York; he is me, but in a Turkish version. Can you imagine finding your "you" from another country? I would never have imagined it; he even invited me to his wedding. The probability of something like that happening to me in Mexico is very low.
But why might studying in the UK be the best decision?
The experience of living in another country by itself is already attractive; meeting people, places, and cultures is fascinating. However, the academic vision and the years of advancement that the UK has in terms of the problems they solve and teach you, I am very sure you haven't heard about in many places. That experience and that vision you bring back will help you pave your way in the professional field, in your entrepreneurship, or even in your daily life. Going to study doesn't just give you a master's, doctorate, or bachelor's degree; it gives you perspective, and that is something you couldn't get just anywhere.
-Diego
The experience was transformative
The United Kingdom appealed to me for its cultural richness, language and long musical tradition. As a musician, I regarded it as a cradle for music in its many forms; its landscapes and architecture also informed my decision.
The Master’s was demanding and highly rewarding. The programme was largely self-directed, focused on extensive reading, critical analysis and termly project work, culminating in a dissertation that required sustained rigour. The modules were varied and enabled a consistent connection between theory and practice.
On a personal level the experience was transformative. I formed friendships with British and Latin American peers, and I was struck by the activity of the Chinese community within the musical scene. Adapting to the winter climate proved challenging—limited daylight in late December and early January coincided with final rehearsals—but the arrival of spring and the long summer days revitalised both mood and practice.
Participation in ensembles and musical groups was crucial to my integration and provided authentic opportunities to understand local customs. I found people courteous and well organised; punctuality and planning were evident even in leisure. I was fortunate to be hosted by British families on a few occasions through musical engagements, which offered direct insight into domestic life, and the pub served as an important social venue for building connections.
I leave the programme with academic, personal and professional gains. Academically, wide and critical reading became essential for framing meaningful questions and sustaining arguments. Personally, I developed stronger skills in organisation, planning and time management, and learned to balance academic and work commitments with personal wellbeing; I came to appreciate that adequate rest is essential for sustained productivity.
Professionally, the experience underlined the value of continuous development and practical exposure. Teaching short courses provided firsthand pedagogical experience, and I was impressed by the level of professionalisation in the UK, where many roles require formal certifications.
I would have benefited from clearer information beforehand on UK workplace dynamics and professional expectations, as well as practical guidance on adapting to the climate and its impact on daily routines.
- José Alberto
My Best “Ignorant” Decision Ever: Moving to York
The “Why” York
I had been searching for a long time for a program that combined sociology and technology in equal parts. Most of what I found was either too technical or too focused on the humanities. When I discovered the one at the University of York, I felt I had finally found the master’s program I truly wanted. The funny part is that I was so focused on the program itself that I didn’t research anything about the city. I just moved. And now, looking back, I always say it was my best “ignorant” decision.
A City That Won My Heart
York surprised me from the very first day. It’s one of those places that slowly works its way into your heart. The city is beautiful, full of history, with large parks, green spaces, and a city center full of things to explore. I had been an international student before, but I had never found it so hard to say goodbye to a place as it was with York. The people I met were incredibly kind, always up for a chat and with a sense of humor that made it easy to laugh about anything. Once I read on Instagram that York was “the friendliest city in the UK,” and I thought it sounded like an exaggeration, after all, how could you even measure that? But after living there, I can say that in my experience, it really was.
Community
At the university, I found an international community that welcomed me from day one. I connected closely with a fun and supportive Latin community, but I also made friends with people from all over the world. I was surrounded by kind people and meaningful conversations that opened my eyes to different cultures, industries, perspectives, and languages. Outside the university, I also met amazing people: at events organized by women’s groups in the city and even at a poetry group I stumbled upon by chance one Thursday night in a pub. I never felt alone, and that sense of belonging is what made my time in York unforgettable.
Food, Travel, and Weekends
York also gave me countless stories to tell. I’m a foodie, and even though British food isn’t the country’s strongest point, I found excellent restaurants with international flavors: Italian, Thai, Japanese, Colombian, Indian, and more. On weekends, I went to the Yorkshire Moors, the Dales, the Peak District, and other natural spots with stunning views and friendly people. York is surrounded by amazing landscapes for walking and hiking. Plus, the university societies organized the trips, so logistics were easy and I could just sign up and enjoy. Another great advantage is that York is less than two hours by train from London and only a few hours from Liverpool, Edinburgh, and other cities. Its location is perfect for exploring. I even used train rides to get ahead on essays or my thesis. Pro tip: the student railcard is a lifesaver for spending less and traveling more.
Support That Made This Possible
Across the Pond gave me free guidance and supported me for over two years of applications and scholarship searches, until everything finally aligned. Thanks to one of their online presentations, I discovered the program I had been looking for, and with their help, I was able to make this experience a reality. It’s not always easy to meet every deadline or stay motivated when you’re applying to several universities, and my advisor was key during those moments. She checked in with me even when I was least motivated or struggling to keep up, and I will always be grateful for that. Personally and professionally, I ended my year in York happier than I ever imagined.
My Advice: Take the Leap
If you’re considering studying in the UK, my advice is simple: take the leap. I am so grateful I chose York, even if at the time it was an “ignorant” decision regarding the city. Normally, I research and overanalyze everything in advance, but this time I stuck with the process, trusted the unknown, and it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.
- Ana Sofia
