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I wouldn’t change it for the world
Hi there! My name is Irene and I am a second-year student at Roehampton University in London. So far my experience here in London has been absolutely incredible; I’ve made amazing friends, travelled to thirteen new countries, and have had an experience of a lifetime– If you’re considering moving to London for university, I wouldn’t think twice!
Studying in the UK there is an excellent work-life-study balance. My education studies course at Roehampton is two days a week for 4-6 hours depending on the term/module load. This allows me to work on my days off of uni, and have plenty of time to study (and of course time to socialise, make friends etc.) I personally have really enjoyed this schedule and it has also allowed me to travel quite a bit, which is something I never could have done if I were to go to a school in the US.
Additionally, I have saved quite a bit of money by choosing to go to a UK school – an entire bachelors degree in the UK is roughly the price of one year at a state school in the US! Not to mention that a bachelors is only three years as opposed to four – saving you time and money on your education.
I choose Roehampton University because I really liked the campus; Roehampton is one of Londons only universities with a campus. Being a bit out of the hussle and bustle of the city, Roehampton is the perfect balance of city and nature. Roehampton is close to Richmond Park and there is plenty of green spaces in the area, but just one train away you’re in the center of London. I also feel that Roehampton has a great sense of community: there is a student bar with tons of fun social events, tons of societies that suit everyones’ different interests and overall just really nice people collectively.
My first year I lived in shared student accommodation. Roehampton has a large selection of accommodation, some more affordable than others, but overall really good accommodation. I lived in Chadwick Hall last year which was very very nice! I had my own room with my own bathroom and I shared a kitchen with nine other students. The kitchen was quite large and most of my flatmates were on different schedules so we had no problems with sharing. I now live in what the university considers ‘off campus student accommodation’ with two of my friends which I really enjoy and it ends up being much more cost efficient - but either way both experiences have been super enjoyable.
Overall, my experience in London has been absolutely fantastic and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
- Irene
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Surrounded by a truly global community
If you are a student considering the opportunity to study abroad, I HIGHLY recommend Across the Pond! Their assistance throughout the entire process - from deciding which universities to apply to, how to contact professors and request supervision for a PhD, to filling out the application, gathering the necessary documents, and writing a personal essay and research proposal, Across the Pond was there for me every step of the way.
The guidance and support I received translated into success, and I was accepted into the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. I do not think this would have been possible if I had tried to do this without the expertise freely shared with me by the staff of Across the Pond.
As a nontraditional adult student, I am finding the University of Aberdeen to be a welcome place for graduate study. My professors have highly successful academic careers, and I am surrounded by a truly global community of students. The facilities (Library, classrooms, campus) are both high-tech and user-friendly. The people are the same way, very media-savvy and super friendly!
- Lynne
A great education
I really enjoyed my time at the AECC University College. I write this at the end of my 4 years and time has flown by! I feel like have really had a great education here and made some friends for life. It’s going to be really sad to leave as it feels a lot like home now but at the same time I have learnt so much I feel prepared to go into the real world and become an actual chiropractor!
BRODIE’S TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MASTERS IN CHIROPRACTIC
- Getting involved in the breast feeding clinic – It has been a great opportunity to work with the student midwives from Bournemouth University and have learnt a lot from them. I would recommend getting involved in this in clinic for anyone who is interested in paediatrics
- Living in Bournemouth – I have loved every moment of being by the coast (also the sunniest place in the UK). I will really miss spending sunny evenings having BBQ’s on the beach
- Being transformed from a student into a working professional – I really feel like the University College has made the bridge from being a student to a health professional a smooth transition. The tutors are there to support you as students but treat you as their colleagues which is nice
BRODIE’S TOP 3 TIPS FOR STUDENTS THINKING ABOUT STUDYING CHIROPRACTIC
- You have to be passionate about being a chiropractor. It is a tough course and the only way you’ll be successful is if you really enjoy what you’re studying
- Observe as many chiropractors as possible you will soon find out how diverse chiropractic can be and all the routes that you can go down
- Come to one of the open days to get a feel of the college and talk to some of the students. Studying at the AECC University College is a unique experience and is different from most other University’s as your living and studying with people who only do chiropractic. This is great as you get help and support from other students and you all go through the same experience together
- Brodie
State-of-the-art facilities
I decided to study at Brunel because of the international reputation of the Occupational Therapy programme. I hope to someday be an occupational therapist that specialises in paediatrics, and the Masters in Occupational Therapy course at Brunel provides the opportunity to gain further experience working with children with disabilities. In addition, I was attracted to Brunel’s intensive, two-year programme, which combines classroom and practical experience in an urban environment.
The Occupational Therapy programme at Brunel also relies on practice placements. I am looking forward to participating in such placements, as I believe that hands-on learning will be critical to my education as an occupational therapist. While theory provides an important base, applying what you learn in the classroom to clinical situations is extremely important to the learning process.
I was presented with the opportunity to visit London for a week and attend an interview. During my stay, I toured the Brunel campus and saw the teaching facilities in the Mary Seacole Building. Utilising this venue seemed like an excellent way to learn about how to assist a client to learn a new way to perform an activity, while encouraging independence.
What do you like about studying at Brunel?
I very much enjoy studying at the Brunel campus, as we have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, experienced lecturers and a lot of student support. I have also met some incredible colleagues in my department, and I have very much enjoyed sharing and learning from each other’s past experiences. On a larger scale, studying occupational therapy in the UK has enabled me to compare and contrast the public healthcare systems in both Canada and England, and to discover aspects of practice that could be applicable in Canada. It is my opinion that international study gives students a global perspective on issues in their respective fields. Learning abroad in England has provided me with the opportunity to understand what I am studying in a global context, to understand how occupational therapists function in different settings, and to help contribute my skills in a variety of communities in this increasingly globalized society.
What is your opinion of the university accommodation?
I am not personally staying in university accommodation, I elected to live in central London and commute to Brunel. However, several members of my cohort live in halls at Brunel, and they very much enjoy the facilities and the fact that they can live at such a short distance from their lectures.
What advice would you give to a new student at Brunel?
I would say that if you are new to Brunel, make sure you get involved with activities both within your cohort and the university as a whole. Also, make sure that you give yourself time to adjust to your new environment, choosing to study away from home can be a big change but it will be well worth it. And of course, a good pair of wellies will help you through the winter!
What social activities are you involved in?
While I am not currently involved in any formal clubs or societies at Brunel, we organise social activities through the Occupational Therapy department. One of the recent activities many of us participated in was a trip to the Science Museum as part of their "Lates" events. I was able to spend time with my colleagues away from campus, and explore the Science Museum at night with other young adults.
How do you plan to use your degree in your career?
I hope that my studies in Occupational Therapy at Brunel will enable me to pursue a career where I can help people, more specifically children. During my undergraduate degree, I became interested in how children cope with disabilities, which led me to consider how children could benefit from improvements in motor function early in life - specifically, how this would translate to increased overall function as an adult with a disability. My long-term goal would be to work in a paediatric therapy facility where I could help improve children’s lives through the introduction of occupational therapy.
- Julia
Loughborough is really diverse
Leaving home and traveling across the Atlantic to come and study in the UK, I wanted to make sure I was choosing the best place possible to study. I spent four months researching the rankings of the course and university as well as the location in terms of traveling within Europe. My first impression of the Loughborough campus upon arrival was that it was very pretty and reminded me of home, coming from a small town in Michigan.
The professors here at Loughborough are incredibly passionate about their subject areas and this helps motivate the students in class particularly when the professors are referencing their own research. Our very first lecture was by Professor Clyde Williams, he has a building named after him on campus – so is a pretty big deal in Sports Science!
The other aspect of my course I really enjoy is the fact that we are taught by different professors specializing in their subject area, rather than one professor covering lots of subjects. I am also very impressed by the safety of the campus, with 24-hour security, and is located near a small town I feel very safe walking around at night. Plus, the facilities on the campus mean everything is accessible; a medical center, pharmacy, dentist, opticians, and hairdressers, all on-campus – alongside shops and restaurants. I can also get my grocery shopping delivered to my accommodation which is great!
When I first moved into my hall of residence, I was pleased to see that Loughborough University is really diverse – all of my seven roommates come from different countries and are studying different degrees, this has really helped me to make friends outside of my course.
- Tara
