What I Wish I Knew Before Coming To The UK: Honest Advice For Future Students

My experience so far in the UK has been amazing. I was quite scared of adjusting to the culture and feared alienation. However, after getting here, I realised that no matter what country, everyone has the same emotions, even if we express them differently. My flatmates are from 5 different countries, and it’s just amazing to see how well we get along with each other and how much we respect each other’s perspective. They’ve truly helped me find a home away from home, taking care of me in my sickness, cheering for me in my success, and being there for me in my low points. Emotions have no language and no culture.

On my first day here, I was quite lost and didn’t know anyone or the directions. It was getting dark, and I couldn’t find my way home. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere, and the maps were guiding me through a route that was closed. However, thankfully, I bumped into a woman who had been living in the city for 20 years. Not only did she guide me on how to get to my accommodation, but she also walked all the way with me and, on our way, shared all the special things about Leeds and gave me some amazing recommendations; that incident is something that will always stay with me.

Balanced blend of academics, fun, & campus life abroad

My university experience has been amazing. Be it academics, opportunities to socialise, learn practical skills, or network with professionals. The curriculum here makes sure that we don’t just learn the theory but learn to apply it practically, which is different from India, where the focus is on theory and rote learning. Apart from my academics, I have also had the opportunity to try out fun things like content creation classes every Monday and entrepreneurship workshops, which are teaching us how to pitch our business ideas.

My day at university differs each day. I have my classes starting at 9 o'clock usually, and they go on till 5 some days. However, this semester on Mondays I don't have classes at all, so I spend my time in the library revising my past week's lectures. On other days, when I have time between my classes, I go to Crossroads (a gaming zone in the student union building) and play some board or computer games with my friends or simply prepare notes for the upcoming seminars. If the gap between the lectures is a lot, I go back to my accommodation, as it is just a 10-minute walk from the business school, or I go to the city centre. There are multiple cafés and bars within the university where I sometimes sit. Other than that, I am also a part of some societies like Women in Leadership and the Indian Student Association and get out and get active, so I am also involved in their activities some days.

Settling into student life abroad

So finding part-time work was quite challenging in the beginning, as the competition was a lot and the opportunities were limited. However, my job search became quite hassle-free once I consulted the careers centre, and they taught me the importance of the STAR method in interviews and helped me secure two part-times during the Christmas season at Flannels and Hollister and also as a link to Leeds and student ambassadors at the university itself.

With regard to groceries, I never found it challenging because almost every store sells Indian food, which helped me feel quite close to home. My accommodation is partly owned by the university and partly private and has been really comfortable from day 1. The biggest benefit it has is the location; it is just a 10-minute walk from the business school and 15 minutes from the city centre, which has made everything quite convenient for me.  

Balancing finances with flexible part-time jobs

To manage the cost of living, I received some support from my parents initially; however, just a month after coming here, I took up part-time jobs. I have two part-time jobs with the university as a Leeds ambassador and a student ambassador, and they both are quite flexible around studies. We can decide the number of hours we want to work or the shifts we want to take as per our availability. Both of them have a really good pay of £13-14 per hour.

Other than that, I also work as a content creator with Unite Students; this role, again, is quite flexible, and they pay £17.5 per hour. I saved some money during the Christmas holidays season as well by working at Flannels and Hollister, and I got paid £11.44 per hour at both organisations.

Tips for future students

My advice to prospective students is to research everything really well before coming here, as that will make their experience a lot easier when they actually come here. Connect with people already studying or working here; no one can guide you like them or provide better insights.

Don’t get intimidated by the success of other people here, as everyone studying here has had a different work experience; rather, focus on upgrading your skills every day. Don’t be complacent and try out new things; be inquisitive and ask a lot of questions. Find some time to explore as well, as the UK offers some amazing travel opportunities in and around it. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to be yourself. In the end, the right people will always accept you for who you are.

The author is currently pursuing a master’s in international marketing management at the University of Leeds, UK.