AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER

Moving to another country is, at first, both scary and exciting. You’re moving away from who and what you know. But it is an experience like no other, and one that everyone should have if they get the opportunity. I’m studying at the University of Kent, which is in the historic Canterbury, only about a two hour bus ride from London. There is a lot of wonderful history to explore in the city centre, as well as many shops and pubs. It’s not that far from different beautiful coastal towns like Whitstable and Dover. There is also a ferry from Dover to Calais in France that is extremely cheap for foot passengers, so it’s easy to go exploring in your spare time. The university itself is fantastic as well. The graduate student accommodations are excellent, at Woolf College you get your own bathroom which is probably my favourite part! There are lots of places to eat, drink, and socialize on campus so you never have to go far. And of course, there are lots of places to study, so you’ll never have to fight for a study area. I’m studying International Relations, and one of my favourite things about it so far is the diversity among the professors and the students. Everyone has different backgrounds and brings different perspectives to the classes, which makes it more rewarding. While it is always more expensive to be an international student, you definitely get your moneys’ worth in education. There are also services to help international students find part time jobs if you need one. Across The Pond helped me to figure out if going to another country to do my Master's was for me. They help with the planning, the actual application, and the steps that it will take you to move to another country. The support they give you, especially with the visa applications, is invaluable. I’m not sure I would have even bothered to apply if it wasn’t for them! Once you get to the university though, it is up to you to make the most of it. If I could give one piece of advice to prospective students that are about to go aboard, I would say make sure you attend every welcome event that you can and make sure to get involved.