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Blog

Welcome to the Across the Pond Blog!

Here you will find a collection of posts written and curated just for you as a Canadian student considering your study abroad options or preparing to begin your studies in the UK. You can scroll down to view our blog posts (most recent listed at the top) or you can use the dropdown menu to select a category of interest.  

Student Advisor Posts:  written by our Student Advising team based on their own experiences studying in the UK and and common questions we've received over the years while woking with students. Topics cover everything from application support to our best travel hacks to some of our favourite parts of living in the UK as a student. 
 

Student Ambassador Posts:  written by students who worked with an Across the Pond advisor to apply to the UK and share their experiences of arriving, adjusting to life in the UK, and other highlights from their first year abroad. 
 

*Note: some posts may contain information that was applicable at their time of study in the UK but is no longer applicable to new students or has been updated since the time of writing. This includes any information regarding university partners, tuition, course information, funding options, professional accreditation, licensing, visa and immigration policies. Please be sure you check with the university, funding bodies, professional regulators/licensing bodies, Home Office or any other external party for up-to-date information and policy. Reach out to an Across the Pond advisor for help!
 
Written by Lauren -
by Lauren Cameron, Student Advisor

The UK has so many different myths and legends, most of which we’ve all been hearing about since we were little kids. Why not take the opportunity to study in the UK, surrounded by the myths of the Loch Ness… Read more

Written by Brittany - 31/08/2020

The human population is collectively working towards finding innovative solutions to maintain a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Throughout the UK, many universities have taken it upon themselves to join this collective… Read more

Written by Ambassador Kaley - 25/08/2020

Updated by Advisor Heather 16/7/2025 

This time last year I was weeks away from moving to England for a yearlong master’s programme. One year later, I am weeks away from my completing my master’s. Despite everything that happened this… Read more

Written by Advisor Lauren - 01/08/2023

The love that the British have for ice cream may come as a shock to you. Those outside of the UK rarely think of it as a beacon of summer weather and heat. But that's just one more part of life in the UK that you'll have the opportunity to… Read more

Written by Advisor Brittany - 15/04/2020

Updated 17 July 2024 by Advisor Brittany.  

At some point during your studies you are bound to get the travel bug. One of the bigger perks to living in the UK is that international travel becomes significantly cheaper, and… Read more

Written by Advisor Brittany - 24/03/2020
Updated 18 July 2024 by Advisor Brittany. 

 

Spectator Sports and Etiquette

Canadians are no strangers to spectator sports. Professional, semi-professional and university level teams are scattered across the country which means… Read more

Written by Kiranpreet - 12/03/2020

Updated 18 July 2024 by Advisor Brittany.  

Amongst the fears of moving across the pond, we also fear if we are going to make friends. This is one of the things I was most worried about as without friends, the experience would be… Read more

Written by Alessia S - 20/03/2020

Prior to arriving in the UK, I worked at a tea shop, where I learned to become a serious tea aficionado. And after living here for a few months, I’ve managed to learn a thing or two about the UK’s rules about tea, and the traditions that make… Read more

Written by Ambassador Nicole - 05/03/2020

Not only is London the biggest financial Hub in the UK, it has been termed the world’s most innovative and influential global city. While there is no shortage of sights to see and things to do upon your first visit here, I’ve outlined some must… Read more

Written by Ambassador Kaley - 01/08/2023

One of the first questions I had when applying for my masters was what the dissertation process would be like. I had written a thesis in my undergraduate and so while I was familiar with the process at my university in Canada, I was unsure of how… Read more

Written by Advisor Mackenzie - 15/02/2020

Something that I remember fondly from my time in the UK are free or affordable activities to do as a student! Being a student, I was very conscious of my budget, so I discovered a lot that I could do while not spending too much (or anything at… Read more

Written by Ambassador Kaley - 24/01/2020

Since coming to the UK I have noticed quite a few differences from Canada. I have come from an undergraduate in Canada to a masters in England so some of these differences may be because of being in a postgraduate course. Regardless, there are… Read more

Written by Advisor Lauren - 15/01/2020

London is an amazing city full of history, there’s no denying that. There is so much to do, so much to see, and it’s the capital of England. What’s not to love? It’s so amazing, that people often forget there are other cities that are just as, if… Read more

Written by Kiranpreet - 01/08/2023

It has been around 3 months since I first arrived in the UK. Throughout my time here so far, I have gone through a lot of emotions. First: being excited to start a new chapter in my life, second: being nervous to make friends and feel at home,… Read more

Written by Brittany -

Updated 18 July 2024 by Advisor Brittany.

Christmas is a magical time of year. A holiday now grounded with traditions; it presents the perfect opportunity to create some new traditions as you’re living abroad. There may not be a guarantee… Read more

Written by Kaley - 13/12/2019
Yes, you can travel without taking a gap year!

One of the best things about living in the UK is that I get to travel while also being a student. Travel within the UK is incredibly easy, and while I have yet to travel beyond the UK since being… Read more

Written by Ambassador Jaclyn - 01/08/2023
 

Don’t fret if you’ll miss your pet!

When I decided to move to Scotland for my Master’s degree, I knew I would miss family and friends but one thing I didn’t anticipate was how much I would miss my beloved, Dylan. Dylan is a large,… Read more

Written by Ambassador Nicole - 19/12/2019

Updated by Advisor Heather 16/7/2025 

It shouldn’t be a surprise that living in the United Kingdom can be expensive. The exchange rate from Canadian dollar to the British pound is not in favor of Canadians, and the closer to major… Read more

Written by Ambassador Alessia - 20/11/2019

Newcastle is a fantastic city to live in. From the art galleries and lush parks to the buzzing nightlife on Grey Street, you’ll never have a, “there’s nothing to do” moment. But it doesn’t hurt to see something new every now and then! And if a… Read more

Written by Ambassador Kaley - 18/11/2019

I knew I wanted to study abroad since high school. After visiting a few historic universities while on a trip to Spain I knew I would one day move to somewhere in Europe to study. I have family who studied in the UK and while Spain was my… Read more

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