My First Month in Newcastle
Written by Alessia - 07/11/2019
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If you came to me at the end of my undergrad and asked what my next steps were, I would’ve said, “I don’t know, but I’m definitely not going back to school." |
Grey Skies and Rainy Cab Rides
One of my best friends travelled to the UK with me to act as my London tour guide, and help me settle into Newcastle. We visited all of the major tourist destinations like Kensington Palace, Notting Hill, Westminster Abbey, and more. Everywhere we went was lovely, but these were my favourites:
The Tower Bridge
I am TERRIFIED of heights- but for some reason, I adored the Tower Bridge. Was it because I was having a, “Wow I’m really in England and I can’t believe I made it here” moment? Probably. I was just so excited to be up high, taking in the different skylines of the city, and learning about the history of the bridge. Plus, you get a sticker for conquering the glass floor, and who wouldn’t love that?
Mamma Mia on the West End
I’ve dreamt of watching Mamma Mia on Broadway for such a long time, and all I can say is that it was absolutely everything I hoped it would be and more. Not only was every detail of the show spectacular, but after the curtain call had ended, the cast remained on stage and the theatre busted out into concert mode. The energy in the room was electric. My friend and I felt so joyful and alive and free that it brought us to tears. Publicly bawling my eyes out with one of my best friends at a Mamma Mia show while starting my Mamma Mia-esque journey was pure magic.
Tour of the Buckingham Palace State Rooms
I was always under the impression that visitors were not allowed into Buckingham Palace, but my friend and I jumped at the chance to tour the state rooms. We spent a little over an hour in there and took in all of the history and architecture of the palace, and it was absolutely breath-taking. I actually got to twirl and float around a ballroom inside Buckingham Palace and I still haven’t processed that yet. What’s great about this tour is the ticket stamping option at the end of it. If you hold onto your ticket and get it stamped by customer service, then you can re-visit the castle for an entire year for free!
Taking on the Toon
After five days in London, we took a stagecoach up to my new home. Newcastle Upon Tyne is a gorgeous city located in the North East of England, and is filled with beautiful sights and the kindest people you will ever meet.
My first two weeks here were pretty full. I spent most of my day’s grocery shopping, making my dorm room feel like home, and attending countless welcome events at my school, Newcastle University.I met a whole bunch of people from these events, both from here in the UK and around the world. Also, having two weeks to prepare for school was incredibly helpful because it gave me time to get better acquainted for my program.
It still feels so surreal to be sitting here, reminiscing on all of the memories I’ve made in such a short time, when a year ago I didn’t even know where (or what) Newcastle was. And now I feel eternally indebted to my ATP advisors for helping me find this beautiful city because there is really nowhere I’d rather be right now.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get here too, then you can contact an advisor.
My First Days in London
Written by Nicole - 05/11/2019
Arrival
Arriving in the UK to study is a very exciting time. The first few weeks will be a very busy time and even while your classes haven’t started yet, It is important to take advantage of all the free time and use it to get settled in.
Arriving for the first time using a visa is a different experience than arriving for a visit and it is necessary to follow the instructions for entrance from the visa office. In my case, I was instructed to enter through the normal customs gate rather than the E-booths.* Following these instructions will save you from having further complications involving your visa when entering and exiting the country in the future.
Don’t be scared to get involved!
It is likely your school will hold a welcome week on campus at the beginning of the semester. This is where you can find out information about your program, the administrative staff you can come to later for help, and about the various societies offered. For me this week was a busy one and I tried to make it to as many on campus and social events as possible. The society and sports fair is one of the biggest events during welcome week at my university, as societies are a very big thing here in the UK. There are societies to join for every interest from the Feminist Society to the Business and Finance society to cultural societies. Most societies will have their own meetings and socials which is not only a great way to get involved, but also a great way to meet people outside of your program that have similar interests to yours. Especially in these first few weeks, everyone is in the same boat as you trying to find their way around and looking to meet new people and make friends! Personally, I met most of my friends at the Law BBQ during welcome week
I found the senior status society to be a great help for me as a law student as it connected me with students in my program in their second year who have provided me with guidance with everything from classes and lecturers to applying for jobs after graduation. I was also able to buy some of my textbooks off of them second hand!
Additionally, keep an eye out for International Welcome events where they provide help directed to students coming from abroad. They can be helpful with settling in such as registering with a doctor through the National Health Services and getting transportation cards.
The best part of my experience so far has been living in London. With my school campus being in the city, I am able to go into the city each week to find a new café or spot to study. Soaking in the inspiration of the city really motivates me to work and also provides me with the opportunity to be among many potential employers at firm open days and events.
Advice
The biggest thing I would stress to students arriving next fall is to get in a good routine early. Even if you have already been to university, it is easy to underestimate the number of tasks you have to do when making an international move in terms of getting settled in.
It can easily get very overwhelming when school picks up and having a routine will allow you to manage your time better. A good tip is to treat your studies like a job. Finding a good school/ life balance may not seem like a top priority but it is essential to do so to avoid burning out. It is important to work hard at your degree, but it is equally important to turn off your computer or put the books away and rest. Hanging out with friends, being active, eating good and healthy food are all self-care tools that will help you not only stay engaged in school, but will allow you to make the most of your time abroad.
If you would like to find out more about studying in the UK, please contact one of our advisors
*Following Home Office policy in place at the time of this student's student experience. Always check for the latest Home Office policy regarding visas and immigration.
Lochs, Libraries and Lack of Sleep: My First Week in Scotland
Written by ATPAmbassador - 01/11/2019
by Jaclyn Nelson
My first week in Glasgow was filled with new
places, jetlag, unique and delicious foods, jetlag, breathtaking sights, and
more jetlag.
Things didn’t get off to the best start
though. Due to a mixture of excitement and nerves, I was unable to sleep on my
overnight flight over from Canada. Excitement soon turned into bleary-eyed
exhaustion, but when the plane began its descent to Glasgow, I started to see
the rolling mountains, and the butterflies in my stomach were fluttering like
it was the mating season. I kept thinking, "I'm here! I made it!" and
that feeling made the sleep deprivation worth it… just.
I was sad to leave my friends and family, but
I was looking forward to studying Information and Library Studies at the
University of Strathclyde, a long-term goal for my career development. On top
of that, I’d be living with my partner, who had moved up from the North West of
England, so at least I’d have someone who can half understand the accent.
I’ve never lived in a foreign country before,
so it was only natural to feel a little apprehensive, but with the journey out
of the way, I could embrace being an international student in a new country. On
the car ride to my new home, I was in awe at the rolling hills that encompassed
Scotland, it almost took my breath away. I felt so lucky that I could call this
place home for the next year and also proud of myself for taking this on.
I had arrived a month before classes started,
so welcome week orientation hadn't begun yet. But there was plenty to check out
in Glasgow before my course started. I decided to use this time before classes
started to take in local sights and familiarize myself with Glasgow, including
the University Campus and a few museums. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
was pretty spectacular, and as a future librarian, it was great to check out
The Mitchell Library, one of the largest libraries in Europe.
Although I was sleep-deprived the first week,
I was still able to spend some time in the great outdoors. We visited Loch
Lomond and hiked up Conic Hill - a manageable two- to three-hour hike that’s
perfect if you’re suffering from jetlag and not ready for a full day excursion.
Unfortunately, I wore what I believed to be a waterproof jacket for the hike,
and it turns out what’s waterproof in Canada isn’t cut out for Scottish rain.
My so-called rain jacket began absorbing the water instead of repelling it and
I was distressed to realize that I had become a sponge. Still, I was determined
to make it to the top, and I don't know if that was the delirium from the lack
of sleep or my sheer will, but somehow I did.
As I continued taking on water, I was nevertheless blown away by the
sights along the route. The lochs (Scottish term for lake) and mountains were a
sight to see, and I couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to have all this so
close to home. After the hike, we headed straight into a warm, cozy
pub-restaurant where I tried Haggis for the first time, and I was pleasantly
surprised at how delicious it was! I look forward to having it again, just so
long as no one tells me how it’s made.
Staying fit is important to me, and by far my
favourite way to do so is through boxing, so it was important that I found a
great gym for the year. Thankfully, Glasgow is well served for aspiring
pugilists, with a number of great boxing and kickboxing gyms around the city,
as well as the extremely convenient 9ROUND which offers a lung-busting
30-minute workout that’s perfect when you’re short on time.
Over the course of the week, we also managed
to take in a football game, go to the cinema, and eat out probably more than we
should. I look back at my first week in Scotland with the fondest, albeit
somewhat foggy memories. Throughout this time, I just kept thinking of how
lucky I was to be living here.
I recommend students to look at Scotland when they are thinking about studying in the UK. Scotland has so much to offer international students, from its rich culture to majestic scenery. If you're thinking about studying in the UK, maybe even Scotland, please contact an Across the Pond student advisor for more information.
My First Days in the UK (Newcastle!)
Written by Kaley - 30/10/2018
I have been living in North East England for just over a month now and it has been nothing but excitement ever since. While my university had an airport service for international students, I decided to come a week early to start settling in before the semester began. I was lucky enough to travel with both my mom and grandma to make the transition a little more bearable and to have additional support with moving in and getting familiar with my new city.
I was nervous traveling and entering the country on a visa as I had never done anything like this before. I had the idea in my mind that it would be a long and complicated process to enter the country. Thanks to my advisor I was prepared for anything and had all my documents ready to speak with an immigration officer at the airport. Despite my concern, it was a rather smooth process. The whole thing only took a total of maybe 10 minutes. There were only 2 other people ahead of me, and once I got up to the officer all I was asked was for my passport and visa. I can’t speak for everyone but for me it was quick and painless arriving on a visa.
Since I arrived one week before my move in date, I stayed at a hotel for the time being. This gave me the opportunity to explore the city/ campus and to run some necessary errands before the stress of the semester began. I used this time to set up a SIM card for my phone, to open a UK student banking account, and to pick up my biometric residence permit. I also got to explore the Newcastle Castle, visit the Quayside Sunday Market and, I even got some traveling in during that first week.
Before classes begin, universities here have what is called Freshers’ week. This is about a 10 day stretch where students are able to go to various events on campus, in the city, and in the general area/ county. While I didn’t attend any of the actual Freshers’ events the university also held a variety of welcome events specifically for international students. One of the events they held was a pizza party for all the international postgraduate students in my faculty. This was an awesome opportunity to meet other international students who are also studying in courses similar to my own. At this event I even met a girl who was from the same province as I am! As well as the events going on all week, they also had a bunch of companies on campus giving out free coupons and food, and had fairs for joining clubs, or finding a job in the city centre. This whole week was a great way to feel welcome on campus and even having only attended one event, all of the energy and people on campus really made me feel like I had made the right decision coming here.
The best part of this experience so far has been simply the change of scenery. Every day I walk to class and pass churches and castles that are older than Canada itself. In the same amount of time it would take me to drive to the closest city at home I am able to travel to different countries.
If I was to recommend 5 things for students who will be coming to the UK next fall it would be to try and travel with a friend or family member, to fly through the night to try and avoid jetlag, attend at least one even during welcome/ Freshers’ week, take the opportunity to travel and explore your new country/ city, and to contact an Across the Pond advisor to find out more about studying in the UK!
My First Days in the UK (Hertfordshire!)
Written by Efenosa - 22/10/2019
When I decided to apply for Law School in the UK, it was one of the biggest (if not the biggest) decisions I’d made for myself and by myself. Having the guidance of the Across the Pond student advisors to keep you on task and provide all the information you needed to succeed made this process that much easier. After choosing my program, applying, and accepting my offer came the hard part – applying for a UK visa. I won’t lie and say it was a simple process, it wasn’t - or that it wasn’t expensive, it was. However, if (as it was for me) it is something you really wanted to achieve than it's worth it. During the visa process you will need to pay for your healthcare for the length of time you’ll be in the UK*. You’ll also need to book a biometric appointment to scan your fingerprints and take your visa photo*. Because of the limited amount of time I had left before the beginning of my program I chose to pay for the priority visa application which returned my visa to me three days after it was submitted*.
Arriving in the UK
My arrival in the UK was really quite simple, since the UK border agents are no longer stamping visas*, I was able to simply scan my passport at the entry point and proceed to my luggage. The change of procedure for visa entry has made entrance into the UK a smooth and stress-less process.
Welcome Week/ Orientation
When I arrived on campus – on one of their designation student arrival days, I was given information on the events that would take place during ‘Freshers Week’, a free sweater courtesy of the school, and the keys to my flat on campus. Many of the orientation week events where targeted at getting international students situated in the UK. Things like setting up a bank account and providing workshops to help find part time work opportunities were helpful – especially because the UK does not operate by credit scores, your bank account is how you set up phone plans and works as a form of ID.
Don’t worry - orientation week is not all boring, the student’s union provided daily activities aimed at helping students connect and form friendships – games nights, roller skating, salsa dancing, and of course lots of parties geared at different music genres.
Orientation week also provided an induction week for all the classes you would be taking for your different programs for the year. Each course induction provided information on the format of the course and important deadlines to keep in mind, while getting you accustomed to the class structures. At the University of Hertfordshire, which is where I attend, our lectures are posted online in advance for students to view and prepare for the seminars in the following week.
While I’d been to university in Canada and had knowledge of how independent you become as a student, this process took it one step further and really expects you to make sure you’re keeping up with your courses and prepared for your seminars. It takes a little getting used to at first, but this system allows you to take your learning into your own hands to help you gain understanding in each subject while providing a forum for you to voice any questions or difficulties you experienced.
Overall, the beginning of my UK journey has been great. I’m learning how to adjust to UK society and customs, I’ve had a few lectures so far that have sparked my interest, I’ve joined a society and made some friends along the way. If you’re thinking or considering school overseas, go for it. It will not only allow you to get world class education but give you the experience of living in another country and open up many travel opportunities during your downtime.
If you want to find out more about studying in the UK, please contact one of our student advisors.
*Following Home Office policy in place at the time of this student's student experience. Always check for the latest Home Office policy regarding visas and immigration.
