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The Whys and Whens of Life: Studying Abroad as a Mature Student
At age 23, I realised that I was living through the motions of life but not experiencing it. The advice I received that helped me was: what are the things you broadly enjoy, and how can those things be involved in a career? For me, it was community and support for creatives. This then translated into careers in artistic industries such as music, gaming, film, and writing. The irony of these things being my interests as a young teenager did not fall on me. Sometimes you really do need to go back to your roots.
So, I decided to take another look, with different eyes, to see what a younger me missed at 18, when applying to universities I never ended up attending. I decided to take my hobby of reading more seriously and looked into the book industry. An English degree is not needed to enter the publishing industry, but it is helpful. I decided to study abroad because I wanted to experience something new and felt that, as I was older, I would be able to enjoy it and get the most out of it.
It really is never too late to pursue something else or learn something new. I urge everyone to allow themselves to enjoy the wonderful experience of life, to allow themselves room to grow and understand themselves before asking the big question, “what do I want to be?” or “what do I want to do for the rest of my life?” Life can have many twists and turns, and stumbling should be encouraged. Now, were some of my decisions influenced by being older? Yes!
I suggest you make a list with three categories: non-negotiable, negotiable, and a middle ground of would prefer to have but not necessary. The items on the lists may change as you research and find universities and what they offer. When I decided to return to school, there were a few things I decided were non-negotiable: Campus life, duration of study, career support, and expenses. Since I decided to study abroad, far from my friends and family, I wanted to ensure that I would be able to enjoy my new life and build community. I knew if I wanted to be successful, I would need to build a new support system. Something on my middle list was a beautiful campus with little city-integrated campus buildings. I didn’t want to feel like I was studying in an office building and wanted to feel like I was on a university campus for that “uni life experience.” Now, this was not a need, but a want, which is why it went in the middle. A negotiable for me was if film classes were offered. I wanted to take a few classes, but at the end of the day, they were an added bonus.
Queen’s University Belfast fulfilled most of my list. The beautiful main campus with Lanyon Building and is voted WhatUni’s number one SU in the UK made Queen’s University Belfast ideal. I was able to meet people, build community, explore hobbies that have helped me build valuable skills, and keep me busy (and not homesick). Degrees in the UK are also one year shorter than in Canada. As much as I enjoy university life, I am aware of why I decided to return to school: a career change. I am also aware of the fact that I am entering university later in life, and as much as I want to enjoy the university experience, I also don’t want to prolong it. The careers department at Queen’s is very involved and holds many events. As someone attending university with a specific goal in mind, I found this very enticing. As much as I wanted to live out my London-girlie dreams, I found the city too expensive, especially given the Canadian Dollar-to-GBP exchange rate. Belfast offered the amenities of a big city with friendlier prices.
Now here I am, living in Belfast, having completed my first year at university and, at 25, just starting again with a sparkle in my eyes, but this time with steady feet. You do not need to compromise on the things you want from a university with location. London has many things to offer, and they often come with a hefty price tag.
Now that we have covered the “whys”, let's touch on the “when.” I am truly glad I waited to begin university. I was able to work many different jobs (and save up some money along the way), learn more about myself, and grow as a person. I have soft skills that help me in everyday life that I was able to hone, and I am more confident as a person. These are things that have allowed me to be successful in everyday life, especially studying abroad. However, I am not saying that if you are young, you should avoid university or studying abroad. I encourage everyone to do what feels best for them, but I also encourage people that in the current age of “instant”, waiting or starting later isn’t a bad thing.
My advice to anyone looking at post-secondary education in the UK is to understand what matters to you and what will best serve you in achieving your goals!
– Memphis
Finding my place in Belfast
Studying abroad can seem like a daunting decision. It is expensive, there's lots of paperwork and applications, and you may feel like giving up, but don’t! It is worth it. It is not an easy decision to decide to move away from everything you know to try something new. I am truly so happy I took the plunge and moved to Belfast.
People always describe Canadians as nice, but I would describe the people of Belfast as kind. You can strike up a conversation with anyone on the street for a chitchat or directions. Everyone is so welcoming, and there are so many amenities at Queen's University Belfast to ensure all students are supported and can be successful.
Belfast
Belfast is a wonderful city filled with things to do. There truly is never a dull moment in Belfast. This is truly a city steeped in art and history. There are countless things to do and see here, such as the Ulster Museum (free), exhibitions at community centres, art galleries, live music everywhere, and abundant street art. Late Night Art, where galleries are open late and exhibit for free; Hit The North, the yearly graffiti festival; and the monthly market at The Sunflower are just a few fun, budget-friendly events you can attend. Belfast is also central to many other cities if you want to go exploring; Derry, Portrush, and Newcastle are just some of the cities nearby.
People often complain about the dreary weather in Belfast, but I couldn’t disagree more! The summers are hot and sunny, the autumn wonderfully crisp, and winters mild! Spring can be quite rainy, but nothing that you can’t handle. As a Canadian used to -30°C, I find the weather in Belfast quite agreeable! Personally, as someone from southern Canada, I didn’t think it rained that much, and I would take rain over snow any day.
Studying and Amenities
Queen’s University Belfast offers many accommodations for international students, and many other UK universities do as well: guaranteed accommodation in year 1, different dorm options so there is something for everyone, support networks such as a weekly colour and chat with student tutors, Queen’s Student Union advice office that you can talk to about anything - housing, funding, etc, an abundance of clubs and societies to pick from, language lab to learn a new language, a wonderful careers department that constantly hold events to help you develop your CV, and more. Queen’s also made the visa application journey easy with online seminars you could attend for more information and support.
I would encourage all students, especially international students, to join a club and/or society. It is a good way to meet new people and make friends with others with similar interests and to branch out beyond your chosen major. Getting involved in your university’s community is a great way to further your own skills.
Life is beautiful, go live it
Belfast is truly a beautiful city, inside and out. The buildings are beautiful; Queen’s Lanyon, City Hall, and Belfast Castle are just a few buildings that are a sight for sore eyes!
The city of Belfast is full of culture. Whether it be a market, art walk, museum, or festival, there is always something to fill the time. Both Queen’s and Belfast are here to support their people, and that will include you.
There are many thriving communities in Belfast that are ready to welcome you with open arms!
– Memphis
5 Reasons to Study In Belfast: My Student Experience
Moving to Belfast has been possibly the best decision I've ever made. I found settling here really easy, because of the city's vibe, comfort, and ease! I found the whole process really simple, which I think made a huge difference in how I experienced Belfast. I want to share a little bit about my experience, how I settled, and how I spent my time.
Banking
Setting up my bank account was a lot easier than I expected. I thought it would involve a lot of paperwork and waiting. Turns out, it was a one day set up. I walked into HSBC and found out that I wasn't the only one trying to set up a bank account. The staff helped groups of students at a time, got us all set up within a 20 minute session, and had all my bank details emailed to me that very night. 100% recommend, this process could not be easier. I've heard from friends that other banks in Belfast work the same way, it's a really easy process of walking in, answering their questions, and getting sent an email that very day.
Groceries
Before I moved to Belfast, I wasn't sure how I would get groceries. The only things I saw online were the big UK brands: Tesco, Spar, Lidl, and others. When I got to Belfast, not only were these major brands really close to my accommodation, there were also a ton of other small shops that weren't as well known, offering a diverse selection of food that I could also enjoy. Your options are not limited to English food, there are plenty of grocery stores that sell food from different parts of the world. I've seen stores that sell cuisine ranging from Asian, to Indian, to Nigerian, to Turkish, and so much more, which helped me realise that I don't have to adjust my eating habits to fit the culture in Belfast.
Transportation
Belfast especially is set up in a way that makes transportation super simple, especially for university students. All the accommodation, university halls, grocery stores, activities, restaurants, and anything else you might need in the city are all in a straight line, just one big road. About every 10 minutes you can always find a bus going in either direction of that road, getting you from one side of the city to another in only 20 minutes. I've been able to go back and forth across the city multiple times throughout a single day, without having to wait for transportation.
Safety
When moving to the UK, one big thing I was concerned about was safety. I was pleased to find out, however, that among the biggest cities in the UK, Belfast is actually ranked as one of the safest. Not only are the streets well lit and people are friendly, the university also provides services that help us remain safe, including a university built app that allows students to track their path home and alert the police if there are any deviations from that path.
Events
Last but certainly not least, you have events. Belfast is a city of character, always energetic and vibrant, willing to put on a show. There is never a dull weekend, from the Christmas Market to St Patrick's Day, to horse races, to bike parades, and that's not even mentioning the university society events. The point is, I was never bored, there's always something to do, something to enjoy in the great city of Belfast!
Studying here is going to give me more than just a degree. It's going to give me a time that I can look back on knowing that I've used every moment of my university experience to the max!
– Marc
BOUND FOR BELFAST- First weeks in Northern Ireland
My journey to the United Kingdom didn’t start off as smoothly as I had imagined. Before I had booked my flight, I experienced some technical difficulties with my visa application, causing me to miss my orientation week, and as a result miss out on some vital information, which I will discuss later. However, for some reason I was not stressed. Maybe it was due to the excitement of living in the UK, or maybe that fact I was finally able to start law school, I was not worried. It was also reassuring to know, that if I had any questions, I could turn to my advisor at Across the Pond, and she would be able to assist my or direct me to someone who could.
Once my visa had arrived, I booked my flight right away. Before I knew it I was on a plane, and had embarked on my journey to the UK, specifically Belfast. After one connecting flight and waiting in several lines, or queues as they are referred to in the UK, I had arrived in Belfast. The border officer was nothing but kind and extremely helpful. She thoroughly went over the aspects of my student visa, which I had already known but appreciated nonetheless, and informed me what would happen if I did not pick up my biometric residence permit (BRP). Once I had promised her I would pick it up within the time period, she gave me the stamp of approval, literally, and I was on my way to start this new chapter of my life.
WHERE DO I GO?
As I mentioned earlier, I had missed the international orientation at Queens University Belfast, but since I had emailed international admissions before my arrival, they were able to guide me through what I needed to complete.
After I had recovered from jet lag, which took me an entire day and night, I set out to explore my new home, but most importantly complete the immigration check for the school. The first step was finding the building. I decided to stop by the international students office to ask for help, and see if there was anything else I needed to complete. They two individuals at the reception were very helpful and informative. The most important piece of information I took away was the Queen’s University App that showed me all the events that Queen’s was hosting, as well as a map of where all the buildings were. An extra benefit; I got a free tote bag!
Once I casually made my way to the building where the immigration check was happening, I found signs everywhere directing me where to go. The process was simple and efficient. At each step, student volunteers were eager to help and guide me through the process to ensure everything was completed correctly. Further, I was able to pick up my BRP here, and receive my student card for which my picture was taken right then and there. All in all, I was very impressed with the system that the University had in place to complete the immigration check, and on top of that, the patience that the staff members and student volunteers had to help international students.
ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
Overall my first few days were quite eventful. I was able to complete the important and required immigration paperwork, but also walk around the campus and familiarise myself with all the different areas of it. I must say I am quite comfortable exploring and wandering on my own, which allowed the first few days to be enjoyable, even though I was alone. If you are not comfortable being alone, I would highly recommend the orientation weeks, in order for you to meet new people, and have someone to explore with. One of my favourite things is discovering something new a daily basis. Whether it is a new fun bar, or a new quaint street, the discoveries are endless. You too, could be on this journey. The first step is to reach out to Across the Pond, and contact an advisor today.
- Bleen
Law Highlights: How to Choose the Best Law School for You.
Are you considering studying law in the UK? Is the number of options in the UK overwhelming you? Studying Law in the UK is a popular route for Canadian students, but studying in a new country is a big commitment. Join our advising team as they go over the things to consider when choosing a UK law school, including cost, opportunities, classes, and how to apply, to help you narrow down your options! Studying abroad is a big decision, so join us as we discuss the criteria to consider when choosing which universities to apply to for law, and choosing which offer to accept!
When you study law in the UK, there are a few things to consider, such as: entry requirements, university facilities, location, cost, and type programme. Tune in to find out more about what you should be looking for, and how your advisor can assist with narrowing down your list, and applying!
Not only will this webinar help with choosing where to apply, it can help you narrow down which offer to accept once you have applied!
