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Debunking Myths about Studying in the UK
Join our advising team as they go over common myths and misconceptions about studying in the UK, to help you feel more confident in your decision to study abroad! Will your degree really transfer back? Do you have to like tea? Tune in to find out!
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It's Too Early to Apply - Now What?
It can be frustrating to reach a decision on your next steps only to realize you have to wait before you can actually apply and get things underway. But what you might not realize is that we work with many students in this situation. We are happy to help you identify ways that you can get started on your application process and as a bonus you'll help to make things easier for yourself down the road.
Join our advising team as they detail their top tricks, tips and advice for preparing for your applications early. If you are interested in studying in the UK in a future year, this webinar will cover the little things you can be doing now that make a big difference later.
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Do's and Don't's for Writing a UCAS Personal Statement
Join our advising team as we cover the most common mistakes students make when writing a personal statement for their UCAS application. We'll highlight ways you can avoid these mistakes and provide recommendations on the top ways to write a personal statement that impresses admissions teams.
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Beginning Your Studies in January: Application Timeline and Deadlines
Applying to begin your UK studies in January? Your application timeline will differ from the traditional timeline of students starting in September! Not to worry, we're here to help!
Join our advising team as we discuss the typical application timeline for students applying to studies in the UK, specifically those beginning studies in the Winter term. We'll make sure you're well prepared for any deadlines that may arise from your applying to accepting your offer to sorting your visa and accommodation.
Canterbury itself is an absolutely amazing city
After completing my undergraduate degree, I started a job thinking I wouldn't be there too long because I knew I wanted to go back to school. Then I got another job, and another… I suddenly found myself without a job and time to finally think about that “going back to school” that I always told myself I would do. I took some online courses and found a subject that I was really interested in. After doing some research, I wasn't really convinced that I could get the education I wanted in Canada, so I started looking abroad. I found out about Across the Pond and they gave me more information about the schools and programs that related to what I wanted to study. They even helped me apply (which, let's face it, it's free to apply in the UK so why not just take the chance and see how it goes?). I applied to multiple schools and listed them based on my favourite. My top choice was the University of Kent because I felt I would get the best education from that program (it had a teaching portion as well as hands-on work and a practical component for experience). So it was easy to accept when I got the offer!
Living on Campus
To be honest, I didn't pay too much attention to the city where any of the schools I was applying to were located, but I knew I wanted to stay on campus. I knew on campus housing would likely be more expensive, but I figured I'd rather avoid the hassle of trying to find a place to live, sight unseen. It ended up working really well that the University of Kent has housing specifically for Post Grads and international students. I chose a room that had a bathroom attached (it was really a wet room and honestly a little small but better than sharing a bathroom by far), and the kitchen was shared across 5 rooms. One of the best parts was that everyone sharing the kitchen was from a different country and we made a point of having nights where we each cooked a dish and got to share our cultures. This might not always be the case but you are sure to meet some interesting people in a dorm that is made for international students.
The Campus and the City
Living on campus was, in my opinion, the best option because it was really easy to roll out of bed and go to class in the morning. I also didn't have to go very far at the end of the day and was able to enjoy on-campus events. By the way, the University of Kent is on top of a hill so it was also really nice not to have to go uphill to class and the library on the regular.
Canterbury itself is an absolutely amazing city. It has a pretty small town feel and is very picturesque. I had a lot of fun getting to learn all the history in the city, and also getting to walk the trails that connect it to neighbouring towns. Canterbury has markets in town so I usually went there to get fresh groceries. It also has a huge Christmas market with lights and a parade that really puts you in the Christmas mood. Additionally, I found the buses were reasonably priced and the main bus terminal has public transport buses that connect directly to other cities in the South East of England, perfect for exploring and going to festivals!
Exploring
On the note of Canterbury being well connected, I did a lot of travelling while I was over there, and I highly recommend it! Europe is pretty well connected and for a decent price you can get a bus, train, or even a plane to just about anywhere. Even if you don't see Europe, at least try to see the UK. If you're going to make the jump across the pond, at least enjoy the views. There is so much to see and do that I didn't get to see everything, not even close, but I will never regret spending the time and money trying.
The Best Part
I didn't know anyone when I arrived and I had no family nearby. I didn't find it particularly scary, though I'm sure some people would, but I was worried I would feel lonely since I'm not the best at making friends. However, in my program there were three other Canadian students! We have become close friends and, even though we have all finished our studies and gone home to our respective cities, we still keep in touch.
