Blogs

When I started studying at Yale University in August 2017, I thought I knew what to expect. Fooled by a common language, I was unaware of the subtle but abundant cultural differences that awaited me in the United States.

In the University of Oxford.

Warren Stanislaus – four-year bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at International Christian University (ICU), Tokyo

The introduction of undergraduate tuition funding in England has been a great force for social mobility, allowing those who previously could not afford to go to university the opportunity. But, while this has been hailed a success, our best and brightest are unfortunately held back by governmental funding for postgraduate study.     

2018 was another roller coaster year for higher education, but among the headline-grabbing articles about student debt and “too many first-class degrees”, there were some positive stories.

The conversation around student mental health has never been louder and universities are pushing this issue higher up their agenda than ever before. International student mobility is another topic that universities are prioritising, with the global higher education sector regularly expressing the benefits of studying overseas and investing in attracting students from abroad.

One thing I can certainly say about my life as a second-year mathematics and physics bachelor’s student at École Polytechnique is that recurrent tests, projects and assignments make the establishment of routine practically impossible. However, despite all the unpredictable twists and turns that make my student life continually challenging (and exciting), here is how I would describe a typical day of mine.

Up and at them

Housing was something that meant very little to me before I started university. I lived in my parents’ house and I knew a bit about the property market, but it was never an issue that I needed to spend time thinking about. Like most, I knew that the norm for students in the UK was to spend the first year in halls then move out into a house. However, I was not aware of two things: how soon it had to be sorted and how complicated it would become. 

On the Times Higher Education Student Twitter feed (@THEUniAdvice, if you aren’t already a follower), we have spells where we ask students to look after the account for a week to share their university experiences. 

University of British Columbia Student Becky Bradley switches on her camera and vlogs three days in her life as a student in Canada. 

From showing us around the beautiful campus, experiencing the varied Canadian weather and the best lunch spots on campus Becky shares a real insight into what it is like to study in Canada.

As a psychology and geography student, Becky talks us through what her classes are like, her study schedule and even takes us into her Spanish class to meet her professors. 

With Japanese universities now actively seeking to attract students from overseas, and in particular hoping to entice students and researchers from the UK and other countries outside of Asia, this is equally a great chance for international students to access new life-changing experiences and sources of funding. However, despite the rapidly growing number of Japan-related study and work opportunities available to international students, Japan’s outreach efforts often slip under the radar.

Staying at university during the Christmas break might seem like a gloomy prospect for international students. Whether we celebrate Christmas or not, being away from home during this festive season can feel lonely.

However, Christmas is also the time of the year when we can relish an empty, peaceful campus for a while. Tired of living in a crowded house? Now you can take a longer shower, try cooking new recipes, turn the music up a little bit louder and dance crazily.