Blogs

James Culley, BA business and management student, Henley Business School (final year)

As a final-year student, being involved with the Reading careers services has substantially improved my skills – with a place in the Teach First graduate scheme being a direct result.

Why are Dutch staircases so perilously narrow? How come most Italian students live at home? Is there really a curfew in Bulgarian student residences? When I embarked on my own Erasmus exchange, moving from Glasgow to student halls in sunny Toulouse, in France, my biggest problem was working out how my wall-bed worked.

Dear Friend,

I have been worried about you since you mentioned that you felt stressed about getting good grades while you’ve been at university in America. I have been researching this issue because I will also be an international student next year.

For all international students, it is essential to deal with the stress from studying, otherwise we will be exhausted and will find it difficult to adapt to our new environment. It is just as important to enjoy your time at university than it is to achieve good grades.

As May comes to an end, my time in London is almost finished. I only have a week left here – how bizarre that feels.

Coming to Harvard University has certainly changed me. I have had both positive and negative experiences, which have helped me to grow and progress. 

The highs

Building strong friendships 

Until I joined the University of Bristol, I didn't really know much about student politics. Based on what I had seen of student politics on the internet, I envisioned it being messy and suited to loud, hot-blooded people. It could not, however, be further from the reality.

Joining any university in the UK means automatic admission into the university’s Students’ Union – a place for meeting new people, joining societies and clubs and enjoying a drink every now and then.

While finishing my bachelor’s degree in engineering in Tehran, I decided to continue my education at the University of Warsaw and pursue a master’s in psychology. I chose Poland because of its high-quality international education programmes and its rich, cultural heritage. My interests include science, poetry, theatre and film and so I was excited to come to Poland and engage in those hobbies. 

Today Times Higher Education Student has revealed the universities with the highest percentage of international students. 

The UK is the most represented country, with 72 universities. London is the most represented city, with 16 universities, showing no signs that the English capital is slowing down as one of the most popular study destinations for international students. 

While entering university through a foundation year is not really a big deal in the UK, some students will still feel ashamed of doing one.

Studying abroad was not a surprise for me, but it was a surprise that I ended up doing it in New Zealand. I first came here from China in 2014 when I was 17, and I am currently studying at the University of Auckland as a third-year student.