I chose to do the Mpharm course in the UK because I grew up in a British system school back home and I’ve always admired the way I was taught, and the discipline I gained throughout the years.
I also knew coming to the UK would help me reach the maximum potential I can reach for my chosen profession. I specifically chose the University of Birmingham because the city is lively, yet you can also focus on your studies without getting off track. The University of Birmingham has an amazingly wide diverse background that makes it easier for international students to fit in.
As I also took part in the foundation programme, this is my second year abroad and it took awhile for me to get used to everything. In my first year, it was quite tough to grasp the concept of being away from my family and home but later on I met people that I now call my best friends, and we were all going through the same feeling so, I never felt alone and we all did our best to help each other enjoy our time living abroad.
Living abroad, has also helped me boost my confident and made me grow individually, as I started relying on myself more. I definitely outgrew many old habits and gained new ones, that’s because living far away from home will subconsciously teach you how to cope with any obstacle thrown your way, whether it is academic or personal, you will always find a solution.
When I began this course, I mostly struggled with managing my time for my studies and myself. I managed this by finishing any work or assignment I had before having new assignments, that way I never accumulated any work, and I made sure to never overlap assignments. This way I put time and effort for each assignment equally so I can achieve high marks. This also helped as it gave me many free times to catch up on work if I needed and have time for myself away from my studies.
As an international student, I feel very supported. This is because, once the course has started our Head of Year invited all international students and gave us a talk about how if we ever needed anything to let him know and gave us information about who to talk too if we had any problems, this made me feel that we as international students were seen in the University and I appreciated how they were very welcoming and understanding of our situation, it made it very easier to feel comfortable in the course and university.
Don’t be afraid of taking that leap, even if the ground looks far away because it’s not far as it seems. I know what it feels like going away from home, but you will not regret it. You will have so much to learn from and take back with you once you’re home. Just remember to not worry and everything will work out just fine!
Remember to always have fun, you are here to learn but also grow into your own person so never be scared to explore new things.