My Journey at Brunel as an International Student from Pakistan

Recalling my first day of arriving in the UK, I was really excited to start this new chapter of my life. Since childhood, I have always wanted to visit and study in London. Going through a series of steps such as an English language test, university applications, visa applications etc, to finally being able to travel to London was a dream come true. I opted for the airport pickup service offered by the university where two lovely student ambassadors welcomed me and booked me a cab to the university. After arriving at the main reception, another two student ambassadors were kind enough to guide me to my accommodation and look after my bags while I went to collect my room keys. By the time I arrived, the trolley hire service that is normally available on move in days and Welcome Week, was closed.  

Although elevators are available in all ensuite accommodations on campus, dragging all my bags up to my room on the 4th floor was an actual task. From this experience, I would definitely recommend packing only the basic essentials as almost everything you can ask for is available in local high streets (even the cultural foods that you might sometimes miss being away from home). I was truly blessed to have friendly flatmates from the UK and different parts of the world. I was even able to interact with them virtually through the group chat for our residence hall before actually moving into the flat. 

Early Challenges & Support Services 

Figuring out the London transport network, finding a part-time job, money management, tackling homesickness, and adapting to changes in the education system were among a few challenges that I faced during my early days of moving to London. However, the support available was outstanding throughout. The Student Centre Advisors helped me with registration, my student ID card, student letter required for bank opening, and applying for a student Oyster card that is required for using the London buses and tubes at discounted rates. The careers and placement consultant at the Professional Development Centre helped me with CV checks, part-time jobs, placements, and interview preps. We are also allotted personal tutors, who are academics from our respective department that provide tutees with academic and pastoral support throughout the course. My personal tutor and the module leaders played a crucial role in guiding me through this transition to the UK higher education system. Lastly, attending the events during the Freshers’ week such as Freshers’ Fayre, sports tasters, and club and society events greatly helped in meeting like-minded people and making friends. 

Recommendations

Being an international student in a new country can be hard at times. Yet it is an amazing experience filled with opportunities for personal and academic growth. I would suggest you attend orientation talks during your first week as it is a good opportunity to familiarise yourself with all the available services. Moreover, interacting with your peers and lecturers, volunteering, doing on-campus jobs, and joining societies and sports clubs provide good networking opportunities that can help build lasting connections and also raise your profile and advance your career. All in all, the opportunities are endless so make sure you learn skills, gain experience, and have fun to make the most of your student life.