Want to study in UK?
My journey began in October 2020, a year full of hopes and dreams and quiet anticipation. I traveled to Glasgow from India right in the middle of the pandemic and landed myself into 14 days of self-isolation upon reaching Glasgow. The journey itself was not too difficult, two flights and 14 hours later I landed in this beautiful city. Right from the first moment I realized that “people make Glasgow” is 100% true! The city welcomed me with open arms, albeit with terrible weather. Would highly recommend packing good winter wear and raincoats.
The isolation period wasn’t too bad, I had friends who got me through it. It was a tough situation for us all, but somehow, we made it through. The first few days were mostly spent in the kitchen, trying new recipes, and making new friends (virtually, of course). We were introduced to our batchmates and professors on zoom calls, and we slowly came to realize that this was the new normal. Everything from classes to tutorials, to submitting many, many assignments was done online. As the days passed, it got better. I never struggled with online classes, as UofG always made us feel comfortable. The professors were encouraging and engaging. They always made sure that we got the information needed to learn, but also took time to ask us about our mental health and well-being. The library and reading room were open throughout the lockdown which was a huge advantage. Firstly, it’s nice to see other people, rather than being cooped up at home. Secondly, it was a quiet environment for me to get my work done without any distractions. The breathtaking views of the main campus are a bonus!
Glasgow is a beautiful city, with lots to explore. There is always something to do, or somewhere to go. Once the lockdown restrictions were lifted, things got much better, and we were able to go out and meet our friends. Overall, there is nothing inadequate about learning online. If you can work through it and support each other it is a wonderful experience.
What is SOP?
DO'S & DONT'S for SOP?
Plagiarism in your SOP can result in a black mark.
Don't go around in circles.
EDIT. EDIT. EDIT
Format of your SOP?
Time management is one of the most important skills you will learn at university. Most of your learning is self directed, and with lectures being online, it may feel like it’s more so than usual. For students beginning university, this can feel strange and tough, so I’ve compiled some advice and tips to help you manage this new learning style. For IR students especially, there is a lot of reading to manage for lectures and tutorials, so this should hopefully help.
Firstly, upon receiving your course document on Moodle, you should write down key dates including -
Create a schedule, on your phone or in a diary, and write your tasks for the day. Start with lectures, tutorials, times for eating, breaks and existing social activities. Then write down what you are going to work on in study sessions - treating university like a 9 - 5 job helps you stay on top of work and fit your learning - both taught and self directed into a set time.
It helps to write specific tasks for study sessions rather than just the phrase 'study session' - this may be reading for a lecture, post lecture notes, tutorial preparation, assignment research etc. There are many activities that you will need to fit in, so be realistic with your time. Don’t rush yourself, and remember to prioritise.
For every hour of contact time you have (lectures, tutorials) you will be expected to do around 2 to 3 hours of self-study. When I have a lecture, this self study time is spent reading and writing notes, then writing post lecture notes. It’s also good to make a note of lecturer’s office hours in case you need them.
Writing tasks down in the SMART format makes it so much easier to complete them. This means tasks should be: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. For instance, putting ‘write politics essay for the 15th’ on your to do list is a very daunting goal, and likely to make you want to procrastinate. Writing ‘research and take notes on 4 articles about political communication types by the 7th’ is a slightly better task note, that is more clear about your task, how much effort it involves and when it is to be completed by. Writing smart tasks, is one way to help prioritise tasks, and manage your time better.
An essential part of time management for me is putting in breaks - mostly because I forget without fail to do so. Regular breaks help you avoid burnout, which is very easily brought on when you schedule lots of work and put lots of pressure on yourself to be working to the clock. With the vast amounts of work you have to do for courses, having a break to recharge your batteries is so important. You can do this by studying using the Pomodoro method - 25 minutes on and 5 minutes off. After 2 hours, take a longer 15 - 30 minutes break. There is always room for flexibility - don't worry if this method specifically doesn't work for you.
Suggested break activities
Sometimes meditation is a good one, because being mindful and totally in your own presence for a little while everyday helps your brain rest and makes you more creative.
If nothing else works, make a ‘to do’ list and stick to it. I find making one for the next few days rather than one day works better for me, or writing deadlines next to each task. It’s a starting point to better time management which is all about discipline and priority.
Our former International College student, Laura from Taiwan, tells us about her experience of studying abroad in Sheffield. In this blog, she shares how supportive College staff were before, during and after her International Foundation Year studies.
I have to confess that last year, when I decided to study abroad, I wasn’t really sure if I’d made the right decision at first. Before everything started, I was really worried. I was worried about travelling alone during the pandemic, about transferring to the unfamiliar environment and even about not reaching the progression requirement, or not being able to make foreign friends.
However, after starting my studies at the University of Sheffield International College, I soon realised that the whole environment there was welcoming and supportive, and all my previous worries seemed unnecessary. Before I took my flight to the UK, I received emails listing the airport pick-up services that the College provided, as well as asking if everything was fine in terms of my travel. After settling down in Sheffield, the staff at the College also gave me phone calls from time to time, making sure that I was adapting well to the local life. With this support, I soon conquered my anxiety and homesickness, and was able focus more on my studies and assessments.
Studying at the International College, we had to reach the required grades in order to progress to the study at the University. I sometimes felt stressed about this, but the teachers were always willing to give me advice for improving my essays and reports, and the Academic Success tutors also taught me a lot about how to construct effective study plans. From this help, not only have I passed the progression requirement successfully, but I’ve also acquired a lot of useful learning skills to take forward with me.
Additionally, through the College’s activities like buddy scheme and campus tour, I got chances to socialise with more people from different cultural backgrounds, as well as to make new friends with mutual interests and hobbies.
Studying abroad might sound intimidating in the beginning, but throughout my International Foundation Year, I found myself fully supported on the way to my goal and dream.