Transitioning to life in the UK

by h93891yt | Jun 15, 2023 | 3. Transition and Cultural Awareness | 0 comments

Change can be somewhat daunting, especially when moving to a new country, transitioning from high school and having to make new friends. However, depending on how you approach it can be exciting and adventurous. In this article, I aim to give an insight into both the academic and social life aspects of the university and will hopefully make your transition easier.

Going into higher education, you will soon realise that you are in charge of your learning. This means that although lecturers will deliver the content, it is your responsibility to take a proactive approach to your learning, for example, by doing additional reading. The self-directed study allows you to gain up-to-date knowledge and provides a broad overview of the topics taught.

Many students also observe there is an increase in workload. Although this may seem challenging initially, you will soon acclimate as you start to fall into a rhythm and figure out how to manage your time best. I strongly recommend organising your study schedule into manageable chunks and assigning a specific day to each module. This will help you stay on top of the content and prevent it from accumulating.

Alongside the academic aspect of the university, the next four years are also about having fun, trying new experiences, making friends and developing as a person. The University of Manchester Students’ Union is the biggest in the United Kingdom. Over 400 societies, whether a sports society or our very own University of Manchester Pharmacy Society (MUPS), provide a great way to meet people with common interests.

Now there is no denying that you will start to feel homesick at one point or another. Hence, it is important to have a support network of friends and family and stay active by integrating exercise in your routine, which is always enjoyable and uplifting.

It is also important to remember that the university offers a wide variety of services to help; whether it be your academic advisor, PASS leader or student representatives, we are all here to help make this an incredible and accommodating journey.