I am an international student studying in the Clinical Pharmacy programme at UoM. When I first arrived in Manchester, on the other side of the world from China, I was like a child with curiosity and anxiety. Due to language barriers, communication is the most challenging part for me as a new student. At the beginning, I couldn’t even understand what others were saying while shopping at the grocery store or taking transportation. Nevertheless, I gradually acclimated to life in this new environment. Progressively I grew more courageous and tried to solve problems myself. Currently, I love to socialise with others to enrich my life. I feel a sense of accomplishment by these subtle elements in my life.

During my study, I found that clinical pharmacy education at UoM is very different from the education in China. The learning content in pharmacy at UoM contains more clinical projects compared to the modules in China. In addition, preparations before the lessons and group work are important. In order to make a balance between life and study, it is essential to arrange my own schedule. It is an incredible experience for me to live and learn in the UK. Cultural differences are more a brilliant experience than a nuisance. It is the language barrier that is a concern to most international students. However, you can experience the conventions, cuisines, costumes, and languages of different ethnic groups across the world in this cultural diverse university. It is not hard to get used to the new environment if you are ready and brave enough to explore new things and embrace the sense of globalisation.

Dao Ma
BSc Clinical Pharmacy student

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