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Monthly Archives: August 2018

Places to visit in London

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, London, Postgraduate.

London is without a doubt my favourite city in the world. Its heritage and diversity make it an amazing place for students, with so much to do and explore.

Below, I have listed some of my favourite tourist hot-spots in London!

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The entire building is phenomenal. I highly recommend visiting the magnificent State Rooms of the palace, which are only open to the public for two months a year while the Queen is not in residence. This is usually between the end of July and late September.

Oxford Street/Bond Street
All the major brands, as well as many restaurants, are located in this area. You can stroll through the streets and spend a whole day browsing and window shopping. Bond Street differs to Oxford Street in its selection of stores, with a greater focus on high-end shopping. Indeed, it is one of the most expensive shopping streets in London! Oxford Street features most high-street brands and is known for being Europe’s busiest shopping street.

Museums and Galleries
London has many museums and art galleries, many of them offering free admission to their permanent collections. Some of my favourites are the Natural History Museum, the Tate Modern and the Science Museum. And don’t forget about the Tower of London! There is definitely something for everyone, based on wherever your interests lie.

Platform 9 ¾
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you cannot miss this! London King’s Cross Station is famous for being the station that Harry Potter and other wizards used to make their way to Hogwarts. Pose for a picture beside a luggage trolley disappearing magically into the wall and have your photo taken to commemorate your wizarding journey forever!

Harrods
Harrods is one of London’s most famous department stores, known particularly for serving the elite and the super-rich. It opened its doors in 1824 and has been privileged to receive the Royal Family as a patron. It is definitely worth visiting for a taste of indulgence!

Top tips for dealing with homesickness

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Nina Wanjala
Cass Business School, Undergraduate.

Everybody is different and not everyone will necessarily be “homesick” while they are studying abroad.

However, at one point or another I believe all international students end up missing something about home. This blog post focuses on what you can do when that happens.

Stay in touch with what’s happening at home

This can be done in various ways, like calling or texting someone at home or watching and reading about the current news in your home country. These simple acts tend to make the distance from home seem much smaller.

Maintain constant communication with family and friends

Technology has made this very easy, so there should be no excuse for not doing it! If you’re truly homesick, chances are your friends who are also attending universities in other parts of the world may also be going through the same thing. They will be your greatest solace, while your family and friends who are still back home are always a phone call away.

Make your room feel like home

This might seem insignificant, but treating your accommodation as just a place to sleep might make you feel like you’re in a prison. Put pictures on your wall, buy your favourite colour of bedding, decorate your room! The cosier it is, the more comfortable you will be and the faster you will settle in.

Cook your favourite foods

If there are certain types of foods unique to your home country that you really enjoy, make sure to cook them whenever you need a taste of home!

Keep a decent circle of friends

The people you spend most of your time with make all the difference. It’s obviously easier said than done, but once you surround yourself with good friends who have positive energy, living away from home won’t take such a toll. If you’re lucky enough to know someone from home who is also studying in the UK, visit them often. It is very easy to be so caught up in your own schedule that your forget to make plans! Seeing a familiar face is always comforting.

Tips to prepare and survive through EXAMS!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Exams, Postgraduate.

An exam is probably the most dreaded thing for students! Below, I’ve shared some of my tips for how to prepare for and survive your exams:

  1. Plan and organise: the most important tip has to be to plan and organise your studies. Definitely make a timetable. This will help you plan your studies in such a way that you can complete the entire portion well in advance.
  2.  Start early: the biggest mistake most students make is to leave everything until the last minute. This will only add to the tension when the exam date nears. It’s always better to finish your portion well in advance, than to be struggling at the last minute.
  3. Don’t compare: it’s nice to talk to your friends and to share your study woes. But if this talk leads to comparisons which cause you to be anxious, it’s best to avoid it. Everyone has a different study style and speed.
  4. Don’t doubt yourself: study with full dedication and don’t second guess yourself. You are doing a great job and are performing to the best of your efforts. Stay motivated and don’t lose your focus.
  5. Relax: don’t over-stress yourself. Relax and meditate! This will calm you down and even help you concentrate better. Eat healthy, stay well hydrated and sleep the required amount.Lastly, All the best! You’ve got this! 🙂

What have I learned through my international student journey

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Michelle Sarkisyan
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate .

Although at times I have felt overwhelmed as an international student living away from home, I have never truly felt homesick. However, when I returned back to visit my native country, Bulgaria, for the summer, I realised how much I missed my mother’s hugs, my father’s strong voice, my sweet and playful dog and Bulgaria’s nature as a whole.

While re-discovering the magic pearls of home, I asked myself: how was I able to cope with the knowledge of what I had left behind in my home country, in order to study abroad? Thinking back on the memories of my first year at City, here is what I realised:

  1. I settled into my accommodation with the goal of making it a home, not just a place where I could sleep and eat. The best decision I made was to purchase fairy lights, which I could hang up to hold some of my most memorable photographs of friends and family.
  2. At City, I met so many people I can now call family. Without a doubt, you will be able to find friends that fit just like the right piece of a puzzle in your life. Once I found the people that made me feel like a goofball bursting from happiness, we started preparing meals for each other, playing pool in the accommodation common room or simply going on night walks near St Paul’s Cathedral or to Tesco for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!
  3. London is so big and there are so many places for you to visit! I have been living in London for almost a year now, and I still feel like I have not seen everything. Exploring is one of my favourite activities and going from one tube station to another, changing bus stops and riding a bike is an adventure in itself. A piece of advice is to download the mobile app Citymapper. It is helpful, easy to use and something I cannot live without!
  4. However, my first year was not a summer camp and I had obligations weighing on my mind. I was studying in a completely different language and had to get used to all the lectures and seminars and note-taking. I was given many books and articles to read and assignments to submit on Moodle. Fortunately, I have enrolled on a course that really fits with my character and all my university responsibilities were enjoyable to complete.

Simply said, while living away from home I learned how to express myself, to enjoy life and be productive in a positive way. I learned plenty from all the people I met and I proved to myself that the best things in life come from the unknown and from being outside of my comfort zone. London welcomed me with acceptance, helpfulness and spectacular scenery. City, University of London showed me how people of different backgrounds and characters can become family and accomplish everything through teamwork.

Being a student away from home gave me a new appreciation of the things I have taken for granted, made my childhood friendships stronger and gave me the self-esteem to accomplish whatever I put my mind to!

Job searching as a postgraduate international student

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Ibukunoluwa Ogundipe
Postgraduate, School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, Undergraduate , , , , , , , .

Today I’ve decided to discuss a topic that might be on the minds of most international students. After studying, what happens? Well, I’m here to tell you that whatever you aim for is totally possible. I’ll be outlining two major routes to making this happen.

Route 1: find an internship

Some programmes at City already offer the option of an internship integrated within the course – check out the City website to find out whether your particular course of interest offers this.

If you’re interested in obtaining an internship, I would advise you to start searching for your internship position at the beginning of the academic year. This gives you an advantage over other applicants. City also has resources available to help you find an internship, such as the Careers Service and the Professional Liaison Unit (for School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering  students only).

Route 2: find a graduate job

If you decide not to take the internship route, the second option will be applying for full-time graduate roles. I must state here that the mistake most students make is not applying on time. When is on time? In my opinion this would be in September/October. Now remember this is just the start of the semester. To stand out, you’ll need to connect with City’s Careers Services (as mentioned above). They’re amazing when it comes to the events they organise, such as career fairs, networking sessions, a CV surgery and other free consultations. As a City student you will have access to all of this, so why waste it?

I would also advise practising psychometric and aptitude tests, especially if you’ve been out of school for awhile before undertaking your postgraduate degree. It’s a lot of practice but it’s worth it in the end.

I hope this is helpful, I’ll be talking about preparing for interviews and assessment centres in my next post. In the meantime, let me know about any questions you might have!

Things they don’t tell you…enough times

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Nina Wanjala
Cass Business School, Undergraduate.

In this blog post, I shall be touching on a few challenges that I faced as an international student in London. You may not necessarily face these same challenges, however this was my own personal experience of adjusting to life in the UK.

  1. The winter weather is harsh: coming from a country that lies on the equator, I am not used to experiencing any sort of extreme temperatures. It is therefore no surprise that my first winter in London was pretty much unbearable. I had never taken the weather discussion that seriously until I came here and realised just how much the weather can impact your mood.
  2. Culture shock: I feel like this is something one can only truly understand after experiencing it. African culture tends to be more collectivist; there is generally more unity and the sense of community is ever present, whereas in the UK it can tend to be quite individualistic. You may notice differences a lot when you first arrive, but before long this feeling will settle.
  3. The rush: I remember I had lived in my student accommodation for just one week when I received numerous flyers and emails containing information and reminders regarding the need to find a new place to move into the next year. I soon came to learn the importance of planning everything well in advance, because many things work like this here.
  4. Self-reliance: Living away at university and in the UK, you are basically responsible for doing everything for yourself. This may be different to what you were used to living in your home country. A year into my life in the UK and there are still some small things I seem to never get used to, like packing my own groceries after checking out at the supermarket.
  5. Living abroad can be lonely: not many people will mention that in the diaspora, sometimes when you’re surrounded by a group of people is when you’ll feel most alone. At the end of the day you’re in a foreign country and if it it’s not similar to what you’ve always known, then it might take a longer time wrapping your head around it.

and last but not least…

  1. Avocados are small and expensive!

I hope mentioning my own challenges doesn’t discourage you from studying abroad in the UK, but instead allows you to better prepare for your life-changing move.

My top 5 ways to explore London culture

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Monica Foss
Explore London, MSc Food Policy, Postgraduate, School of Arts and Social Sciences , .

London’s attractions are the best in the world. That is not my opinion, that is fact! So, while you’re studying in the UK, this is how you can immerse yourself in the diversity of cultures that reside in this global metropolis.

 

1. Museums (all of them)

One of the best parts of living in London is that learning and artistic appreciation can be done for little to no cost. Nearly all the museums in London are free, meaning that this broke student has been to quite a few! The Museum of London is a journey through the 2,000 years of human history along the Thames, and I learn something new each time I visit. The Victoria and Albert Museum showcases artistic history from across the world in a beautiful Victorian building, as does the British Museum. Check out the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, then move on to the mummies, the Assyrian lion hunt sculptures and the clock room (yes, clocks, it’s cooler than it sounds!). For a slightly more niche and eerie visit, try out The Old Operating Theatre. It’s a glimpse into the beginnings of surgery, where the scalpels look the same but anaesthesia was yet to be invented.

 

2. Food markets

London is a market town, and that means if you love food you will find no shortage of ways to discover the city through your stomach. Borough Market is the oldest, most well-known and one of my favourite places on earth, but there’s plenty more to discover. Broadway Market in Hackney is home to a variety of local food artisans as well as a vegan-only offshoot. KERB markets are all over the city but my favourite is at Camden, offering the tastiest selection of foods next to the canal. Pop Brixton and the Brixton Village Market display hipster excellence at the former and a staple tradition at the latter. Or find yourself a pop-up shop, like those in Old Street station, for an example of the ever-changing innovation of the city. Also – Chinatown. No explanation necessary.

 

3. Really old places

Seeing as people have been living in London for over 2,000 years (which you will have learned from your visit to the Museum of London), there’s a lot of history built in the fabric of the city. You’d be remiss to not see Buckingham Palace and wave hello to the Queen, admiring the parks that surround her home. Same goes with the plethora of Victorian gardens around the city, which began as private retreats for the wealthy but now provide peace and serenity for all of us. Holland Park in West London is one of my favourites, as are the more well-known parks like Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath. The Tower of London is another cultural “must-do”. A Norman castle with genuine Beefeaters to guide you around and terrifying ravens to remind you of the true nature of the place. What’s not to love?

 

4. Pubs

If you’re going to have a true cultural experience you must visit at least one, if not ten, pubs. They’re on every corner in every neighborhood and all have a welcoming vibe for those feeling thirsty or peckish. Get a pint on draught, order a classic pub meal (or a gastropub’s reinvention of the pub meal), and settle into the comforts of pub life. Chances are you’ll meet someone new, be it a local or fellow tourist. Or come especially for a game of rugby or football, the energy is unforgettable.

 

5. Street art

The skies may be grey but the energy on London’s streets is always in full force. In the city centre you will find a multitude of performers vying for tourists’ smiles, laughs and dimes. The acts vary from comedy to magic and acrobatics to singing. Slow down and appreciate a busker, as they are called, but make sure you tip them for your welcomed entertainment. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for street art. East London is the hub, but a beautiful mosaic or mural can be found wherever you are as long as you’re looking!

 

There’s no wrong way to enjoy London and as long as you get out of your flat or hotel, you’re bound to stumble on something interesting and learn a thing or two. Find your top five and let me know what they are!

Top 5 cultural sites to visit in London

Posted on August 6, 2018 by Michelle Sarkisyan
Explore London, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Undergraduate .

Studying at a university located in central London has given me the chance to explore some of the best cultural locations the city has to offer. In one of my previous blogs, I recommended sites such as the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe, the innovative Tate Modern and the beloved Sherlock Holmes Museum. Today I would like to share with you five more places that are worth exploring!

 1. St Paul’s Cathedral: not only is this cathedral breathtaking to look at, but it has also played an important role throughout history. It miraculously survived World War II, played host to Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965, was where Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles married in 1981 and was the London site for the worldwide occupy protest in 2011. It is a 20 minute walk from City, University of London and is open for sightseeing Mondays to Fridays, from 08:30 to 16:00.

2. The Royal Observatory: located on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames, this is one of my favourite places to visit. My favourite feature of the observatory is without a doubt the Planetarium show. Ticket prices are reasonable and it is a way to fulfil your childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut!

3. Dennis Severs’ House: a 25 minute walking distance from City, this original Georgian house has been rescued from decay to serve as a living demonstration of 18th century life. This is not just a museum but is something that you can experience like performance art. The rooms move in periods as you walk through, and provide a snapshot of life in the past – the food is real, the fire is burning, the bed is still warm. The stimulation to your senses seems so realistic, you may even forget that the house occupants are purely fictional.

4. The Ten Bells: this is another site which provides a look into the past. This pub in Spitalfields is infamous for being a favourite place of Jack the Ripper. The dim lighting and faded decor create a mysterious ambience, and the spicy chicken wings are to die for!

5. Ye Olde Mitre Tavern: this pub dates back to 1546 and it is rumoured to be a place where Queen Elizabeth I once danced. You can always expect friendly staff behind the bar and it is the perfect place to sit, drink and eat with friends. It is charming, cozy and just a 15 minute walk away from City, University of London.

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