You can watch this blog in presentation format at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FUWPwHRD20.
Your time at university can help you grow in many different ways – it’s never (nor shouldn’t) be only about academic learning!
My time spent as an international student in the UK changed my life. I now live in the UK, have a job and a family here and friends all over the world. My mindset has shifted, too. What I learnt went well beyond academics, and shaped my life well beyond my career.
City is one of the most international universities in the UK and offers a wealth of great services and experiences. Here are a few I highly recommend to international students and which I wish I knew about before my arrival in the UK.
1) Things you can do to meet people and have fun
Freshers’ Week
Freshers Week runs every year in September (https://city.native.fm/), and it’s a great way to find out more about everything that City has to offer and meet new people right at the start of your university journey.
Join a Student Group
From student media (Carrot TV – https://www.citystudents.co.uk/getinvolved/society/carrottv/), to our Sustainability Leaders programme (https://www.city.ac.uk/about/governance/committees/sustainability-committee), to students’ societies on topics ranging from entrepreneurship, to photography, refugee protection and more, City offers something for everyone (https://www.citystudents.co.uk/getinvolved/societies/). Many societies cater for students of a certain country, geographic area, or faith (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/student-life/religion). What is more, you can create your own society, too (https://www.citystudents.co.uk/getinvolved/newsociety/).
Live in a residence hall
Living in residence halls is a great way to make friends. Our prices are subsidised, which means that tenants pay less than they would with a private landlord for the same type of accommodation. Find out more at https://www.city.ac.uk/accommodation.
2) Things you can do to improve your academic results
Most universities offer free academic learning support, both as one-to-one sessions and workshops.
The main services to look out for are English for academic purposes support (https://www.city.ac.uk/about/schools/arts-social-sciences/english-for-academic-purposes-eap) (for international students in the School of Arts and Social Sciences) and Academic skills support (https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/improve-your-study-skills?SQ_VARIATION_412476=0) (for everyone).
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) support can be particularly useful if you would like to get more confident about your academic writing, as British academic writing has rather specific rules. Support and courses are free and there is no assessment.
Finally, our Neurodiversity Support Team https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/neurodiversity provides support for students with specific learning differences (SpLDs) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
3) Things you can do to make some money
As an international student you can work for up to 20 hours while studying (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/apply/visas/student-visa/working), and City offers plenty of opportunities to do this on campus through flexible schemes that work around your study commitments (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/finance/earn-while-you-learn). Some examples follow.
The Widening Participation Tutoring Scheme (https://experience.city.ac.uk/activity/widening-participation-tutoring-scheme) offers you the chance to tutor students from groups underrepresented in higher education. Tutors are trained to work effectively with young people.
City Marketing Ambassadors https://experience.city.ac.uk/activity/marketing-student-ambassadors represent City by talking to perspective students on campus and online. Being a City Ambassador is great if you are interested in developing your communication and public speaking skills.
City Brand Ambassadors (https://experience.city.ac.uk/activity/city-brand-ambassadors-0) play pivotal roles in content creation and marketing activities about City. This is a great opportunity to develop your active listening, communication and problem-solving skills.
4) Things you can do if you need help to manage your emotions or struggling to keep motivated
Everybody feels down or unmotivated at times and, as an international student, you are probably going to miss home at some point during your time abroad.
Try to beat the blues by eating your favourite food or talking to someone from your country – our campus and our city are very multicultural (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/student-life/social). Exercising in the open, joining a sports club or City Gym can be great stress busters, too (https://www.citysport.org.uk/gym).
If you would like help to manage your emotions, City’s counselling team (https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/mental-health-counselling/access-to-counselling) runs both one-to-one and group sessions (https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/help-and-support/mental-health-counselling/access-to-counselling/counselling-groups), both are free, and our team has plenty of experience with international students.
Finally, the Chaplaincy Team at City (https://studenthub.city.ac.uk/student-life/faith-belief-culture) offers support to everyone, welcoming every faith, belief and culture, and offers a multi-faith room where to practise and pray. The team includes representatives from various faiths and beliefs, and includes an Imam, a Rabbi, and a Reverend.
5) Things you can do to make yourself more employable
Do a work placement
City offers a wide range of work placements in a variety of fields. Most of our undergraduate courses offer the possibility to do a one-year work placement between year two and three, which is usually paid (https://www.city.ac.uk/about/schools/mathematics-computer-science-engineering/about-the-school/placements-and-internships). There are also loads of opportunities to undertake short-term placements, too (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/career-development). These are great opportunities to come out of university with work experience in your chosen field!
Frequent City Ventures
If you are looking to launch a business in the UK after you graduate, CityVentures can help you develop your business idea with free entrepreneurship programmes and start-up support. https://www.city.ac.uk/business/start. City can also endorse selected recent City graduates for a Start-up visa allowing them to start a business in the UK https://www.city.ac.uk/business/start/launch/startup-visa.
Visit the Careers Service
From applying for mentoring, to accessing micro-placements, to browsing job vacancies and learning more about how to write a CV and how to stand out during an interview, the Careers Centre (https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/career-development) has your employability at its heart.
You can also explore all aspects of the selection and recruitment process through City’s Employability Skills Programme (https://experience.city.ac.uk/activity/employability-skills-programme). The sessions cover the skills that are most valued by recruiters and how you can reflect on them.
Apply for the post-work study visa
From 1 July 2021, international students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree will be able to benefit from two years’ work experience in the UK upon graduation, through the new Graduate Route https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/after-your-studies/post-study-work.
I hope this was helpful,
Gioia from the International Recruitment Team.
If you would like to learn more about City, University of London, do contact the International Team at international@city.ac.uk.