A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: United Kingdom

  • Rea Legadima at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital, UK

    Rea Legadima at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital, UK

    Greetings and salutations to you, future S.U. ambassadors and travelers. I’m an MBChB V student who just experienced the most incredible, educational endeavor of my life to date.

    I cannot express enough gratitude to Stellenbosch University for being part of this journey. Thank you for the immense effort you contribute towards the dreams of your students.

    Last year November 2019, I was blessed with the opportunity of doing my MBChB IV elective at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital in England.

    This wasn’t an easy journey as I started to apply at various universities at the end of my MBChB III academic year in 2018, however, I was too late to be considered for the 2019 elective process as most faculties has closed in July of 2019. I was, of course, tremendously disappointed at this outcome, however, not enough to deter me from my dream. I then decided to email various hospitals across the United Kingdom. To my delightful surprise, I received a number of responses from hospitals.

    I chose to work at Maidstone&Tunbridge Wells Hospital due to their efficient correspondence and the location of the hospitals were deemed to be safe and welcoming. . I applied from my UK Visa in September 2019 and processing only took approximately three weeks. By October 2019, final examinations were the only hurdle left before my departure.

    I arrived at Heathrow Airport on the 27th of October 2019 after a 14 hour flight, not to mention a 4 hour lay-over in Dubai, with extreme exhaustion. My loving relatives, whom I hadn’t seen for ages where kind enough to fetch me from the airport. I arrived a week prior to the commencement of my elective to sort out the all the administrative enquiries like blood tests and acclimatizing to the new environment.

    I was able to rent a room with a lovely Zimbabwean family through the assistance of a relative. I would have used studentspareroom.uk.co. If things had not materialized.

    My elective comprised of a two week rotation in Ophthalmology followed by another two week rotation in Anesthesia. Maidstone&Tunbridge Wells Hospital are sister hospitals; I decided to do my Ophthalmology rotation at Maidstone Hospital and thereafter my two week rotation of Anesthesia at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

    Ophthalmology was pleasant in many aspects such as learning from various eye specialists, orthoptist and opticians and the early hours of course, however, it was at times too specialized of a programme especially for a student who aims to achieve the basic skills. Then, when I thought things couldn’t get better, Anaesthesia walked into my life. I enjoyed the hours, the various departments in which Anesthesia works with, and the staff. One could note the disparities in curriculum of U.K. medical students compared to the South African medically trained students. As South African medical students, more specifically, Stellenbosch medical students, we are given the opportunity to perform skills at a much junior level than the U.K. students who may need to wait till they are Foundation 1/2 doctors or fellows-registrars- but every moment was an opportunity to learn. I was able to meet and greet students from King’s College London during my rotation in Anesthesia, who were able to jovially share their experiences as medical students from a different side of the world, and I too shared my own. This was a great exchange as both parties have a bit more insight and perspective of the world through the lens of healthcare.

    I, of course, took every opportunity to see the cultural history and background of England with its beautiful architecture and I was tremendously fortunate to be in England during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final- it was a proud moment to be South African. Using such an efficient transport system was so profound- trains and buses were usually on time and if not, you would be notified of how long the delay would be; something very baffling for this South African. Meeting various English characters and indulging in English nuances and culture was pleasant and more so being able to meet diaspora in England was refreshing. One needs to emphasize the need to save when going to the U.K. as our rand to the pound is significantly weak and one must be good at budgeting one’s finances well.

    I spent a total of 5 weeks in chilly, affluent (and I mean AFFLUENT), breath-taking beautiful England. As a female, travelling alone to a new destination, I felt a lot more safe walking home or to hospital and using various forms of public transport at night than when I’m here at home. This is not to say that England is 100% crime-free, however people in England make it a point to live harmoniously. An advantage to studying medicine in South Africa is the practical skills we acquire at a young age in our professional careers, allows us to effortlessly thrive in any given healthcare climate; I am not encouraging another season of “BRAIN-DRAIN” from our young professionals, this is just to compliment S.U. academia as we’re able to compete and/or be integrated with students on an international level without feel inferior due to the fact that we hail from Africa.

    I would love to venture the globe especially in conjunction with my career path as I believe travel creates an in-depth worldview of aspects known and unbeknownst to me. This experience also highlighted how I need to pour these skills into my immediate South African community and contribute towards its betterment and advancement in healthcare and other social entities that contribute towards a substandard healthcare system.

  • Collin Andrew Sheriff at University of Bristol, England

    Collin Andrew Sheriff at University of Bristol, England

    Before departure – South Africa

    Planning for a semester exchange abroad is vital and almost just as daunting as actually departing. One Thursday morning in September of 2019 I was packed (excited and anxious), and ready to depart to Bristol, England for my four-month exchange at the prestigious University of Bristol. However, my pre-departure preparations started many months earlier. In order to enter the United Kingdom with a South African passport I required a visa – either a Tier 4, or Short-Term student visa valid for 180 days. I applied for the latter as it was more affordable and is generally processed and approved quicker. You can only apply within three months of departing, which is not an issue considering UK visas generally get approved two weeks after applying. The entire operation is rather straightforward as I only needed to make an embassy appointment and provide all the needed paperwork – such as proof of course acceptance letters, flight information and host university accommodation documents, all of which gets provided to you (be sure to print these out before you visit the embassy).

    Before arriving in Bristol exchange students need to choose their accommodation in advance out of a list of nearly 30 different university halls – these halls are located in three difference villages; North (Stoke Bishop), West (Clifton Village) and East (City Centre). Choose wisely as each accommodation has its pros and cons. For instance, the North village accommodation is roughly a 40-minute walk from the university, although the university does provide all students with a year-long bus pass. Furthermore, accommodation cost is calculated per week (ranging from £100 to £300+) and is split up between villages as well as catered and non-catered. I chose the picturesque grounds of Goldney Hall in the West village as it was nearest to both Bristol City Centre and the university campus, at a reasonable price. The accommodation costs are covered by a housing bursary receivable from the host university (the difference in accommodation cost and bursary is entirely receivable/payable by you); and all accommodation information is also on the University of Bristol webpage. Prior to my arrival I needed to apply for housing on Bristol university’s accommodation portal which also shows your application status and other important information.

    I also needed to select the modules and classes I would like to take before arriving, however, I got to amend this in the first week of classes. Registering from classes is fairly easy when using the host university’s online portals (MyBristol.co.uk) and as an exchange student, the university’s exchange officials are in constant contact via email to answer any questions you might have. Word of advice, register for more units than what your credit requirements are – this will give you options for choosing your favorite modules later on. Stick to registering for first (C/4) and second (I/5) year modules as the work is generally more advance than Stellenbosch (I took a second-year economics module that covered work done at master’s level at Stellenbosch). All unit information will be available in the Programme Catalogue on Bristol.ac.uk.

    When it comes to booking flights be sure to buy your ticket well in advance to ensure the best deals. I opted to book my ticket from Cape Town to London and then took a train to Bristol (about a two-hour journey) since public transport is very reliable – I also suggest keeping luggage at a minimum (I had two 20-kilogram suitcases).

    University of Bristol – England

    The day I arrived I was unaware of the immensely busy week that laid ahead. All international students move into accommodation a day before English students arrive (usually the 19th or 20th of September), thereafter you will start to meet all your flat mates (unfortunately you will not be able to find out who you live with until you move in – however, don’t be anxious, I ended up making friends for life with everyone in my flat and we’re planning our England-South Africa visits).

    First things first, in order to receive your bursary from the university you will need to open a UK bank account – you can only do this once you have fully registered and received a physical copy of your proof of registration. All registrations happen in the first two days so be sure to keep an eye out for emails stating when, where and in which building registrations take place (usually in the magnificently grand Wills Memorial Building) – this is also where you will receive your U-card (student ID). Once you have received your proof of registration you’ll need to book an appointment with a bank of your choice (the university provides a PDF document stating all the possible banks and their perks – I opted for HSBC since I could freely transfer money internationally). Opening a bank account is fairly easy and about two or three weeks after you have submitted your UK banking details to the university (on MyBristol) you will receive your scholarship.

    After you have moved in you will need to sort out bedding, kitchen utensils and general living equipment – I suggest taking the local bus to Ikea for all your needs (invite your flat-mates and make it a fun outing). Now it’s time for Freshers! Freshers in the first week (o-week) where students mingle and meet course mates while attending university-, and society-planned activities. Take advantage of these as you will meet loads of new people and get free meals since most events offer food. Freshers is concluded with the Freshers Fair where every new student can go to sign up for societies, meet new people and receive freebies. I decided to sign up to numerous societies and I was definitely not disappointed. I ended up becoming part of the Clifton Crusaders Rugby Team and played numerous matches, I joined badminton and lacrosse teams, I joined the Bristol United Nations society, the Economics and Finance society, the Jive Dance society and of course the Wine & Gin society. I also ran in the JCR (Junior Common Room) elections (much like Stellenbosch HK) and stood as JCR International Representative for my hall of residence where we had a budget of £40,000 (nearly R1m) to organize residence events such as formals. I strongly suggest taking part as much as you can as this is going to make your exchange so much more enriched. Furthermore, do not feel pressured to buy the Freshers Wristband, although I would strongly recommend it, regardless of what your flat mates do, since you will save a lot of money and meet a lot of new people all while learning about Bristol and British live in general.

    After Freshers you will have your first lectures. Much like Stellenbosch you will need to construct your own lecture timetable and cross-check any timetable restrictions and clashes – this can easily be rectified by seeing your course coordinator (usually at Priory Road Complex for business modules). Be sure to attend classes more religiously than in Stellenbosch, as the pace of work is much faster – lectures also tend to be two hours as opposed to 50 minutes in Stellenbosch so prepare accordingly. Lectures tend to be longer since contact-hours (lectures) per week is low; students are expected to do more individual revision than in Stellenbosch.

    Furthermore, most modules only have one opportunity to gain marks (most exams count 100% of the unit) or a substantial assignment that requires work throughout the semester. The grading system in England is also very different from Stellenbosch University. Beware, do not expect to achieve the same mark at Bristol as you would at Stellenbosch – for instance, any work that receives a mark of 85-90% or above is likely to be published in newspapers (kind off). Generally anything above 60% is considered good, also known as a 2:1 (‘two-one’). Anything between 50 and 59 is a 2:2 (‘two-two’) and anything above 70% is a distinction (or ‘First’) – the pass rate is 40%. Lastly, don’t worry about buying textbooks as all prescribes textbooks are available at one of the university’s six libraries.

    Some extra added advice: stay informed and be involved in as much as you can! After signing up to the university’s mailing list and going to a ‘Careers in Consultancy’ event, I ended up meeting a large London-based consultancy firm’s recruitment officer. Long story short, I got invited to attend an all-paid graduate case-study training weekend at the firm’s London offices, after which I went to their flagship event and secured an interview for their Operations Consultant vacancy. At the flagship event I also had the opportunity to speak to numerous experienced consultants, associates, MD’s and even the CEO.

    The Return- South Africa

    Before I knew it my British exchange was all finished (sadly I didn’t even end up meeting Her Majesty the Queen), and it was time for me to pack my bags and embark on the 20+ hour journey back home. Notably, although I knew about so-called ‘post-exchange depression’ I thought little of it coming home to sunny South Africa. However, although it was not very severe, it is definitely something I would suggest preparing for. To a certain extent I had to re-adjust to normal ‘pre-exchange’ routines; nonetheless, after classes started I quickly found my feet again. During the first few weeks back one of the greatest challenges (funnily enough) was adjusting to the scolding Stellenbosch heat; something I completely forgot about in my daily 3 degrees Celsius Bristol commute. Furthermore, however insignificant, I felt that the pace of work in lectures at Stellenbosch is abnormally slow, but I got used to this as well.

    Ultimately, my experiences abroad definitely had a substantial impact on me and where I see myself in years to come. Being fully submerged in a foreign culture truly lays the foundations for a more open-minded perspective on the world, devoid of any and all bigotry and prejudices. This, amongst other things, is one of my greatest realizations, which could only be brought about by an academic exchange. I would definitely consider future career opportunities in England and I am in the process of applying for postgraduate studies in Bristol and London. Lastly, I also returned home with a revitalized appreciation for our beautiful country and all its problems. All countries (including England) have their own socio-economic challenges and, more often than not, the grass is not greener on the other side. Nevertheless, in this case England’s grass is a tad greener (possibly just from all the rain!). Altogether, my exchange ended up being the best few months of my entire degree and possibly my life. I would definitely recommend all students to embark on this adventurous and challenging journey as it broadens your scope of thought and expands your horizons in terms of academics and future prospects, all while meeting wonderful people. So, if anyone wants some pointers for exchanging to Bristol University, or England in general, (as per quintessential British etiquette) let’s have a pint and talk about it.

  • Kristen Harding at University of Cambridge, UK

    Kristen Harding at University of Cambridge, UK

    Pre-departure:

    My International Summer School experience had been in the making for almost a year. I had known for a long time that I wanted to take part in a short-term study abroad programme during my undergraduate degree, it just came down to finding the right one. Choosing my final year of studies to pursue this trip meant that I had a better idea of which academic field I wanted to further explore. It also allowed me to better understand what I wanted to gain from the experience both academically and personally. After diving deep into study abroad websites, I came across the University of Cambridge’s International Summer School which offered a specialised Literature Programme. This programme appealed to me because of the option to participate for one, two, or four weeks. The variety within the elective choices for the courses within the Literature Programme was also another plus for me.

    After receiving acceptance from Cambridge and choosing Newnham College for accommodation, the travel admin began! This being the first time I would be traveling abroad on my own, my learning began long before I even boarded the plane. From spending five hours in the queue at home affairs for my passport to gathering the countless pages of documents for my visa application. It turns out that traveling requires many hours in queues and looking back, I am sure that I got most of my preparatory reading done while waiting in lines.

    Little did I know that the most reading I would have to do this year would happen after my English exam. The thirty-day countdown began as soon as I arrived back home from Stellenbosch. A month to read seven novels, ten short stories, as well as to organise the rest of the admin necessary for traveling abroad. With each story I finished reading, came a greater excitement for the trip but this was all mixed with the overwhelming feeling that I was not ready to go on this journey alone.

    I was stressed that I would never be able to finish all those books and I did not want to return to South Africa feeling that I did not give it my all. I was worried that security would stop me at the airport or that my flight would be delayed so I would miss my connecting flight. I was so concerned about all that I had to go through in order to get myself to England, I barely thought about what would happen when I actually arrived in Cambridge.

    Experience at the Host University:

    As soon as I was shown my room in Newnham College, I was struck by the view of the perfectly trimmed, picturesque gardens. But I couldn’t appreciate it for long as I had to immediately find my way to the International Office to register. The student assistants and staff were incredibly helpful and reassuring for those of us who were feeling quite stunned by the newness we were expected to become accustomed to in such a short period of time.

    Our fear of adapting to this new space was quickly forgotten as friendships were formed as soon as we sat down for our first dinner in the college. Mealtimes soon became one of my favourite aspects of the Summer School simply because it gave us the chance to really get to understand the countries and cultures from which everyone travelled. It was here that I met the people it would become the most difficult to say goodbye to when they would be heading back to their homes in the United States, Melbourne, China, and Poland.

    Falling into a routine of breakfast, classes, and free time to explore the town, made staying in Cambridge more than just a tourist’s experience for me. After classes, before dinner and evening lectures, was our time to take speedy walks to town over the beautiful bridges with views of King’s College and Trinity College. Cambridge’s maze-like side streets made it easy to feel as though we were discovering new places each day. Even on the last day, I found myself excited by the fact that it still felt as if I was lost in a strange town amongst the tour groups and exquisite architecture.

    Kristen's campus view
    Kristen’s campus view

    We had to hunt for the hours between classes to go souvenir shopping, museum visiting, and river punting. Yet, it wasn’t an issue if there wasn’t enough time in the day because our classes and lectures were the highlights. The literature classes were no more than twenty-five people which made it an incredibly interactive environment that welcomed discussions about our conflicting interpretations and opinions. I was not disappointed by any of my course choices and the instructors really challenged our thinking about the texts we studied. I realised that a classroom truly needs voices ranging in ages and cultural backgrounds in order to facilitate richer discussions.

    Choosing the Literature Programme did not mean that that was the only field with which I engaged. Our evening lectures ranged in subjects from archaeology to politics, and Leonardo da Vinci to Shakespeare. Attending the lectures I thought I would have no interest in, ended up being fascinating topics presented by some of the most passionate professionals I have ever encountered. The constant stream of information flooding our brains each day eventually tired all of us out and we concluded that two weeks was the perfect amount of time to spend there.

    Time for a quick boat trip?
    Time for a quick boat trip?
    Return to Stellenbosch:

    Because I arrived in South Africa the day before the start of the second semester, I basically stepped off the plane straight into my first class. I thought it would be easy to fall back into my routine at Stellenbosch seeing as I only spent two weeks abroad. However, while readjusting myself to being back here, I had to still be in the Cambridge mindset to tackle the essays I opted to write for two of my courses.

    I found the writing of these essays for evaluation to be the most challenging part of the Summer School Programme. Their emphasis on personal interpretation and close reading made it quite a contrast to the research-based essays we write at Stellenbosch. Although this shift in style took time to wrap my brain around, I know that it has given me the confidence to experiment with my approach in academic writing that will benefit my future studies.

    This experience studying abroad has affirmed my hope to pursue postgraduate studies overseas. It has given me the opportunity to understand all that goes into travelling and it has reassured me that I am capable of doing it alone. I absolutely encourage anyone who is contemplating an International Summer School to grab any opportunity they see. Students aren’t exaggerating when they say it truly is a life-changing experience that teaches you more than just what is taught in class.

    Kristen's break along the riverside
    Kristen’s break along the riverside