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STUDENT BLOG: Life as an international student

27/09/2018
Sabine

A few years ago I made a decision to study in the UK – and I have never regretted this choice, writes Multimedia Journalism student Sabine Trezune.

After graduating from High School in Latvia I knew that I wanted to study further, and I wanted to study abroad. At the same time, I realised I was interested in the media and digital world. After browsing the internet and searching for opportunities, I came across the University of Wolverhampton.

This University offered the undergraduate course I was most interested in studying: Media. I found all the information about the University and I really liked what I saw-modern facilities, space for lots of students and a great opportunity to learn about different cultures. My grades after graduating from High School were good, I received funding as a European student and there I was - in September 2016  – at the University of Wolverhampton. Later on, I decided that I want to challenge myself and do more practical work, so I transferred to Multimedia Journalism.

It is a really interesting course because of the amount of practical work involved, the challenges we face and the diverse ways there are to approach journalism in the 21st century.

For me, it was easy to fit in the British educational system. There are lectures every week but I do have free time, and this is what differs most from my home country, as we do a lot of independent study. To achieve progress and qualitative knowledge you must read and study outside the lectures. This changes the focus to good time management. I like that the city centre is focused on students and all the facilities are not far from each other. The staff, whether they are the library or lecturers on the course, are helpful and people are very responsive.

In my case, there is a smaller number of students in the course so the lecturers can dedicate time to each student and it feels like they observe each student as an individual, not just as an-other student who came to study journalism. They not only give you great advice, they prepare you for life after graduating.

Of course, during the first few months I was a bit ‘culture shocked’. The size of the University, so many students - four times more than in my hometown and of course by the city itself, as I am from a small town in Latvia. There are many different cultures and different habits in Wolverhampton.

I am glad I made this decision because I learn something new every day and of course, the experience of all of this is the best I will have for a long time.

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