MSc Psychology (Conversion)

Bristol, UWE

What I’ve enjoyed most about studying at UWE Bristol is how friendly and supportive the environment is. The lecturers are approachable and willing to help when needed, and the student support services make it easier to settle in and manage university life. The area that could be improved would be the communication on our assignments and clear guidelines on what is expected.

The teaching staff are wonderful and helpful, they take time to make sure every student understands what they are teaching and try their best to answer all questions thrown at them. The facilities are also really good here but student life on campus can be boring sometimes as there is not much to do on campus. There are barely any events going on campus and the atmosphere can be dead sometimes on campus which can bring down your mood down sometimes but at least we can go out and have fun with friends so it balances out.

The best aspect of my university experience is definitely the student support. Studying and living in a new country as an international student can be incredibly nerve-wracking, but I have been assisted very efficiently. I am lucky to have really nice lecturers who seem to like teaching. They are really patient and do everything they can to help you in any areas where you may be struggling. This has really helped me get used to the UK's academic culture in good time. Accommodation services on campus have also been quick to help and respond to emails on various things to do with my living situation. When I first arrived and was still trying to find my way around campus, there were many friendly staff members ready to help, which made everything so much easier. The worst aspect is the weather. Coming from a really warm country, I definitely went into shock when I got here. The temperatures here are much lower than back home, and the wind makes it feel colder than it actually is. It takes quite some time to fully adjust, but the second you do adjust, the temperature drops again. The sun setting really early has also been really hard to get used to. I also fell victim to fresher's flu, which is probably the worst flu I have ever experienced. The medical system also works really differently here, which made it so difficult to get medical attention and even then, there wasn't much they could do to help. Something that could be improved would be informing students before term time on the flu and how to handle it, especially for international students who would not be aware of it. Also in the accommodation, it would probably be better not to have carpet flooring in the rooms, as they are harder to keep clean and the fluff from it is not the best for those suffering from respiratory issues. It would probably be beneficial to have a clean mop for the flat and a dust pan to help pick up dirt when cleaning.

For me, everything are almost perfect but there is just one small problem. That problem is making friends. I feel like most people are more individual, so it’s quite hard to be friends with. And for someone who’s coming from tropical country, the heater is also one of the problem. Lastly, it’s hard to get a job in here. The best thing is that I live a new life here. I get to experience my early 20 in new city with new everything. University wasn’t that bad after all.

The university environment is pleasant and well-equipped, surpassing my previous institution, and the teachers are also very nice. However, making friends has proven to be very challenging, and despite being in my final year, I still haven't managed to form any meaningful connections, which is a difficult aspect of my experience.