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My guide to wellbeing and taking care of your mental health

It is that time of the year again – assignment deadlines are stacking up and exams are just around the corner…There is a lot to do, you have got essays to write, exams to revise for and it feels like you’re always busy. However, this blog post is here to tell you that your work and revision can wait, but your health, especially your mental health, should be your top priority.

It is normal to feel stressed, that just means you care about what you do and that is a great thing. Just remember you need breaks and a clear mindset in order to work well, so you need to allow yourself to take breaks. Here are some of my personal tips on what to do when you are starting to feel overwhelmed by everything in life.

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   May 13th, 2019    Exams and Assessment, International, Lectures and Seminars, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Preparing for University, Studying     , , ,

Why I chose to study MA Theatre Practice at the University of Exeter

It is that time of year, the time where the questions about your next step become more imminent and the pressure seems to be slightly on as the possibility to apply to a number of universities opens again. Thinking about the future, how this one decision seems to have much more weight than the others in shaping what your life will turn out to be. And to be quite honest the fact that there is a huge variety of options for “what to study?” “where to study?” “why there and not here?”, makes the whole process even more daunting. Now to that added stress factor in that you might be considering moving away from your country to study abroad.

If you are indeed thinking about doing your undergrad or your postgraduate studies abroad, I am not going to deny that it can be harder to make this decision. This is mainly because most of us cannot visit campus on open days and are essentially missing out on the one to one information and the vibe that you can get from the university during these events. As a result, we must rely heavily on the information we find online about accommodation, studies, social life, academic style: literally every aspect of what “uni life” means.

Taking this into account allow me to help you (even in the slightest) by telling you how I came to the decision of choosing Exeter. And why, even though is not technically a “drama academy”, I stand by my choice of studying theatre in a university as opposed to any other option. (more…)

   April 30th, 2019    International, Life on Campus, Miscellaneous, Postgraduate, Preparing for University

UK survival tips (beauty tips, general concerns around British weather and living environment)

Living in a new environment with a different culture and climate is definitely challenging. Keep reading if you are keen for some beauty tips to help you survive the harsh winter days and the solution to the myths about British weather and living environment.

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   March 14th, 2019    International, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying abroad

Why Exeter? My reasons behind coming to Exeter

Whenever I meet someone new here from the UK, the first five minutes of conversation inevitably involves the question: “Why did you come to Exeter?” To be frank, I always need a moment to pause and think back to the time when I sat in front of my laptop making my UCAS choices.

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   February 27th, 2019    International, Lectures and Seminars, Preparing for University, Studying, Studying abroad, Undergraduate     

Why I chose Exeter for my degree (BSc Economics and Politics)

At the end of Year 12, applications for universities were creeping up on us. Unlike many of my friends, I was still clueless about the degree I wanted to pursue, let alone which university. The panic was starting to set in and I decided to look up the ranking tables for Economics which was the A-level subject I really enjoyed. Universities like Warwick, Durham, St. Andrews and Exeter popped up and after all the train journeys, brochures and getting lost at Open Days – I put the University of Exeter down as my firm choice in UCAS.

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   February 27th, 2019    International, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Why I chose to study Psychology at the University of Exeter

I know that deciding what university to attend is an incredibly important and difficult decision – I’ve done it. That’s why I’m here to tell you some of the reason why I chose the University of Exeter. (more…)

   February 12th, 2019    Exploring Devon and Cornwall, International, Life on Campus, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Studying, Studying abroad, The city of Exeter, Undergraduate

Where is Exeter? What’s student life like in Exeter? Here are the answers to some FAQs from international students

I worked at several education fairs last summer on behalf of the University of Exeter and there were a few questions that were popular from prospective students and their parents. I have compiled a list of questions and answered them here, hopefully it is helpful to all international students who may be wondering some of the same things.

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   December 18th, 2018    Clearing, Exams and Assessment, Food and eating, Freshers Week, International, Lectures and Seminars, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Preparing for University, Studying, The city of Exeter, Undergraduate

Some tips and advice for the new students (Cornwall Campus)

Starting your new life at university might be scary but here you can find a little bit of information about what to do first when you’re on campus, where to get more information about Freshers events as well as get some tips from the current students. (more…)

   September 18th, 2018    Cornwall, Freshers Week, International, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Penryn Campus, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Global Chums mentoring scheme: interview with Amelia

I signed up to be a Global Chums mentor in Spring of 2017, at the same time as I signed up to be an academic mentor. I wanted to be an academic mentor because I’d had one myself, who was extremely supportive and helpful whenever I needed it. As for Global Chums, it was the first year of the scheme and the organizer sent everyone e-mails asking for prospective mentors, and it sounded like a great way to share the things I’d learned about being a foreigner on this particular campus, but also of meeting new people from all sorts of places. So I know what my experience has been like, but since I was never a Global Chums mentee, I can’t really recommend it on my own behalf. So I sat down for hot chocolate with one of my mentees, Amelia from New Zealand, to ask her about her experience and whether she’d recommend the scheme to incoming international students. (more…)

   September 13th, 2018    Cornwall, International, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Miscellaneous, Penryn Campus, Preparing for University

Not sure what to do in Fresher’s Week? We’ve got your back!

Freshers’ Week is the week that all students, new or returning, look forward to. It’s the week of freebies, refreshments…and the parties. But if you’re an international student coming to the UK for the first time, then chances are you are probably really excited, freaking out a little and kind of confused about what exactly you need to do in Fresher’s Week. But don’t worry. We’ve got a checklist for you! But that’s not all. Keep reading to find out how useful and fun I found the International Welcome Programme!

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   September 7th, 2018    Freshers Week, International, Life on Campus, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University     , ,

The complete guide to shopping in Exeter 

This blog is a guide for international students who may not be familiar with stores we have here in the UK.

Moving to a new place means…lots of shopping! Getting settled into a place requires lots of things to make it into your home. It’s a challenge trying to find everything you need in a new place while navigating the start of the academic year but we’re here to make your job easier! Here is our go-to list of shops, where you can find all essential products you may need when moving in from cooking supplies and bedding to groceries and study supplies.

– written by Jasmine, Nicola and LP

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   September 7th, 2018    International, Life in the South West, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, The city of Exeter

How To Travel Responsibly

For every student studying at the University of Exeter, travelling can be a blessing that can make you want to cry sometimes but you hold it in because in the end you have to travel anyway. As an international student, I tend to travel a lot and it’s become second nature to me, which is why I thought to impart some of my wise knowledge to you – even if you might already know this.

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   September 1st, 2018    Cornwall, International, Life in the South West, Penryn Campus, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Healthcare in the UK – A Guide for International Students

If you are an international student on a Tier 4 student visa like I am, there’s no need to panic about what to do if you get ill during your stay in the UK. Read on for my guide to healthcare in the UK and what to do if you get ill at university. (more…)

   August 28th, 2018    International, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Postgraduate, Preparing for University, Undergraduate     , , , ,

How to cope with British weather

I grew up in Hong Kong, where summer days are insanely hot and long, while winter days are still cold but short.  I am used to a warm and humid climate so I found it quite a drastic weather change when I first arrived in the UK. I adore warmer British months from April to September when the sun is shining and the days are longer. Luckily, Exeter is based in the South West which is one of the warmest places in the UK.

If you’re worried about moving to the UK here are some my top tips for keeping up with British weather!

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   August 3rd, 2018    International, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Preparing for University, Undergraduate     ,

My Clearing Experience

My degree: BA Liberal Arts (majoring in English with proficiency in French)

I hadn’t really thought about about studying abroad before the release of my exam results, but I applied to UK universities as a back-up plan so decided to apply for a subject I was quite interested in. Once I got my results I found that I couldn’t apply for my subject in local Hong Kong universities so I turned to Clearing for more options.

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   July 25th, 2018    Clearing, International, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

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