The WMG Scholarship Dinner was successfully held in Apr 2022, after another wave of Covid-19 at the end of last year. It was my honour to be invited and the dinner was too perfect. I was so glad and excited to be there and many thanks to WMG for the incredible night

The dinner was a very great opportunity to meet new people and talk to the teaching fellows at WMG. Everyone there was very kind and friendly, and I met loads of new friends. The small talks with the teaching fellows were fruitful and it was a very great time to broaden your network. Indeed, as a foodie, I would love to talk about the food – It was the greatest I had at Warwick, and I am currently still missing the chicken and apple pie there! Hahaha :P

Till here not sure if you wonder how I became one of the awardees or if you are interested in applying for a scholarship (?) If yes, please continue reading and I am happy to share more tips for your application. 

I applied for the scholarship after accepting my MSc offer and the requirement of the application was to submit a personal statement about your motivations for your MSc degree and future planning. I think being genuine and realistic, and showing your passion for your study and future career in the statement is very important as the department is getting to know you and decides if you are qualified for the scholarship via your statement. Keeping your statement simple but unique is another key to being outstanding among the applicants since the relevant staff may read through thousands of applications and a unique story is always memorable and deserved an award.

Hope the above sharing would be helpful and wish you all the luck in your scholarship application! xx

April was a hectic month for all WMG students, everyone was chasing lectures, IMAs, PMAs and the research methodology deadlines for our dissertations in early May… Even though the schedule was very tight, we should still enjoy our school lives. We deserved to have a break and the British Afternoon Tea event was a great opportunity for everyone to escape from schoolwork for a while and reunion with our friends! 

The event was held on 22^nd Apr 2022 and the weather on that day was extremely nice. Nearly 100 students joined the event. Before I came, I had not imagined we could have afternoon tea at school, but it was real - Every table was served with a traditional afternoon tea set and a few pots of English tea. Of course, coffee was also available for those coffee lovers. As a tea lover, the tea I had was impressive, and I could not count how many cups I had during the event (haha).

It was an amazing occasion where you could enjoy the food and drinks and had a great chatting time with your friends – I was recharged from the hectic schedule. Meanwhile, a competition with prizes about British afternoon tea culture was hosted and it was a keen one. Sadly, our table did not win the competition  but I did learn a lot about the local culture!

It is a free event organised by WMG and I am so glad it was successfully held during the Covid time, and I could have a chance to participate. If you are coming to WMG next year, I strongly recommend you register for this event via MyAdvantage. Let’s colour your school life and understand more about the beautiful British culture with your friends. See you in the next blog!

“Visa is done, flight tickets booked, and student accommodation reserved, it’s time to pack my luggage…” Till this stage are you overwhelmed? Do you have an idea about what you should bring from your home to the UK and what you may not need to? If you are in doubt, let’s continue reading and my recommendation may give you some ideas! 😉

1. Oral Cleaning Products - Electronic Toothbrush and Dental Floss

Should you have a habit of using electronic toothbrushes and dental floss, I strongly recommend you bring your electronic toothbrush and extra heads refills and floss. Otherwise, you may regret like me as the product price here is at least a double or even triple, compared to my city (/_\)…

The average regular price of an electronic toothbrush in the UK is around 40-50 GBP, and dental floss sticks are usually around 4-6 GBP for a pick of 36-72pcs. The price of toothbrush head refills is various, and it may be uneasy to find a refill that is suitable for your toothbrush as the product lines may not be completed at Boots and you may need to search and purchase online. Therefore, bringing oral cleaning products from your home could save you money and avoid inconvenience if you cannot find the items you are used to using here.

2. Waterproof and Windproof Down Jacket
A good quality waterproof and windproof down jacket is essential for your survival in the UK. The weather here is dynamic, it is like having four seasons within a day. From my experience, almost half of the time is very windy and rainy, and you are hard to carry an umbrella when it is raining. Therefore, a down jacket with wind and waterproof functions can keep you warm and dry.

Of course, you are always welcome to buy a jacket after you arrive in the UK, as sometimes you may find amazing flash sales in boutiques or outlets. However, I also suggest you consider buying one from your home country because it is very likely that the silhouette and sizing of the jackets in the UK may not be your perfect fit - Especially for Asian girls, the figure shapes and heights are quite different with Europeans.

3. Skincare
The period of adapting new lifestyles to everyone is different and some of the people may take a longer time for the adaption as they may not get used to the change of weather easily, and then lead to skin or allergy issues. To ease the adaption process, a set of skincare which you keep using at your home may help.

For the ones who usually use Japanese or Korean skincare, you should bring some extra sets from your home as the price of Asian skincare brands in the UK is quite pricy and you may not be found on high streets. However, if you are not sensitive skin and are open to trying new brands, I recommend you can go to Boots or some online platforms to explore new products (for sure you will discover loads of good quality skincare at a reasonable price!).

4. Medicine
Most people bring their own medicine for travelling and I think you should also do the same when studying abroad, especially for those who easily get sick or ongoing taking a particular medicine.

Even though you can get the medicine you need in a pharmacy in the UK, the medicine here may not be what you are familiar with, and it may overwhelm you if you just arrived and are unwell at the same time. Therefore, bringing your own medicine can always resolve your urgency quickly and make you feel more secure when you first land in the UK. Indeed, I also recommend you get to know more about the NHS system and pharmacies in the UK after you get used to living here so that you will know where you should seek help when you get sick.

5. Trousers
If you think you are in general heights of Asian girls, I strongly suggest you bring a few more pairs of trousers and jeans, otherwise, you will regret like me 

Most of the trousers or jeans I’ve bought in the UK are quite long for me, and I need an alteration or wear a pair of shoes with platforms, to make sure I can walk properly. Of course, some brands offer petite collections which may fit Asian height, but the styles and options are quite limited. If you do not want to keep wearing the same pairs of trousers, or just wearing dresses or skirts, better bring extra pairs of trousers and jeans from your home country.

6. Comfort Food
Eating something you really like can always help you destress and make you happy, especially when you get homesick or are overwhelmed by assignments. I suggest you could bring some food or snack which are not sold in the UK, so you feel more comfortable when you eat and are mentally unwell.

The food and snack can also be a very good tool to help you make more friends easily, by exchanging and experiencing different cultures with different people 

7. Rice Cooker
If you are a rice lover like me, bringing a rice cooker from your country should be one of the must-do lists. Rice cookers sold in Asia contains various functions and could cook rice in different textures. Compare to those selling in the UK, the cookers sold in Asia are with more reasonable prices and functions, even better appearance. (FYI, rice cookers in the UK usually are with very basic functions and they are quite pricy and with limited supply.)

Even though the weight of a rice cooker is a bit heavy, trust me, it is worth it! - You can always eat home-taste rice effortlessly during your time in the UK.

The above suggestions are all from my own experience and an Asian perspective. Hope the little sharing could help those who are having a similar cultural background and coming to Warwick very soon. Wish everyone a good and easy start to your journey in the UK ;-)

Deciding on booking which accommodation could be struggling. The tips below may help you figure out which accommodation is ideal for you.

Tip 1: List out all your expectations towards the accommodation

Sit down and list out your accommodation requests can always clear your mind when you are struggling to choose accommodation and room type. Some people may think living near the campus is very important as they want to have the quickest access to the university facilities like the school library, while some people may think the convenience of getting groceries and leisure activities are more important. Therefore, you should ask yourself about which factor is your most concern, then you will have a clear direction to know which location you should live in.

For choosing the room type, you should ask yourself if you prefer living alone or a group of people, and of course, your budget. If you prefer living alone and the price is within your budget, a studio would be your thing and vice versa. Even you prefer to live with a group of people, you should always get yourself prepared for the issues that may happen in the flat, such as the cleanness in the common area, different living habits and possible conflicts among flatmates. People problems can always be resolved via proper communications, and your patience is always the key to getting issues resolved and having a happy stay during your study.

Tip 2: Check the information from Warwick Accommodation and join the related official communities in your home countries

Checking the Warwick Accommodation website can always give you an idea about your stay at Warwick. The information provided is clear and it is believed that you can get yourself familiar with the school accommodations and brief ideas about the areas nearby.

If there are any official Warwick student communities/ activities organised in your home countries, you can join and see as some graduates may share their study experience in the communities, and you can make friends during the events. It should be very beneficial for your preparation before you arrived at the university.

Tip 3: Ask for previous experience
Should you have any Warwick alumni friends, do not hesitate to reach out to them and ask for their experience in the university! It is extremely helpful for your plan and preparation of your Warwick journey since they experienced the things that might happen during your study, and you can avoid the accommodation/ areas you don’t prefer and select the most suitable place for yourself during your study. Usually, the comments and feedback from the friends around you are genuine and trustworthy, and you can take their options into account when you decide to book a place to stay.

Hope my ideas and reviews are useful and clear the puzzles you may have 🤗 Wish every newcomer and current student enjoy their stay and study at Warwick.

There are three main types of accommodations around the university - University student halls, Private student accommodations and Shared houses. In this blog, I shall discuss the differences between the accommodations and their pros and cons one by one, according to my own experience and those I heard from my friends. Enjoy! 🥳

Warwick Accommodations (On Campus)

Applying for student halls at the university is always the simplest and easiest. If you are impatient to research and read reviews, and safety is your priority in choosing accommodation, living on campus would be the best choice for you.

To apply for a student hall, you just need to follow the instructions stated in the university emails, and you will likely be allocated a room on campus if you are an international student. You of course can prioritise your preferable choices of the student halls during the application, but it is not a guarantee that you can always get your favourites. Most of the student halls are shared flats, and it would be a shortcut for you to adapt to your life in the UK as you will be meeting people around the world and across different majors in your flat. If you prefer to live in a studio and on campus, Cryfield Studio could be your option. Living on campus is worry-free since the application process is simple and all bills (except laundry) are included in the accommodation fee.

However, the application for university accommodation usually opens in June or July, and the move-in day is always one week before the term starts, it may be a little bit late for those who would like to plan and settle down in the UK earlier.

Private Student Accommodations (Off-Campus)

There are loads of student accommodations across Coventry and they are usually operated by scaled property companies. Except living on campus, living in a private student hall is also a very popular option among students (I am also one of the residents😄).

Various room types and prices of private student accommodations are available, so you can choose your room size and type according to your preference and budget. Like the student halls on campus, many of the private student accommodations provide student flats, so you can also meet various people across different majors, even different universities. If you have friends coming to study together, some of them even allow you to do a group booking and reserve the rooms in the same flat. Should you prefer living in a studio, the choices in private student accommodation are more than the university offers. All bills except laundry are also included in your rent, and the facilities of some of the accommodations are fancy (but of course, the price reflects how premium your accommodation is 😂 Some of them can be very expensive).

If you are a person who would like to get things confirmed and settled earlier, private student accommodations may be your option. However, the drawback is that the halls are usually very far from the university, and you will need to take public transport to school. Even though some of the room prices may be slightly cheaper than the university ones, the transportation fee and time cost more.

Shared Houses (Off-Campus)

Compared to the university and the private student halls, shared houses aren’t the mainstream among students, but they still have their market. Living in a shared house is a very good opportunity to experience local life as the houses are usually in the residential area where the UK citizens are living. If you are planning to stay in the UK after your study, renting a shared house could be a rehearsal for your future accommodation hunt since you shall know what kind of houses you should look for throughout your study year, and already got familiar with the process and procedures of renting a house.

Renting a shared house is not as simple as student halls. A lot of comparisons between houses and locations are needed to be done, and the renting process such as paying a deposit and signing a contract could be complex. Some landlords are offering a packaged rent including all bills but some of them don’t. If the utility expenses are excluded from your rent, you may also need to handle the applications and liaise with the suppliers by yourself. All in all, loads of stuff you may need to deal with when you rent a house and I think if you are coming alone and do not have friends and family in the UK, renting a shared flat could be overwhelming because you are also getting familiar with the new environment in the UK. However, for those who already got experience in renting a house in your home country, or you are coming to the UK with your friends, renting a shared house is highly recommended.

After reading the two blogs, I hope you will be more familiar with the surrounding of Warwick. Tips about finding your ideal accommodation in the next blog. Let’s go! 🏃 🏃 🏃

After accepting your MSc offer, you may start to be overwhelmed by a series of overseas study preparations. Information like the visa application process is always straightforward and easily be obtained, you seldom go wrong if you follow step by step. However, accommodation research is another story. The information may not be very organised, and it is hard for you to decide where you should stay before arrival as you may be unfamiliar with the city. Living in your preferable place can make your life at Warwick more enjoyable and incredible, if you are interested in knowing more about the stay at Warwick and how to select your ideal accommodation, let’s continue to read my following blogs! 👇🏻 😜

Location – Should I live on the campus or nearby? Or Coventry and Leamington Spa is better?
On/ Nearby the Campus
Half of my friends and classmates live on campus, while another half of them live off-campus. Those who live off-campus, are still living in the areas near the university like Canon Park, Charter Avenue, and Canley. The advantages of living on or nearby campus are you can always go to the school by walk, and it is time and cost-saving for classes, also, living inside the campus is usually safe. Tesco Superstore, Aldi, Asian supermarkets, and Boots are all available in the Canon Park shopping centre, and thus, it will not be a puzzle for you to get your daily essentials.

However, some of the accommodations are a bit far from the shopping centre or your department buildings, and you may need to walk for quite a while for your groceries and/or to school (indeed you can ride a bike or scooter to shorten your journey!). Choices of restaurants nearby and at Warwick are limited but you can still get the basics in the cafes or restaurants and Rootes grocery store on campus. In my opinion, living on or nearby the campus should be suitable for those who prefer to have quick access to the university facilities and a shorter journey time to school.

Coventry

Even though living on campus or nearby is a popular option among my classmates, some students like me have chosen to live in Coventry. Most of us are living in the city centre and Earlsdon. Living in the city centre is always convenient, and you can go to various places such as supermarkets and the shopping mall by a walk with just 5-15 minutes, and lots of restaurants are around you. The Coventry rail station is also very close to the city centre, and it is always quick to catch a train if you are going somewhere else in the UK. Earlsdon is a residential area near the city centre, and a high street is across the area for all your daily needs.

Yet, the cons of living in Coventry is the journey to school – Usually, you will need to take buses to Warwick and the bus journey is around 25-35 minutes. The transportation fee is around 2.5 GBP per journey, which is a bit pricy for students. However, you can get a student bus pass to save your cost. Sometimes you may be panic about the bus schedule, as the buses are not always arriving on time (earlier or later) 🙁 and my suggestion is to arrive at the bus stop a bit earlier if you have a face-to-face class at the university. If you admire convenience and vivid life, living in Coventry (especially the city centre) would be a great choice for you.

Leamington Spa

Some of the students aren’t living in both campus and Coventry but Leamington Spa. Even though I do not have friends living there, I visited there leisurely - The bus journey from the Warwick campus to Leamington Spa is around 30 minutes. It is a small town with many nice restaurants and a great park. Indeed, you can also find your daily needs on its high street. If you always fancy great restaurants, Leamington Spa could be a great location for you.

After having a general idea about the surrounding of the university, you may want to know more about the types of accommodations and start thinking about which would be the most suitable for you. Let’s check my second blog out and it may help you clear your mind! 🤓