I arrived to the Piazza, and immediately got goosebumps when I heard people almost my own age passing by, speaking different languages, coming from various backgrounds - I got so excited, I knew I need to and I would be part of this environment in the future. Discover Anastasia's journey at Warwick and what led them to apply for the BASc Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development.

How did you find out about Warwick?

Being particularly interested in topics of environmental and socio-economic crises, I was doing research on what universities provide sustainability-related degrees and eventually discovered University of Warwick on one of the university fairs back in Russia.

Did you consider studying anywhere else? What made you choose Warwick?

Since my senior school I have always been inclined towards studying abroad, and UK has always been my initial choice because of its diverse international environment and variety of subject choice. I chose Warwick, as it is one of the top British universities providing a high-quality education and sophisticated approach towards learning, and it is one of the avant-guard universities implementing sustainable-related degrees.

How did you feel to be awarded a scholarship?

I got an e-mail that day, standing in the middle of an exposition on violence towards indigenous people of Australia in the Tate museum. The moment I realised that I got a scholarship, I guess I got misty-eyed as one of the woman standing nearby went closer and said she was also quite touched by the photographs - in retrospective it is quite a funny moment to remember. After first shock wave passed, I noticed a light and warming feeling - the one you get after a hard week of working and finally getting all deadlines closed. Of course I still feel proud to be awarded Warwick Global Excellence Scholarship, but now it is followed by the responsibility that came alongside the funding.

Who was the first person you told when you received the news about your scholarship and how did they react?

After receiving an e-mail from the university, I called my mom to tell her great news. She was so touched and proud, that she called my grandmother and aunt within next half an hour, so my whole family started texting me back with congratulation on receiving scholarship :)

How did you apply and did anyone help you with your application form and visa application?

I was quite doubtful if I could get the scholarship, but in the end of the day I decided to just open the form and answer the questions without postponing it. I did not want to ask someone to put it together instead of me - I would rather prefer to go through the process on my own, but understand what potential sponsors for uni and for job opportunities are looking for when filtering the candidates. It was particularly difficult to talk about my future plans, as within given Covid realities any predictions are 50% false, so I decided to go with what I intended to do when first applying to uni and hope lockdowns and pandemics will not ruin it.

What was your first impression of Warwick when you first walked around campus?

The first time I have been to campus, it was 2019 - I came for the Summer School course. I arrived to the Piazza, and immediately got goosebumps when I heard people almost my own age passing by, speaking different languages, coming from various backgrounds - I got so excited, I knew I need to and I would be part of this environment in the future.

What is the best thing about Warwick?

For me there are no 'best' and 'worst' things about universities, it is not so black and white. I believe there are always advantages and disadvantages in every single institution we are part of, so as for Warwick I would say the same - the inconvenience of student life is challenging and thrilling at the same time, equally as the amount of the workload and its further completion. Both 'best' and 'worst' things are so intertwined I couldn't possibly separate them in two columns.

How is your accommodation?

This year I have decided to stay with my friends in The Oaks, an off-campus accommodation quite close to Westwood. It is a lovely place, with the separate gym and extremely friendly staff.

Are you a member of any societies?

So far I joined quite a few societies, including PhotoSoc, Chess, RAG and Artificial Intelligence. In addition, I have applied for a PolSoc Freshers Rep and participated in several events organised by PhotoSoc and AI society - mainly photowalks, ice breakers of some sort.

What are your plans when you graduate?

My graduation is in almost 3 years, so as for now I do not have exact plan of action. However I do hope to find an internship during one of the summer holidays, so that later on I would be able to apply for a better position in a sustainability-oriented department. With the implementation of sustainable policies in transnational corporations students have more opportunities to engage and contribute their effort into building a more sustainable future.

What would you say to someone considering applying for an Undergraduate Global Excellence scholarship at Warwick, what would it be?

I would say be honest about past experience and do not be afraid to mention even the smallest contribution you did to get a place in the university. If you still have time though, try to engage in several off-curriculum activities to build up your experience, as it would not only help you with the scholarship, but with further societies/job applications as well.

What one thing about Warwick makes you happy?

It is hard to pick one single thing, however I would say that the feeling of belonging to an international community is one of the part of the routine that makes my day brighter quite often - having friends from all over the world guarantees that your university life is constantly filled up with something amusing and spellbinding at the same time!