One thing that makes me happy about Warwick is the fact that it is a campus university. Every day I wake up and am surrounded by thousands of other students who are in the exact same situation as me, which makes it incredibly easy to make friends ...it definitely makes my day better knowing that I study in such a wonderful environment, full of wonderful people. Discover Shohina's journey at Warwick and what led them to apply for the LLB Law.

How did you find out about Warwick?

I initially heard about Warwick through an upperclassman from my secondary school who had gotten accepted 2 years before. Coincidentally, she had also been studying law, and she often reposted posts from the Warwick's Law Society on her Instagram story. This is initially what sparked my interest, and inspired me to do further research on the University of Warwick.

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

I was immediately attracted to the University of Warwick after I attended an offer-holder event held online by the university. I had noticed that, compared to other offer-holder events I had participated in other universities, Warwick's approach was unique, and by far the best I had attended. I believed that if it had the best approach to adapting their offer holder day to an online event, then the standard of teaching and learning in an online environment would be exceptional as well.

How did you feel to be awarded a scholarship?

I cannot begin to describe how incredible it felt to get the email that I received the scholarship.

I remember anxiously waiting, and constantly refreshing my inbox once I got my exam results. I was so stressed, as this scholarship was the only way I could afford going to my dream university. The moment I received the email, I burst into tears due to how overwhelmingly happy I was. I couldn't even stop crying and this led to my parents thinking that I had received bad news instead.

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

The first person I told when I received the scholarship was my dad, and he was also very happy for me. I think he was proud that my hard work and studying paid off, and he was glad to see me happy.

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

Initially, after my application to the University of Warwick, I had received an email regarding scholarship opportunities for international students offered by the university. This sparked my interest, and I immediately set upon finding the form and tackling the questions. However, answering the questions honestly, to the best of my ability, was slightly challenging as there were word limits for the questions. Despite this, I tried my best and completed the application form on my own.

Once it was confirmed I received the scholarship, my visa application was pretty straight forward, and the only major issue was waiting an additional 4 weeks to receive my visa (due to delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic).

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

The very first thing I thought of when I got to campus was "Wow, this place is huge!". While I have been settling in for the past few weeks, campus still feels ginormous at times. It is still so amazing that absolutely anything can be found right here on campus, whether its a café, restaurant or bar, or if you need a bank, medical center or grocery store instead... or whether you would like to go to the cinema or watch a play at the theatre - the University of Warwick campus has it all!

What is the best thing about Warwick?

I honestly do not believe I can define one thing as being 'the best thing' about Warwick. However, if I were to pick, it would definitely have to be my flatmates. I cannot believe how incredibly well we all get along, and how well everyone's personality matches with each other. Not only do we share recipes, cook together and go out, but a majority of our nights are spent together in the kitchens playing card games or just talking about random things. I think having a good support system of friends is crucial in university, and Warwick's unique system of matching up flatmates has definitely been something I am thankful for.

What is the worst thing?

While I have no complaints about the University of Warwick, a more general issue that international students might find annoying is the weather. British rain is no joke, and sometimes, your plans will get ruined because you didn't take into consideration the rain. This isn't always a problem, but it would be good to bring a good waterproof jacket with you whenever you go out.

How is your accommodation?

I am currently residing at Cryfield Standard, an on-campus accommodation that is close to central campus and its facilities. My first impression was that it was a lot nicer than I expected. If there's one thing I can say, its that pictures don't do any of the accommodations or buildings on campus justice. Coming here and seeing everything with your own two eyes is such a rewarding experience.

Are you a member of any societies?

I am currently a member of the law society, and I am in the process of joining two more societies. Currently, the law society has held multiple daily, or weekly events in areas regarding commercial, corporate or criminal law - whether it be advice from a speaker or an event aimed at building your skills, everything can be found here. I took part in this year's First-year Moot competition, which is essentially a mock trial set up to allow students to examine a hypothetical case, and make judgements on the grounds of the Prosecution and the defendant. The competition was such a blast, and actually helped me understand my course content better.

What are your plans when you graduate?

Once I finish my LLB in Law at the University of Warwick, I'm hoping to pursue an LLM in international human rights law at another higher level institute (potentially even at the University of Warwick). I hope to become an attorney at a recognized law firm; more specifically, I would like to work with handling immigration cases and aiding those who are not able to help themselves due to differences in language, ability, or skill. Additionally, much later in the future, I hope the skills learnt at Warwick will aid me in my pursuit of law reform in my home country in order to ensure basic educational needs, laws against domestic violence and laws regarding sexual assault.

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

The one piece of advice I would give to someone applying for an Undergraduate Global Excellence scholarship at Warwick is to be honest about your answers, and portray the real you. There is no point in pretending to be someone else when you're going to university. You can just be yourself, and that's enough.

What one thing makes you happy about Warwick?

One thing that makes me happy about Warwick is the fact that it is a campus university. Every day I wake up and am surrounded by thousands of other students who are in the exact same situation as me, which makes it incredibly easy to make friends. I cannot believe how friendly everyone here is, and how well I get along with my coursemates, flatmates and friends! It definitely makes my day better knowing that I study in such a wonderful environment, full of wonderful people.