Motivation
Having completed most of my studies during COVID times, I missed many exchange and experience opportunities in my first few years of study. Upon approaching my final semesters at UQ, I knew I wanted to participate in an experience before graduating. As someone looking to pursue pathways in academia, the opportunity to study at one of the most well-regarded universities in the world and establish connections with leading academics in my field was an opportunity that I couldn’t ignore.
Personal Development
Having only briefly travelled to Italy once when I was younger, it was an eye-opening experience to travel to a different part of Europe and immerse myself in the city I have read about throughout my degree. I found London to be utterly unique, a hub of culture, diversity, and history. Just around my local Bloomsbury/Fitzrovia area, I could find literary history on every corner.
I also met people from various backgrounds and established deep connections with people from Scotland, China, the United States, and beyond.
Academic Development
As someone looking to pursue postgraduate studies, studying at UCL allowed me to gain a foothold for future study and has given me the skills and connections to build a future in academia. By familiarising myself with a different education system, exchanging knowledge with students from different institutions, and establishing connections with academics, I feel I have opened new doors for studying in the United Kingdom. More specific to my field of literature, I was able to study texts beyond what I was exposed to on my reading lists at UQ, introducing me to new authors and areas to pursue for Honours.
Budget
Staying in Fitzrovia was an expensive experience, but I found ways to manage costs during my stay in London. Off the top of my head, I spent a few thousand on the trip – and I ended up having to spend more than I anticipated when I contracted COVID in the UK. The largest expenses were my transport to London (both the airfare and the tube trip from Heathrow) and accommodation (expect high costs for university accommodation at UCL). I tried to set a tight budget for food expenses, and for future students, I would recommend looking at supermarket costs before travelling. Prior to travelling, I looked at local websites for Tesco and Lidl and created a list of items I would buy. I tried to feed myself for around £10 a day, buying bulk items like pasta, rice, cereal, and noodles and making my own food. I would encourage students to check if their accommodation includes kitchen facilities, as these greatly improve your ability to stick to a budget.
The funding that I received allowed me to participate in experiences that were originally outside my price range. For example, I was able to use the money towards a day trip hosted by the university. On a day-to-day basis, however, the funding helped me to pay for meals and public transport.
Highlight
I am not exaggerating when I say that learning was the highlight of my experience! While the study load was substantial at times, the sheer amount of knowledge I gained, concepts I was exposed to, and texts I was able to engage with broadened my academic horizons and cultivated new interests for future study.
Advice/Top Tips
I mentioned a few tips already, but here’s a summary:
1. Consider accommodation with kitchen facilities. Cooking can help you stick to a budget (especially in more expensive cities like London).
2. Be COVID-ready. Make a plan with what you will do if you become COVID positive, ensure you have people to check on you and pack essentials such as a thermometer and paracetamol (or other medication).
2. Manage your workload. If you are participating in a short-term experience, the workload can be intensive (I had three weeks to read over eight books, write a 2500-word essay, and present a 10-minute presentation!). While you shouldn’t forego opportunities because of the work, be aware that you may have a heavy workload. Look ahead to when your assessments are due and plan accordingly (you don’t want to be going out the night before your final is due!).
