— Shan Ahmed

I completed my high school at Delhi Public School, Bangalore East, in 2019. I studied History, Political Science, Mass Media Studies, and Psychology. Upon completing high school, I pursued a triple major in English, Journalism and Psychology from St Josephs University in Bangalore and graduated in 2022.

Thereafter, I decided to pursue a Masters degree from the UK and got admission to the University of Essex’s MA in Management and Organisational Dynamics. I came to the UK in October 2023, and the journey has been nothing short of a fun and learning experience.

I enrolled via one of the progression arrangements with OP Jindal University which is one of the institutional partners of the University of Essex in India.

In addition to this, I also managed to bag an Academic Excellence International Masters Scholarship worth £4000. I was unaware of this scholarship until I received my offer letter. It was then that I learned all international students who applied to the University of Essex have a chance to receive this scholarship based on their academic records.

When I transitioned to the University of Essex, the experience was a world apart. Life in the UK felt like a new adventure — challenging, exciting, and full of opportunities. My supervisor and course director, Dr Chris Tanner, was more than just a mentor. He became a friend who guided me through this unfamiliar land, making me feel comfortable and welcome.

One of the big surprises for me was how different university life in the UK was compared to India. Here we have classes only once or twice a week, which was a far cry from the packed schedules of Indian universities. You typically have only one or two classes a week, so it seems like you have plenty of free time. However, when you factor in doing everything yourself — laundry, cooking, studying, and making time for friends — that time just slips away.

It was an adjustment at first, but I soon came to appreciate the extra time I had to focus on independent study. The freedom to manage my own time was both liberating and a bit daunting, but it allowed me to engage with my subject in a more thoughtful way. You are given a lot of independence here as a student, and as long as you meet your deadlines, you have ample space to grow.

Campus life in the UK was different too. On days when I had classes, I would spend most of my time in the library, either reading or working on assignments. It became a routine that I actually enjoyed. And I have to admit, I love the £2 breakfast meals on campus — nothing like a good, cheap breakfast to start the day.

There weren’t as many rigid rules to follow, and you had plenty of time to immerse yourself in your studies. But with that freedom came responsibility — you had to manage your own time and make sure to meet deadlines. It was a liberating experience, allowing me to grow both academically and personally in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

When I first arrived in the UK, one of the things that immediately caught my attention was how people would greet me saying, “You alright?’ At first, I was confused — was it a question or just a greeting? It took me a while to realise that it was simply the UK’s way of saying hello. People here are welcoming and helpful, and despite being in a completely new environment, I never felt out of place.

Socially, freshers’ week at the university was a huge help. It provided a great platform to meet people from all walks of life and explore various student societies. I was amazed at how diverse and inclusive the campus community is — there truly is a society for everyone. I connected with both the Indian Society and the Malayali Society, where I made some amazing friends.

I opted for university housing. It was a peaceful environment with plenty of benefits — security, gym membership, and all bills included. I also had the opportunity to make friends with students from different countries, and even though it sounds corny, it really felt like a home away from home. My flatmates and I got along really well. Our endless game nights became our unofficial therapy sessions, where we’d laugh off the stress of looming deadlines. Even when we were going through the worst of it, just bumping into each other in the kitchen would somehow make us forget all our problems.

When it came to daily life, one of the first challenges I faced was navigating groceries. Tesco, the most popular grocery chain in the UK, is just a 10-minute walk from my accommodation, which sounds convenient, but during the cold winter months, even that short walk felt like a trek. I remember having to bundle up and rush back home to sit under the radiator to warm up after grocery runs. It was a new experience for me, coming from a much warmer climate, and something as simple as buying groceries suddenly became a test of endurance.

Managing the cost of living as a student was quite a journey, especially in a small town like Colchester. At first, I really struggled to find a part-time job. I went around the city centre, applying at various places to help cover my expenses, but had no luck. Then, one day, I spotted a job advertisement outside an Indian café. I walked in, spoke to the manager, and he said, “Yeah, we’ve got a job — get in the kitchen.” So, I gave it a try, but after a few shifts, I quickly realised that working long hours in a busy kitchen wasn’t for me.

A few weeks later, I finally landed a job at a grocery store, which turned out to be an eye-opening experience in more ways than one. Working there, I got to witness the many joys and sorrows of the local community. Customers would come in and have long chats with the staff — sometimes passionately discussing football, other times sharing news about what was happening in town. These moments made me realise how central grocery stores are to everyday life, serving not just as a place to shop, but as a space for social interaction. I learned a lot about British culture and people just by listening to those conversations.

The part-time job not only helped me manage my expenses but also added layers to my understanding of British life. I started off earning the minimum wage, which was £10.50 per hour at the time, and later increased to £11.44. It wasn’t always easy balancing work and study, but the experience was rewarding.

Interestingly, my dissertation topic was directly related to this experience. I conducted a qualitative study on how part-time retail employees find work meaningful. Through my own time at the grocery store, I came to realise that it’s not just the tasks themselves that give meaning to the job, it’s the connections you form with customers and colleagues, the small interactions that make the day brighter.

In many ways, this job offered me firsthand insight into my research and deepened my appreciation for the simple yet significant impact retail work can have.

Living in a different country, away from the comfort of familiarity, forces you to grow in ways you don’t expect. You become more independent and resilient because you are constantly navigating new challenges. It has made me appreciate diversity so much more, not just in terms of people and culture, but also in ideas and perspectives.

One thing that really stands out to me is how much more I’ve come to value the comfort we often take for granted in India. Whether it’s the convenience of having family close by, or just the sense of familiarity in everyday life, you don’t realize how much these little things matter until you’re living without them.

Another major change is how open-minded I’ve become. Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and beliefs has taught me to look at things from multiple angles. It’s easy to get stuck in a certain way of thinking when you’re in a familiar environment, but being abroad pushes you to question your assumptions and be more adaptable.

(This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics)