My Background

My name is Praanjal, and I am an 18-year-old international student who is originally from India, but spent the majority of my life overseas in a tiny country called Brunei. I moved to Brunei in 2012 where I attended 2 international schools, one for my IGCSE and the other to do A levels, however, I ended up proceeding and finishing the IB program as I realised A levels was more focused on the field you’d want to study in and while I knew that I wanted to study something sports-related, I wasn’t set on which career I wanted to venture into.

I was considering business management in the sports field, however, after some research (and help from my mum) I discovered sports engineering. We found that sports engineering could be a big and upcoming career choice as it has an important role when it comes to enhancing athletic performances, and it combined my passion for sports and actually making a difference within the field which is what I really want to achive.

Why Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

NTU actually was not my target university. I applied to five different universities through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) in which only two offered sports engineering in the UK: NTU and Loughborough University. Loughborough University was my original goal as it is known as one the best sports engineering universities, however, as plans changed I accepted my offer from NTU and so far I have been happy with my choice and have really been making the most out of this new experience.

One of the factors that drew me to NTU was that it has an excellent representation of employability in the UK and has a well-rounded reputation for helping students secure internships and jobs. Within the few months that I have been here, I have constantly received emails about possible internship opportunities available, tailored advice for you when it comes to writing up your CV, and I definitely have high hopes for after graduation when beginning to start my career.

In addition to that, NTU has also had a very welcoming community. NTU has facilities like our common area, where students can mix by playing table tennis or pool table, enjoy a meal or drink where I feel really helps students leave their shells and explore the different types of people on campus.

Expenses and Scholarships

The costs are always high, especially when I move from Brunei to the UK. Everything here is much more expensive for me. The foundation course I am enrolled in costs £9,535/year, which will change depending on what I decide to do next year.

The university offers various partial scholarships. I received an email outlining possible scholarships. It stated that part of the application process would have included a video of myself explaining why I would be a good fit for the scholarship and what makes me unique compared to other candidates. NTU offers a range of scholarships, including academic, sports, international, music, and others, which I am considering for next year.

Other than tuition fees, managing living costs has been a vast change. From my experience, I would say a budget of £400 per month is reasonable - depending on how you manage it. Public transportation is available which reduces travel costs compared to using transport like Uber, and cooking home meals can also save a decent amount instead of eating out. While it may seem like a lot, I think it is manageable especially if you really want the experience and I’m sure there are many other ways you can save and make the most out of it if you do some research and even possibly contact the school for any other type of assistance.

What is UCAS?

UCAS or Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a UK-based organisation that manages the application process for students. Here's an overview of how UCAS works:

• Application Process

  • You can apply to up to five universities using the UCAS platform.

  • The application requirements:

    • Personal details (e.g. identification and funding)

    • Education history

    • Your personal statement

    • Any references you may have and would like to include

• Research Tools

  • UCAS provides tools for students to help research universities or courses and the requirements for entry.

  • It basically simplifies your options and helps you organize your applications.

• Fees

  • A small fee of £28.50 is needed only to submit your application to send it out to those chosen universities.

• Offers and acceptance

  • Once submitted, if accepted those Universities will send you an offer that can be conditional.

  • You then choose your main university and a backup in case you do not meet the conditions of your main choice

  • If you meet the conditions of your chosen university, UCAS will send an email confirming your place.

My Experience and Advice so far

I have been at NTU for about four months now, and despite some of the stigma surrounding living in the UK, my experience so far has been wonderful. I have had the opportunity to mix with so many different people every day, which gives me a refreshing break from the academics and makes university life more enjoyable. The UK itself also has so many different events, like concerts, popups, and sports, which is perfect for me.

Living at university, however, really does come with a learning curve. For me, cooking turned out to be that curve. In the beginning, I underestimated how difficult it could be, but once I started, I realised it was much harder than it looked. Whether it's learning to cook, balancing social and academic life, or overall adapting to the new environment, I really think it is important you keep an open mind when entering university life. Do not let what you have learned from previous schools and curriculums shape your perspective and outlook when starting university because it truly is such a different experience and you end up learning so much more than anyone might prepare you for.

The last thing is to make sure you make the right friends. Your friends at university really do become like family, they are the ones who you spend the majority of your time with, they are the ones you go grocery shopping with, they are the ones who make the more miserable side of university enjoyable and they are the only ones who truly know what you are going through because you all are experiencing it together. So having the right people by your side really plays a huge role in your university experience and the way you want it to turn out. I am very lucky that I found those people of mine, and I am ready to experience this next chapter of life with them.