The experience of doing a Masters in the UK is unique and unforgettable. I learn a lot every day and, despite the high level of demand for the course, with an intense load of studies, the university where I study gives us all the support to develop and overcome the natural barriers that everyone who takes a master's degree in an institution of excellence abroad face.
Now that I've told you a little more about what is it like to live in durham, I will share some details about the university. To make this post more complete and collaborative, I collected testimonials from some friends who are studying here. Hope you like it!
1. It is one of the best universities in the world Like many British universities, Durham is one of the best universities in the world. She was recently elected the fifth best university in the UK, and this placement in the ranking reflects the institution's level of excellence.
2. It is one of the only collegiate universities in the UK You may have heard that Oxford, Cambridge and Durham operate through a system of colleges. This was certainly one of the reasons that made me choose Durham University, as it was an experience I always wanted to experience.
All student accommodation is arranged by colleges, and each student can choose or be assigned to a particular college. However, this format is much more than just organizing accommodation for students: it is a community that offers support, develops activities, organizes events and ensures that students can have fun with friends.
It is also possible to get involved in some organizations, which makes it possible to develop new skills and enhance networking. I, for example, volunteer for Café Politique, an organization linked to Ustinov College. Together with other master's and doctoral students (from the most diverse courses!), we organize events to debate some of the most important topics in international politics.
3. Courses to improve academic performance The university offers many courses to learn how to work with different software, to improve written and spoken communication in the English language, to make good presentations of work, among many others. The best, in my opinion, are the academic writing workshops. I feel like I've improved my academic skills a lot since I got here, which is due not only to the master's degree, but also to all the extracurricular (and free!) courses I took weekly over the course of 4 months. For me, these workshops are a kind of “specialization” in scientific research and academic writing.
Check out what my friend Kushal Gautam, Chevening Scholar from Nepal, thinks about the courses: “Firstly, I'm in England and I'm willing to improve my English and know what mistakes I make. The courses and workshops offered by the university are helping me a lot to improve my academic skills with the English language. The professors are very friendly and teach us a lot about the academic style of writing, always focusing teaching in my field of study and based on my course requirements.”
4. Expert advice for essays and dissertation In addition to the courses, the university allows students to have 3 free meetings per term with consultants from the university's English language center, what they call one to one consultation. At these meetings, the consultant can read any academic document that the student wants, such as a essay, for example.
This specialist will not only give tips on how to improve academic writing, but also tips on the format and on important aspects to consider when developing the essay, all according to the department to which the student is assigned. These consultations were essential at the beginning of the course, as I was able to better understand what the university expects from these academic productions, in addition to receiving personalized tips for writing academic texts in English.
5. Active careers sector Another great advantage of the university is the careers sector, which is constantly promoting important events for the professional development of students and organizing professional fairs, in which dozens of companies present their business and encourage students to send their CVs.
The industry website is also full of volunteering, internship and employment opportunities, in the region, in the country and even outside the UK. It was on this site that I found the internship vacancy I did, in the local government.
In addition, it is also possible to schedule appointments with professionals in the sector, both to review CVs and motivation letters, and to jointly research the best opportunities for your profile. Having this expert (and free) support is great!
6. Appointment of a mentor Another advantage of the colleges Durham, is the assignment of a mentor to each student (of course, if the student so desires!). The mentor is a person you can count on, who will always be in touch, organizing dinners and meetings.
My mentor, for example, helped me a lot as soon as I arrived in Durham, giving me tips about the city so that I could choose a good neighborhood to live in. She also prepared an English afternoon tea at her house for Christmas, presenting to the mentees some of the Christmas traditions of the English.
Kushal tells of his experience with his mentor: “When doing my master's here, I normally only interact with students. the fact of my college Having assigned a mentor is great because I learn about local events and their cultural significance, ranging from a traditional Christmas lunch, orchestra, bird watching and much more. Having a mentor allows me to appreciate more of the British culture that I'm sure I couldn't experience on my own. I urge everyone who comes to study at Durham University to choose to have a mentor.”
7. Durham University is a loveUK partner! Finally, it is important to note that loveUK is a partner of Durham University! What does that mean? That you can count on their specialized and free advice.
I used loveUK's services to forward my visa and my husband's companion visa, which made me much more relaxed throughout the entire process. Nothing better than having the help of an expert to review your application for the visa and take all your doubts, isn't it?!
So, did you already know Durham University? And the college system?
Taís Fernanda Blauth is a lawyer, from Rio Grande do Sul and passionate about British culture. He is studying for a Masters in Politics and International Relations at Durham University with the Chevening Scholarship.
