During the #UniversityWeek We are always looking for people who have used the loveUK service to join the partner university which is the topic of the week. The University of Leeds is so renowned for its academic research development that it has made it worthy of being part of the Russell Group (which is like a UK Ivy League). Added to that, Leeds is a much more affordable city, smaller but still very lively! Close to Manchester, the city has a truly university atmosphere, with lots of young people and lots of activities geared towards this audience because of that.
All these advantages, in addition to many others that you should be following on our social networks, attract many international students. A true darling of Brazilians, University of Leeds provided us with not just one alumnus experience, but two!
Discover the story of Vandson Galdino and Maria Victoria Sales at the University of Leeds:
Vandson Galdino
loveUK: Why did you choose Leeds?
Vandson Galdino: The University of Leeds is recognized as an institution of excellence, being among the top 100 universities in the world, as well as being among the best universities in the UK, being part of the Russell Group, the select group of the best 24 universities in the UK. In addition to these reasons, the Masters in Human Rights offered by the University of Leeds has a special focus on the legal field, an essential criterion in my search for a specialization. The master's structure is very well designed to provide legal professionals and other areas with a strong immersion in the most diverse debates of international human rights law. loveUK: Which course did you take in Leeds and during which year?
GV: I studied the master's degree in International Human Rights Law, in 2018/2019.
loveUK: What do you have to say about the University as a whole? From the infrastructure? Do you support foreign students?
GV: The university has an excellent structure, which allows you to carry out your studies in the best possible way. From laptop loans, psychological counseling, to individualized assistance with a tutor, the feeling we have is that all these aids are provided so that the student can develop academically at the highest level. The libraries, the cafeteria, the auxiliary study rooms (clusters), the common coffee and study spaces, were places where I spent most of my time and where I felt comfortable to study or be with my classmates. The feeling is that the university offers all the infrastructure conditions for you to carry out all your tasks. I joke that I only used to go home to sleep, because all the rest of my time was spent at the university, as the available infrastructure meets all existing needs. In addition, the university pays special attention to foreign students, offering from extra legal writing classes to assist in the performance during the master's degree, as an international office only for foreign students, which helped us from questions related to the study itself, regarding the organization of events, such as the Latin breakfast that we made among several students from Latin America.
loveUK: How was your adaptation process?
GV: At first everything feels new and exciting, which creates a real sense of satisfaction in being there. After 3 months, as the University had already warned us, winter begins, and especially for those who come from a hot climate like Brazil, it is usually the most difficult time of the year. People tend to be more closed or reclusive in their rooms, which makes socializing a little difficult. In my case, I was lucky to have a good network of friends, which provided me with personal support during these colder, less sunlight months. Thus, having a routine and good company were important factors in my adaptation process. Overall, exploring the culture, reading newspapers and local news, seeing how the British celebrate holidays, delving into British history, are actions that helped me understand the UK and feel less and less out of place.
loveUK: Tell us about a remarkable experience from your year in the UK.
GV: One of the most memorable experiences I had in the UK was participating in the Hogmanay, a torchlight procession that takes place every year on December 30th in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with celebrating the New Year in a Scottish way. So Hogmanay's origins are Vikings. Norse invaders celebrated the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, with wild parties in late December, which include a torchlight procession.
To participate in the parade, you need to register and buy a ticket, which entitles you to carry a torch during the procession. My friends and I were lucky to be right in front of a group of musicians playing bagpipes, which made the experience even more unique. loveUK: Did your expectations meet reality?
GV: I usually say that my expectations were all exceeded. We only have a small idea of how things are going to play out. Life in the UK holds so many surprises that it can't help but be enriching and truly unexpected. It's a year that will stay in my memory forever. I created social bonds, made new friends that I now consider brothers, expanded my horizons on various topics, things that only a year studying abroad could have provided me. loveUK: How did having a master's degree abroad reflect on your professional life?
GV: It was thanks to the knowledge acquired during my master's degree in the UK that I had the opportunity to undertake a 3-month internship with the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN, in Geneva, Switzerland. Likewise, I have received recognition in Brazil in my career as a Federal Prosecutor for having achieved this academic merit.
Maria Victoria Sales
loveUK: Why did you choose Leeds?
Maria Victoria Sales: I chose Leeds because it has a very prestigious history department. I studied Masters in Medieval Studies and Leeds is one of the top universities for such a course. Among the highlights are: highly qualified professors, libraries with the best resources, the existence of a good archive within the university itself containing manuscripts and other interesting documents and a prestigious annual international congress in my area. On top of that, the scholarship options were the best among the universities I researched and applied for. I believe this is because Leeds is not only a big city in economic terms in England, but also in terms of student numbers. It is the fourth or fifth largest city in terms of number of students, which is why this maintenance of status as an international university that they hold dear is reflected in the number of scholarships offered. loveUK: Which course did you take in Leeds and during which year?
MVS: I did a Masters in Medieval Studies (MA Medieval Studies) starting in September 2018 until September 2019 with graduation in December of the same year.
loveUK: What do you have to say about the University as a whole? From the infrastructure? Do you support foreign students?
MVS: As I said earlier, they place great value on their international university status, which is reflected in the number of programs that help international students. Not only financially, as in the case of scholarships, but in several other aspects, from housing, in which accommodation is guaranteed for the foreign student, to psychological and emotional support with various reception programs and help from professionals in the field. As for infrastructure, the university always aims to improve each year. In the case of accessibility, I believe that all buildings underwent renovations to accommodate ramps and elevators, even the oldest ones. There are also five libraries on campus and an exhibition gallery, one of which contains an exclusive area for graduate students with private rooms for study groups. There is also a university cafeteria, an academy, a language study center with several resources to learn or improve a foreign language, among other facilities.
loveUK: How was your adaptation process?
MVS: At first it was difficult because I was in a new country, in a city where I didn't know anyone, with a different climate, a different language and a very heavy study routine. In the end, it was all worth it, but it is worth noting that I had the full support of the university in difficult times. My course coordinator himself arranged private meetings with each of the students to see how everything was going, not only related to the course, but also to their personal life, which is an excellent start for those who need extra help.
loveUK: Tell us about a remarkable experience from your year in the UK.
MVS: My graduation, for sure. It symbolized the realization of a dream that I had prepared myself for years to achieve. It was very exciting, as my parents managed to travel from Brazil to Leeds to see me graduating.
loveUK: Did your expectations meet reality?
MVS: Yup. Everything I expected from the course, the university and the country as a whole were very similar to what I experienced. loveUK: How did having a master's degree abroad reflect on your professional life?
MVS: In addition to excellent technical preparation for the continuation of my academic life, I had the opportunity to meet many people, many employers and career projects. The university has a career center that is very interesting to visit, I went several times and they helped me with the curriculum, interviews, cover letters, in addition to always providing events with the presence of several companies and contractors. My degree and my experience and technical learning will certainly make a difference in the job market.
