I chose to study at the University of Warwick because it is highly ranked amongst all other UK universities and in the world. I used to visit the British Council in my home city, Taipei, and they provided me with information on higher education in the UK. After this I went to an education exhibition where there were members of staff from WMG and other University representatives who helped me to find out more specific information. I applied to a few other universities in the UK, but the rankings and what I read about Warwick on internet forums helped me to decide that I wanted to come here. I applied online, which was straight forward and accepted my offer soon after. I found that online forums such as BBS and Hello UK provide a lot of information about studying in the UK from Taiwanese students who have done it. I got a lot of useful visa advice from there and also from the British Council.

Once I had accepted my offer and got my visa I was ready to come to Warwick, but I was quite nervous. Luckily the Orientation on campus before I started my course was great and it was the best place to make new friends with all sorts of other international students. Some of the friends I made in the first few days are now my closest friends. The lecturers and tutors on my course are awesome, but I also learn a lot from my fellow students. A lot of them have good work experience and when they answer questions in class they can give context to the subject we are studying. These real life examples are helping me to understand some subjects better. I work hard on a one year MSc programme, so don’t have much time to get involved in other activities. However, I still manage to enjoy Salsa dancing and I play a lot of table tennis which helps me to unwind. I’ve got some plans for when I graduate: I’ve got a strong interest in retail business and would like to work in purchasing, maybe in the UK or maybe back in Taiwan. I used to work for a couple of sports brands, so I may go back into that industry. You should be happy to come to Warwick as it will push your boundaries – you won’t always feel comfortable, but the challenge means that the rewards are better and ultimately more enjoyable. If you have any doubts about a course, ask the staff as they are all really friendly and knowledgeable.