Speaker 1 Why did you choose BCU?
Speaker 2 So for me the course, like the definition of the course and how comprehensive is the course. So BCU is situated in the heart of Birmingham, so it's really easy and convenient to go to the city centre or even like go to other cities because it's close to the train stations, whether it's like New Street or Moore Street. You can easily go out with friends into a club and they have a night out, countless extracurricular activities that students can do and, you know, gain more connections with the new friends and new cultures.
Speaker 3 I chose BCU because among the universities that offer my course, this was the best one, it had the best modules, the teachers are amazing. I looked at the faculty and everything, so like BCU offered more value for money than any other university.
Speaker 4 Also, the diversity in BCU.
Speaker 3 Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 4 Yeah, it makes you feel very engaged, very, included in all the events. Also, I heard about the student union having international events, so this actually made me feel so immersed in the community.
Speaker 5 My aunty actually studied here, so she convinced me, she told me it's good, yeah!
Speaker 6 I would just say the advanced technology and the brilliant space, especially for practice based students can explore it more. Since my course, why I study in BCU Master's is Fashion, Fashion Design, so workshop facilities and friendly supportive technicians helped me a lot and I learned a lot of things that I couldn't find in my country.
Speaker 7 Ok, I like that BCU has a lot of different people and that you can find friends anywhere, like at any course. Professors are really nice too.
Speaker 2 What's one piece of advice you have for people looking to study abroad? If you have a chance, an opportunity to go somewhere as far away from your home and just, you know, go for it, be brave and be patient who like to deal with, you know, culture shock I would say, new difference, like people, attitude, thinking and languages as well.
Speaker 1 My advice will be just to get out of your comfort zone. Be open minded. Make an effort to make a new friend. So get every opportunity, whether it's academically or socially.
Speaker 8 I think firstly, making that decision to study abroad is a very important one. And I think that's the first step. But another most important thing is choosing the place where you want to study in the university that you want, where you want to study. Having the right mentorship, having the right support, having the correct supervisors for yourself. That was then the most important thing for me.
Speaker 7 I wanted to say the same thing because like, it's very important to know what you want to study. Choose something that you love. That's the most important thing because you enjoy it anyway. And also, I'd say like BCU, it had the degree that I wanted, like all the modules, all the things and we actually learn like we have a lot of practice, a lot of theory, it's balanced. We have a lot of practice within the industry, we meet the people. So, it is very important to choose the right university, so maybe do some nice research before applying.
Speaker 3 I would advise them to pick a university that they like, the one that offers the most value for their career goals and to pick the country that's most suitable to their like personality.
Speaker 9 I think for me, it's like definitely engage with like different people from different countries and at the same time have a circle of people who are like enthusiastic, especially like it's difficult to choose a right circle, but at the same time, networking in this country is a must.
Speaker 5 Was there a culture shock coming to Birmingham and how do you deal with it?
Speaker 4 I thought I had very good English, but when I came here I found that I'm terrible.
Speaker 3 That famous Birmingham accent, oh my God.
Speaker 4 Understanding the Brummie accent was a disaster. For me I didn't comprehend like half of the conversation the first time.
Speaker 3 I used to think I know how to speak English, but then when I hear people from Birmingham speaking and you're like, 'come again'.
Speaker 5 Back in my country, we'll take off shoes, whenever we into homes. But I've noticed people don't take off shoes, and I'm like, 'why? Why don't you take off your shoes we take off our shoes when we're going to our rooms' and people here walk with shoes everywhere literally.
Speaker 8 Living in England has taught me to be on time for things. I've become more structured and things like that, so that has been, to learn to be on time for things, might seem like a small thing, but like that. What about you?
Speaker 7 Yeah, the culture. Similar, but I've learned it in a different way, like educationally, because like in our schools and universities you usually ask a lot of questions, you try to be the first one to raise your hand. And I found that people here, try to give others some space and not to be as active. And the first few sessions, I was stopping myself from pushing my hand up, even though, like, I wouldn't know the question every time. I would just be trying to be, you know, active and guess.
Speaker 4 What's it been like studying in a new country?
Speaker 3 In one word, I would say overwhelming. It's extremely overwhelming. You're in a new country, new culture, new people, different courses, different teaching styles. It's hard.
Speaker 4 That's super true, honestly. In one word, I would say mind-boggling.
Speaker 3 100%.
Speaker 4 It's, it's very interesting, yet it needs so much of resilience.
Speaker 1 I'm really, you know, feel proud of my choice, that I choose UK because it make me independent and give me like, you know a very broad perspective and it gives me a global outlook which will help me in my, you know, future career as well.
Speaker 7 How can you still connect with your home country and culture in Birmingham?
Speaker 8 In Birmingham? Well, that's quite tricky because there are not many Georgian people here in Birmingham. So that's one of the things that I'm really missing because I think there are bigger communities here. Just I mean, Ukrainian community is quite big here, you know, but but there are not that many Georgian, so that's something that I struggle with a little bit. But I mean, yeah, there are a few people, so we do keep in touch, but it's not a big community. So that's a little bit of a struggle. But I do have a lot of friends in London and around England, so that's quite helpful.
Speaker 7 Same, the Ukrainian community is a bit bigger, so when I first came here, I was it was hard to find Ukrainians because, you know, you don't know anyone, everyone speaks English, but with the time you find friends, you find some Ukrainians. I have some Ukrainians living ten minutes from here, so we come for a coffee in the university, so yeah.
Speaker 3 I'm from Pakistan and Birmingham has got a huge Pakistani community. And so when I came to Birmingham, it was actually more Pakistani than where I'm from in Pakistan! And like whenever I'm getting home, I can quickly pop on over to like Small Heath or Alum Rock and quickly have my favourite dishes from Pakistan, so like, it's amazing.
Speaker 5 I miss, I miss my country, because there isn't as much as Pakistanis, Tanzanians are few, but I got a few friends so at least whenever we gather together, that's when I get to even speak my local language. Because sometimes I miss it, you know, like it's been long since I've spoken my language, so I think the friends help me feel home.
Speaker 6 What will you miss about BCU when you graduate?
Speaker 9 I think for me is because it's been almost this is going to be my seventh year. I think having that community because BCU have their own community where like everything is appreciated, it doesn't matter where you come from, everything is appreciated. All the culture events and I think for me is like BCU have given me so much, especially like I will miss my professors who have been always been supporting me.
Speaker 6 The staff are really friendly and support me while doing something I'm not really understand or good at, and they never judge you and always help and support and knowledge.
Speaker 2 I'll miss my friends, of course, I will miss my lecturers. I'll miss my Asian friends, here whether they are Thai or they're from Japanese, Chinese or whatever. And I'll miss, the whether because it's really hot in Southeast Asia, it's tropical hot, to be honest. And I'll miss the overall atmosphere of being a student.
Speaker 4 So I will miss, I think, the diversity in BCU and the friends I made, honestly, I made lots of friends in this year and some of them are like family to me at the moment.
Speaker 5 Yeah definitely, I would also say friends, I've made a lot of like diverse friends, you can't get that if I was in my country, but here we all came together because BCU is so diverse.
Speaker 3 Ok, so I have a really funny one, I love the brown chicken stew in the cafeteria, so I'm just going to miss that one.
Speaker 5 And the spring rolls! I love the spring rolls!
