Apinya Success
In this blog I’ll share the reasons why I decided to study 1000 miles away from home and why it had to be Durham.
Home v abroad
After deciding that a master’s degree was the right choice, where it would be spent was the next thing to think about. Here are three things that I used to shape my decision: course duration, course modules and lifestyle.
Taking a master’s degree does not include only spending money, but also the time that we have to take a break from gaining a professional career path as well. Therefore, the range of course modules is important. Compared to my home and most other Asian countries it usually takes around two years, studying a master’s degree in the UK can be completed within a year. However, please bear in mind that it also means that the course will get more intense to cover all the contents, including the dissertation. You may have only last term – roughly three months, to conduct your dissertation with no lectures and seminars. Make sure you get prepared well so that you don’t have to unexpectedly take another year!
The style of course is also one of the things that made me choose to go to the UK. During my undergraduate, lectures and seminars classes were not separated. Therefore, I prefer to try new methods of studying and the UK class style fascinated me with the classes divided between lectures and seminar student-led discussions. Concerning the amount of intense content, I think this way can help me learn better and more insightful than the previous structure I was used to.
The lifestyle of the city that your university is located in is certainly one of the important elements that you have to consider. The classroom does not involve only the university facilities, but also the city and its surrounding environment. So, you’d better choose the university that could offer you a degree as well as a memorable life!
Why Durham?
After deciding that the UK was the best option for me, now it is time to tell you why it has to be Durham. I am not going to lie to you that I am also one of the Potterheads, but that is not the only reason I chose to study here. First of all, the course I was interested in was different from my bachelor’s degree; therefore, the module on International Relations was the first thing that intrigued me. The compulsory modules – International Organisations and the Theory of International Relations gave me a general foundation that I still lacked. Also, the optional courses are varied and intriguing, for example, contemporary political philosophy, and the politics of many crucial regions like East Asia and the Middle East.
Apart from academic ranking and top 100 world university ranking, the collegiate system was another reason that it had to be Durham. It was a whole new experience for me to have a full living-in college experience. It was actually more helpful considering that I moved here by myself with zero UK experience. The college’s activities whether the freshers’ week, the welcoming formal dinner and college day were extremely helpful to me to meet many lovely friends and were some of the fondest memories to recall. Shout out to all Phoenixes from the house of Grey, you are the best!
Lastly, the vibe of living in ancient and magical surroundings was certainly the other reason that it has to be Durham. Every day feels like the first day I was there, especially the time I was looking at the view of the Cathedral when walking past the Kingsgate Bridge. If Hogwarts is real, it absolutely has to be here!
What was it like studying International Relations?
Friendly Environment – What I enjoyed most about my course is that it gave me a chance to meet many new incredible people, including myself! As an international student whose English is my second language, of course, what I feared most was the language barrier. However, the diversity of our classmates and the friendly encouraging classroom atmosphere helped me step out of my fear zone and eventually found a way to have fun with each uniqueness. The seminar class in which everyone owns an open-minded attitude and try to understand each other encouraged me to raise my voice. When language becomes only a tool of communication, the messages can freely express themselves and effectively work best to find a great conclusion for each lesson. I would say that studying in a multi-national environment did help me increase my self-confidence and grow my empathy by learning the differences of each other.
Supportive lecturers – I swore that I had no idea what was going on at my first lecture. The overwhelming and stressful feelings were quite normal for international students (quoted from one of my lecturers). Also, one thing that she mentioned and I had been reminding myself the whole time was that getting below 60 was not the end of the world. It might sound ridiculous, but in the context of my hometown, getting below 60 was not a good sign for your journey’s accomplishment, and I assume that most Asian students might have faced the same issue since she pre-warned us in the class after the first assignments. In other words, what she wanted to say was that international students might be shocked by the score, especially the first time concerning the difference in marking criteria. Therefore, revise the feedback and do not be afraid of getting in touch with your lecturers, so we all are on the same page and get through this in physically and mentally good condition.
Many shades of myself – Apart from my academic journey, I can confidentially say that my postgraduate life was well spent. I had a great chance to be a part of the greatest student employee team ‘The Durham Student’ as a content creator! It indeed pushed me out of my comfort zone to explore many new things around the university whether special events around Durham like the Saturday outdoor market, the Cathedral night tour and participating in many events from many incredible societies such as Durham University Archery Club (DUAC), Durham University Islamic Society (ISOC), and Durham University Thai Society (DUTHS). All the best way to explore and expand your experiences and connections.
Missing Durham
This blog might turn into a book to tell you what my life as a Durham student was like. All I can say is that a whole year there was one of the proudest steps I have taken so far. The funny story was that I had been homesick for a while when I first moved to Durham. Now, I am at home, it is ironically starting to feel the exact same way again. It feels pretty wonderful having even two querencia, the lovely places that I can now call home sweet home.
Key takeaways
Both home and study abroad offer great experiences, so knowing what you want or what you lack will help you choose your best match.
Taking time to consider your academic interests and lifestyle. Each fulfils the other.
Whether the decisions take you to what you expected or not, you certainly get closer to what you love eventually. I hope you all find your best journey just like I found mine at Durham, and now it’s time to let my 24-year-old self live there forever.
Farewell to my postgraduate chapter…
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