“There are so many buses and it’s small enough that you can just walk everywhere. You get a vibe that it is a young population, there are young people around and there are activities for young people and I like the traditional aspect of the city as well”
What made you choose to study in the UK, and what made you choose Oxford Brookes?
I did my undergrad in the UK already, I always knew since I was 10 that I wanted to study in the UK, I wanted to study in English and when I was 15 I moved from Belgium to Myanmar and I didn’t speak any English before then. I went to an international school and had to learn English on the spot and that enabled me to make my dreams come true.
There is a reputation overseas that the UK is good for studies and in Belgium there are not that many options for what I wanted to study (my undergrad was International Relations and Politics) so the UK was a good option for me.
When it comes to Brookes and my master’s, I discovered during Covid that journalism is something I wanted to learn and back then Brookes was high on the Guardian’s list. I started looking at it from 2020 and I stuck with my choice and got excited!
What do you enjoy the most about your course?
I didn’t realise how small my class was going to be, there’s 8 people, so coming from an undergrad with 100 or more people, it’s a bit different! But to be honest I’ve ended up enjoying it quite a lot, I feel more comfortable speaking in class, I participate a lot more than I used to. I feel a close relationship with my teachers and professors, and I truly feel supported. I truly feel like my teachers care about me and my classmates doing well, it means I am more comfortable in class and more curious.
When you were researching courses, did you find there to be enough information online to enable you to make your decision?
For Brookes and my master’s I was mainly looking on the website and the pages specific to the master’s, and I thought the information was quite clear.
How have you found living in Oxford?
I moved into Oxford city around 3 weeks ago. It's life changing coming from a village where nothing happens so I find it quite enjoyable. There are so many buses and it’s small enough that you can just walk everywhere. You get a vibe that it is a young population, there are young people around and there are activities for young people and I like the traditional aspect of the city as well.
Do you have a favourite place specifically?
I love local coffee shops. I love the Jericho cheese factory, they make great bread and I’m going to apply for a job there!
Do you have any advice for future international students?
As I am a master’s student I feel that my experience is different from what an undergraduate student, whether international or local, would experience. I would definitely say that I think it’s a good uni. Definitely get yourself involved into any activities as soon as possible, any sports, even if you haven’t tried it, or any societies, just try it! If you don’t try you’ll never know.
Do you have any plans in mind once you’ve graduated?
I’d like to start working and start earning proper money, work experience within the area first, I'm also considering internships, I’d like to do one with the European Commission.