Name: Ranel Miranda

Country of origin: India

Degree: MSc Strategy

College: Graduate College

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Choosing to study in Lancaster and in the UK

I choose the UK for my studies as the universities here are known for their academic excellence and quality. The UK is also a very prominent nation for its culture, literature, art, history and music among other things.

I aspire to be a corporate strategist or academic in the field of business. Lancaster University was my best fit as its management school is highly reputable. The structuring of the strategy modules were efficient, which was a major attraction for me. Moreover, Lancaster University is one of the few universities in UK that follow a collegiate system, which gives a sense of belongingness. I am in Graduate College and all Lancaster postgraduates are in this college. It is wonderful to experience students from different culture and nations and learn from each other.

Exploring Lancaster and the local area

Amidst the pandemic Lancaster has been one of those few places that has not been greatly affected by Covid in the UK.

The city is quite small compared to the other bigger cities in the UK, but very vibrant. I personally enjoy travelling to Lancaster city from the University which is a short, wonderful bus ride and every time I take the bus, I never got bored. Grocery shopping with my flatmates in the city is more like shop-hopping from Sainsbury to Aldi. There are days that we also try window shopping at Primark - well the next minute we have a bulk of shopping bags with us!

The city is a historic place with a high placed castle and wonderful museums and much more. When you feel like de-stressing yourself from all the endless assignments and coursework, I would go to the bars in the city, such as the Sugarhouse or Glow and just have a fun weekend.

Campus life

My favourite place on campus is the library - perfect for a bit of a nerd like me. It is amazing to see so many facilities in the library; there are individual study pods and group study spaces. My classmates and I have used the group study spaces a lot; they helped us to better plan sessions. The best part of the library is that its open 24/7. I remember slogging through my work a day prior to the coursework deadline, but thanks to the library and its environment things tend to work faster with your studies somehow.

Why MSc Strategy?

My programme has been really challenging and interesting. It makes you think critically with every step you take. The department and the faculty have given their best efforts to make the modules interesting for the students. What excites me the most is the practical outlook to the course; it has collaborations with industry experts and entrepreneurs which really brings value to the academic context of the course.

What are you most proud about during your time at Lancaster?

I am proud that I am part of Lancaster University. Since my time here my proudest moment would be bagging a part-time job as a Student Ambassador. I am really privileged to be one of the students who get to be the face and voice of Lancaster University. It excites me when I welcome and share my experiences with prospective students and their families. Being here at Lancaster has been an amazing rollercoaster ride.

Support from Lancaster

Financing studies can be a real barrier to achieving a degree for some people - I was really worried initially to pay tuition fees. Lancaster offered me a good scholarship and bursary which reduced my stress about the financing.

The University also offers financial support to students in need. Lancaster is helpful and understanding to a student’s situation. We also have the option to pay tuition and accommodation fees annually or in instalments, which has helped me allocate my funds accordingly.

Advice for international students wanting to study in the UK

People interested in studying in the UK should definitely consider Lancaster University if you want to be in one of the top UK universities. Lancaster is known for its quality of teaching. It has ensured an environmentally friendly campus, which make it a good ambience for study.

It’s also one of the universities in UK where you would find a lot of students from all over the globe. It is known for its diversity and it’s easy to make friends and share culture. The ‘freshers’ week’ (welcome week) and Students’ Union enable opportunities to explore various clubs and societies and meet new people every day. The campus is like a town of its own, with various facilities for students and staff such as restaurants, a book shop, a pharmacy, post services and much more. It ensures that the students feel at home while they study at Lancaster University.

Campus life and societies

While at Lancaster, I have joined the Lancaster Catholic Society; it has been a great experience for me to meet different people from my community. When studies and assignments have gotten a bit more monotonous for me, I go along to the Acapella Society or Music Society for a jam session.

I also work on ‘widening participation’ activities and open days at the University. I’m also looking forward to investing some of my time in the coming term in the Business Consulting Society to explore more into strategy consulting that can add value to my course and career ahead.

Lancaster experience for international students

Being an international student at the university, I was overwhelmed to see new students from various regions of the world. But gradually it has been a wonderful journey to get to meet different people with exquisite cultures. This enables a very friendly and hospitable environment at the University. The staff have been really kind and generous in helping students; this gives me the sense of belongingness and safety. Lancaster University for me has been a home far away from home.

Career support and real-world preparation

Even during my first term at Lancaster, the Careers Service team has been helpful. I had various sessions with them such as CV/resume building and careers advise sessions. The team has put in a lot of effort to set appointments and help students to be the best. The resume building session for me was particularly helpful; it gave me insights as to what the UK and other global employers look for while reviewing a CV. The Careers team also laid out potential career options with me to help me plan my future career goal. I’m looking forward to using more of the careers service in the future terms.

Also, during the end of last term we had company talks hosted by my department, which were insightful. I’m hoping to speak on to one of those companies about doing a summer internship.

Lancaster provides the support, community, and opportunities to help any student succeed.

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Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.