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Oxford Brookes Business School

Reason for choosing my college

• The cost of living was less compared to Oxford. Northampton, being in the midlands, has easy accessibility to London & other major cities.
• It had a better ranking in the University League tables. The course had a one-year placement option.

Warwick Business School

6.5(2 Reviews)

Reason for Rejection

• The cultural diversity did not meet the expectations. The university had many South Asian students from India and Pakistan. The employability support was below average. Placement hunting was a tough nut, and I could not find a suitable placement opportunity within the stipulated period as the choices were limited for international students.

• Ensure that your goal is always directed towards education rather than employability & is well presented with facts. Emphasise your aspirations of attaining this degree & explain clearly with strong validation for choosing this degree from this university.
• Never mention that you want to settle in that country, as it will not pass the UK student visa guidelines. Wherever possible, attach LOR from previous college and ex-employer.

• The UK has a legacy, counting back to decades, for international standards in education. The UK is a melting pot of 100+ nationalities.
• The University of Northamption came in as the 90th top university according to the University League Tables in 2019.
• UON offered multiple courses to choose from varied subjects. UON is in the midlands, offering easy access to London and Birmingham.
• UON is not a great choice for career opportunities, especially for international students, as it does not fall under the Russell group. If I were a home student, the journey would have been less challenging compared to an overseas student. However, with preparation and informed decisions, I was able to complete my academic journey successfully.

• 4-6 classes a week. Class timings are usually 9-12 or 12-3 or 3-6. My course had only 10-15 students per session. 3 Indians. A huge chunk of time goes for academic reading and referencing.
• Students have to mandatorily undergo this to improve their critical writing skills. Library access was 24/7 so students could spend as much time as they wanted.

• The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:10, & they are welcoming and approachable; however, prior appointments are required to meet them. 
• I had a mentor who also taught marketing concepts. I liked him as his lectures were interesting to listen to while staying abreast of industry trends. It depends on the rapport you build with them. If there are part-time opportunities within the campus, the class mentor gives a heads-up.

• 2 campuses, Waterside campus being the main one. All modern, well-equipped libraries and top-notch sports (indoor and outdoor courts, discounted student membership fees) and medical facilities (GP inside campus).
• Being an overseas student having done the course during COVID times, I am not well aware of events/fests on campus. Campus had cultural days & food festivals weekly where students set up food stalls and sold their cultural cuisines

• Indians usually take up manual jobs at restaurants, cafes, warehouses and care homes. They are paid based on age. However, there have been incidents where many ended in illegal jobs that offered low pay and increased working hours beyond the allowed 20 hours per week.
• I worked within my university as a part-time student ambassador and administrative assistant at the Sunley Hotel. The application process is straightforward, where you are required to submit your CV, which, if it gets shortlisted, you are invited to an interview. If you pass the interview and, upon submission of a residence permit and NI number, you are offered a job offer letter with terms and conditions of the work.

• Getting hired for part-time jobs totally depends on your skills and communication. Home students easily find jobs compared to overseas students for whom getting part-time is always a struggle. Hourly wages depend on age. I was paid 10 GBP per hour, and the pay is great for meeting your monthly expenses. Overseas students can only work 20 hours per week during term-time; however, they can work up to 40 hours during holidays.

• A full-time job search needs to be started at least 6 months prior to graduating. Thanks to Covid, everything was online, which saved tons of money. Finding a part-time job amid the pandemic was a real challenge and not many end up getting a job that met their expectations. Many end up in odd jobs to pay bills and send back home.
• A starter would earn from GBP 18,000 to 21,000 in basic administrative jobs. Jobs are found through gradjob sites or through campus employability portals or word of mouth from tutors or peers. The lowest could be GBP 18,000, and the highest would be GBP 25,000 for a starter.

• I found my off-campus accommodation via the spareroom app. The entire search process was daunting, as many Asian landlords could be tricky and try to loot your money; hence, it was always advised to go via verified landlords. The key challenge was finding a guarantor in the UK and paying deposit and advance before moving to the UK, which is why it is always suggested to deal with credible landlords.
• Try to stay on campus for the initial 6 months; though its a bit expensive, it is always a safe choice.