Almost Spring…

The ducks know its almost spring (lol) 

Lately there has been much more sunshine – oh, how I love the sun!!! It’s one of those rare commodities in Britain that you learn to treasure early on. One thing I’ve noticed since being here is that British weather is erratic and constantly changing. I’m from a tropical country where it is perpetually summer so you can understand when I say that this cold and bleak climate was one of the hardest things to get accustomed to. Sometimes the days start off beautifully bright and sunny and then by time you say “what a lovely day” --- rain, rain and more rain --- It’s no wonder that the most frequently discussed topic is the weather.

So what has the winter season been like? In my opinion: cold, wet, foggy and dreary but I’m told it was much milder compared to the previous year. I must say, it’s quite different from other winters I’ve experienced in North American countries such as Canada. Normally one would associate winter with snow, lots of it –but that wasn’t what I experienced here in Birmingham. During the February nights we saw a bit of snowfall …of course this was washed away by the following morning by the rain. The most significant snowfall occurred on two weekends, but just enough to cover the floor.

View from my flat: Snow covered lake on campus

The nature of the coldness differed in the fact that it was always rainy and windy so there was this constant dampness that really clung to you when you’re outside. I typically don’t have an issue with rainy weather but given that its winter, its cold water and with the constant wind, its being blown onto you so there is no escaping it. One of my friends described it as being ‘cold to the bone’ but I guess that’s why the layering method of dressing is so important. Once I got the hang of dressing for this climate, the weather became more manageable. Most students commute by walking, especially if you’re going out for fun, shopping or doing groceries, so there is no avoiding the climate; the best thing is to adapt.

Out in Birmingham City after a snowfall

According to my calendar the 20^th of March marks the first day of spring; I hear its lovely…. so you know who will be counting down until then J

 Looks like more sunny days are in store. ..yay!

International Scholarship Reception

I recently attended a scholarship reception hosted by Aston University. The purpose of the reception was to recognize persons who were awarded scholarships (whether from Aston or external organizations) at the start of the academic year.

Getting to know other scholars

The reception was a rather pleasant event in the form of a luncheon and award ceremony. It provided a forum to meet other scholars as well as to get to know each other. I was already familiar with a few scholars from the postgraduate programme and others I was able to meet for the first time. It was certainly a lovely surprise when I met two other persons from the Caribbean; another Jamaican like myself as well as someone from Trinidad.

The event was also a reminder of the cultural diversity at Aston. There were so many people from different regions representing their country. I couldn't agree more when Vice-Chancellor Prof. Julia King mentioned at the reception that not only do international students benefit from the experience but also UK students, given that the ‘international experience’ is brought to them in their homeland. The cultural diversity at Aston does provide a rich experience for both international and local students. It’s fair to say that Aston students are provided a rare opportunity to learn from each other, forge lifelong relationships with future leaders and simply enjoy the experience!

Group picture with Caribbean and African Scholars

Term1 at Aston

My first term at Aston is finally winding down; classes are over and exams have just finished. After one full term, I’m pleased to say that thus far my experience at Aston has been a pleasant one. There are two things that have stood out the most during the term – the diversity and Aston’s student centric focus.

When I thought about studying in the United Kingdom I knew that I would be crossing paths with people from all over the world but I was so amazed when I arrived at Aston to find out that this aspect exceeded my expectations. In my first week alone I met persons from Egypt, Nigeria, Greece, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Russia, Hong Kong, Canada, India, Estonia, France – just think of a country and chances are you’ll find a national at Aston. This really provides the opportunity for international networking. I have met a lot of wonderful people from very diverse backgrounds and we’ve not only shared classes together but also worked together as teams and developed friendships. Aston also supports this multicultural environment through courses such as Intercultural Communications which challenges you to think about the way you communicate with others and helps everyone to be cognizant of the cultural differences and barriers this could potentially cause. As a result, we are motivated to explore other cultures and discuss our differences in a rather constructive way.

Outside of the classroom, particularly if you live on campus like I do, you have to interact with many culturally diverse persons. I have found that since being at Aston I have improved my intercultural awareness. It’s one thing to be aware that every country communicates differently, but it’s a totally different thing to actually experience it. Through interacting with persons from other cultures I have not only increased my knowledge of other countries, their politics and culture, but also improved the way I communicate with others.

I have also observed something which I appreciate about Aston, that is, all its initiatives are focused on developing its students. Lecturers take a genuine interest in ensuring that students are on track and understand what is being taught. I like the fact that lecturers know their students by name and class participation is always encouraged as this enhances the learning experience. Further, there are a number of support systems in place for students such as the Hub (a student advice centre) as well as student support offices for each department and an active student’s guild. Undoubtedly, these factors contributed to a productive learning environment.

Overall, the first term was an enjoyable and engaging experience. I’m definitely looking forward to what the next term has in store.

The Journey to Aston

I feel honoured being a recipient of the International Office’s Postgraduate Taught Masters International Scholarship which enabled me to pursue my masters at Aston Business School; one of the top ranked institutions for graduate employability in the United Kingdom. When I applied for the scholarship I didn’t know what to expect as these processes are highly competitive. To my surprise, after a couple weeks of submitting my application, I received an email from the International Office with the scholarship offer.

I was very excited as I have always wanted to study in the UK but funding was posing a challenge. As an International Student tuition fees are comparatively higher, therefore it really helps when you can obtain a scholarship.

I would encourage anyone interested in studying at Aston to visit the International Office website and check out the scholarship offerings; the URL is http://www1.aston.ac.uk/international-students/finance/internal-scholarships/io-postgraduate-scholarship/.

There are also additional scholarships available at http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/programmes/postgraduate/fees-scholarships/#Scholarships.

These web pages outline just how simple the scholarship application process is for Aston.

The Pre-Arrival Process

In retrospect, the visa application process made me the most anxious. My anxiety was greatly due to the fact that I didn’t have much time before the start of the academic term and I feared some delay with starting the MSc programme. The visa processing time for each country varies and for Jamaica it’s approximately two (2) weeks. After completing the Tier 4 online application and submitting the supporting documents and Self-Assessment (Appendix 8) form to the British High Commission, I then had to be patient…very patient….and wait to know the outcome. Luckily, the High Commission was true to its word and provided my visa within the two week period.

One of the things I found most useful during the pre-arrival process was the Pre-Arrival Guide for 2011-12 posted on the Aston website. It provided pertinent information about obtaining the Tier 4 visa for International Students, getting ready for university and living in the UK. It also helped in planning transportation arrangements to the campus as it outlined the different options, such as coach, train or cab, upon arrival in the UK. This made my trip to the UK much easier as it made me aware of what to expect upon arrival.

Looking forward to life at Aston

Hi everyone,

My name is Donna-Kay and starting September 2011 I will be a student at Aston Business School. I am very enthusiastic to be joining Aston’s Masters programme in Business and Marketing Analytics. I believe that Aston will offer great opportunities for not only academic advancement but also making lifelong networks. 

I like the fact that Aston has a diverse mix of international students as this increases its appeal as a place to study and network. I am looking forward to the cross cultural interactions with students from various countries across the world, which will undoubtedly provide a beneficial opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other.

Thus far the Postgraduate Admissions Team and International Office have been most helpful with providing guidance and answering queries. I am definitely looking forward to life at Aston. For those of you who are already familiar with Aston, do you mind sharing some tips and advice for us newcomers?

Looking forward to the responses!

--Donna