Kim Min-jeong, Department of Business Administration (22) UK - University of the West of England                                              

※ Departure on August 29, 2024, semester starts on October 1, semester ends on December 14 

◈ Visa application procedure
Since visa issuance is not required for less than 6 months, a visa was not issued.

◈ Flight ticket information
I purchased a round-trip ticket for about 1.4 million won with an international student ID discount about 3 months before departure.

◈ Preparations before departure
It is recommended to apply for the school shuttle in advance and purchase a UK SIM card in advance. Register as a student according to the procedures provided by the school via email, and do not forget to reserve a dormitory arrival slot. In my case, I got the information from Naver blogs such as https://m.blog.naver.com/yeon_1022 and the school website.

◈ Dormitory/Accommodation
- Dormitory name: Frenchay Campus Student Village, Location: On campus, Cost: 2,627 GBP, Rating: Average
You will receive an email from the school asking you to apply for a dormitory. You can apply according to the instructions in the email. Since each campus has different dormitories, be sure to check the dormitory photos and options on the school website before making a decision. If possible, they will give you your first choice and apply for a dormitory on the campus where you are taking classes. You must move out of the dormitory on the last day of your contract, and you can return the key to the designated box.

◈ Course Registration
The school will send you a list of modules via email. Just select the modules and classes you want and reply.

◈ Class progress and evaluation method
Course number, subject/program name (evaluation: 1~10 points)
UMED8R-15-2, Emerging economies (8)
UMED8S-15-2, Economic theory, policy and applications (9)
UMMDP3-15-2, Operations and business systems (8)

There are three types of class methods: Lectorial, Group Tutorial, and Seminar. Lectorial is a lecture-style class, while Group Tutorial and Seminar are classes that involve group discussions and simple presentations based on what was learned in Lectorial.

-Emerging economies: Policy Brief Essay 50% (Select one of the emerging economies and write an essay proposing a policy for the country's poverty and other issues) + Group Poster Presentation 50% (Create a poster comparing and analyzing the growth strategies of emerging economies and then present it to the group)
-Economic theory, policy and applications: Weekly quizzes 20% (Open-book quizzes with 10 questions every week) + Essay 40% (Critical evaluation of existing mainstream economic theories, essays evaluating economic policies) + Online Exam 40%
-Operations and business systems: Coursework Report 50% (Analysis of organizational capacity constraints based on field research) + Online Exam 50%

You can access your timetable, attendance check, and Blackboard at https://my.uwe.ac.uk. Attendance is not reflected in any class grades. Assignments must have a score of 40 or more out of 100 to pass, and if you read the assignment description and rubric carefully and refer to the assignment examples, you will not have much difficulty passing.

◈ Cultural and Leisure Activities
There are various events for exchange students and international students at the beginning of the semester. I was able to make many friends at these events. Also, if you register at the sports center, you can participate in a variety of sports programs such as climbing, yoga, running, and archery for free.

◈ Things to prepare before entering the country
I threw away all the clothes I don't wear or things I don't need. There is a place in the school where you can donate, so you can donate. I sent the large carrier to Korea in advance, and I used a company called London Post Office. There is a branch in Bristol, and they also offer a pick-up service. You can ship the entire carrier, and if you are worried, you can also pack the carrier or box it.

◈ Overall Review
My experience as an exchange student in the UK was an unforgettable and precious memory during my college years. I think the biggest advantage of being an exchange student is not only that I can improve my English skills and enjoy traveling more conveniently, but also that I can understand and communicate with students from various countries while living together. At first, it was unfamiliar and difficult to communicate with friends of different nationalities in English, but as time passed, I could feel myself becoming more comfortable and closer. The small moments we spent together on nice days, such as going on picnics or baking in the dormitory, are especially memorable. I was worried because I heard a lot about the bad weather in the UK, but it was actually better than I thought. Although it rained often, I remember taking pictures of the sky all day long because my mood was several times better on sunny days.

Bristol, where I stayed, had an airport, so it was convenient to travel to other countries, and there were many places to visit within the city. It only took 2 hours to get to London by bus, so I took many day trips. However, since I shared a dorm with other exchange students, I felt a little disappointed that I didn’t have many opportunities to become friends with local students in the UK. If you want to interact with local students, I recommend joining a school club. Still, I think it was meaningful to live there and have experiences that you can’t have just by traveling. Living alone in a foreign country wasn’t easy, but through that process, I was able to solve many things on my own, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot.

Original text: Sungkyun Webzine No. 556 (https://webzine.skku.edu/skkuzine/section/knowledge06.do?mode=list&articleNo=124764)