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Experience studying International Politics in London

Experience studying International Politics in London

London is extremely expensive as it is a very big city. This cost is especially high for an international student. She lived near the King’s Cross in Central London. The accommodation was costly. However, as her accommodation was near her university, she felt it was a better idea to stay near the university. She also availed herself of accommodation through her university. Her university provided her with some options out of which she chose this.

This is Vatsla Srivastava’s journey of studying International Politics in London. In September 2022, she graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. However, due to the ongoing economic downfall, she was not able to find a job there. When compared to the rest of the British countries, London is comparatively a more expensive city.

The prices of everything ranging from accommodation to groceries further shot up due to the economic condition and several other global factors such as the war between Russia and Ukraine. After completing her MSc in International Politics degree from SOAS University of London, she wanted to build a career in London. However, at that moment, the only feasible option she could see was returning to Lucknow.

She completed her BA History (Hons) from Maitreyi College, Delhi University in 2017. After that, from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, she pursued a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism in 2018. For two years, after her studies, she worked with a couple of organizations. However, during the time of her work, she realized quickly that journalism was not her calling.

Why did she choose to Study Abroad?

She decided to pursue a master’s degree after much deliberation in a more academic domain. She did her research having this in mind and realized that SOAS has a Master’s program that is more research-oriented. She studied modules that were mostly South Asia-specific. She studied various subjects such as artificial intelligence, gender, borders, and development.

Through this course, she garnered knowledge about AI. This is because AI is an important factor in foreign security. Mostly, the Geopolitics of South Asia will be covered in South Asian politics. She also studied other subjects such as Risk and Policy Analysis, International Human Rights, and Foreign Policy Analysis. Moreover, the college has a vast variety of subjects to choose from and great combinations of subjects.

Also, she was always interested in entering the field of academia. Above all, as she had a keen interest in International Relations, she was glad that she took that step. There were only two good options in India which was the JNU and Jadavpur University. Moreover, the syllabus was also not very updated. As International Relations is a dynamic course, it has to be up to date.

The modules that she studied in SOAS were at par with international demand. Moreover, she was also offered much more. The subject was made more interesting as she had studied a South Asia-specific course, which mainly focused on Indian issues. Also, she wished to expand her horizons by studying abroad.

Procedure of Admissions

Almost six months before the date of admission, the procedure for admission essentially begins. Usually, the college demands a cover letter, letter of recommendation, statement of purpose (SoP) and an updated Curriculum Vitae. The university reverts in a couple of weeks after you apply. The semester usually begins in September. You can receive the confirmation by March or April. Moreover, an interview round is not included in this process.

She was able to avail of the international PG scholarships for Indian students which were of £4000 fee waiver after applying for a scholarship. However, she could not cover all her expenses as it wasn’t a big amount. She utilized her savings in order to cover the rest of the costs. She also applied for a loan for the remaining amount from a private bank. However, it was not an easy process due to the documentation required and the time it took. Applying as soon as possible is the key to getting the loan in time.

London and its environment

London is extremely expensive as it is a very big city. This cost is especially high for an international student. She lived near the King’s Cross in Central London. The accommodation was costly. However, as her accommodation was near her university, she felt it was a better idea to stay near the university. She also availed herself of accommodation through her university. Her university provided her with some options out of which she chose this.

The society in London is multicultural. It is vibrant and culturally stimulating. Almost the whole year, the weather is cold in London. As London is placed in a tropical area, the times you start to miss the sun may not be such a great experience. After the first wave of Coronavirus, she went to London.

Thus, things started to become more expensive ranging from toilet paper to public transportation fares. Due to the fear of the second wave of Covid, the basic necessities were becoming more expensive. The people started stocking up as soon as the cases increased slightly as they were scared that there would be another lockdown. This, in turn, led to a scarcity of resources.

Independent thinking at Universities in London

There is a lot of focus on independent thinking at the university. Mostly, the lecturers encourage the students to attempt things on their own. They also encourage the students to choose topics they like and decide the topic to write on without fearing censorship. There is more focus on students leading the way which is unlike India where teachers do everything.

Earlier, she used to convert everything into a rupee. She had to later stop this consciously as it would lead her to compromise on daily essentials. She did a combination of things such as cooking at home in order to manage her expenses. She would pick a takeaway even if she ordered from outside in order to avoid delivery charges. Eventually, she also found an Indian tiffin service. However, she dropped it as it did not suit her budget.

Vatsla Srivastava advises the students heading abroad to go there with an open mind. She also urged students to remember that things are always greener on the other side. Living in a foreign country is very different compared to the rosy image that is portrayed from afar. However, students must mainly focus on making the best out of whatever situation they get into.

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