If you gave any Malaysian the choice to study either locally or overseas, confirm many of them would want to go study overseas, especially in the United Kingdom! ?
But, are we just romanticising the idea of studying in the UK? ? Not for these Malaysians, who went as far as to proclaim that it was “the best time of my LIFE!”. Here are some of the reasons why they loved their time there!
1. “Can watch super glamorous musicals & theatre like never before!”
Did you know theatre and musical shows in the UK are almost as popular as blockbuster movies? ? From classics like Wicked to musicals based on Back to the Future, there are SO many shows and venues to be enchanted by! ?
“I crossed off so MANY musicals, theatre shows and concerts from my bucket list when I studied in the UK. I was pretty much penniless because I exhausted my part-time income, but every single show was SO worth it!” – Jamie, 28, MSc Financial Economics and Accounting
2. “My dream of watching English football matches LIVE finally came true!”
Even if you’re not a football fan, who wouldn’t dream of visiting these magnificent stadiums and witnessing the world-renowned English football matches? So, if you happen to continue your studies in the UK, then it’s a MUST for you to watch a major football match LIVE firsthand! ?
“Seeing Manchester United lifting the Premier League cup in Old Trafford was a lifelong dream come true. What a thrill it was!” – Brandon, 31, BSc Sports Therapy
3. “So glad to know I could study overseas guilt-free.”
Might as well make some new friends along the way!
It may come as a surprise, but it’s not just their fresh produce that are affordable (no wonder our friends in the UK usually eat homecooked food lah!). The cost of living in the UK is actually not bad either, ranging from £8k – £10k (RM44k – RM55k) a year! ? And if you qualify for a scholarship and/or work part-time 20 hours a week, then that’s even better!
“The living cost in places like Essex is surprisingly affordable. You can even get a student discount at the Asian grocery marts around Colchester! In terms of cost of living, it is more affordable compared to living in London.” – Arisya, 20, LLB Law Transfer Programme
4. “As a history nerd, the UK’s abundance of ancient stories absolutely blew me away.”
It’s a unique feeling when you visit historic sites and imagine what happened thousands of years ago on those very grounds. Fortunately, the UK is rich with real-life ancient stories throughout the country, including the Colchester Roman ruins, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.
“I’ve always dreamt of seeing Stonehenge right in front of my eyes. Long story short, photos online simply don’t do it justice.” – Jonathan, 33, BA Art History and Language Studies
5. “I’m so blessed to receive some of the best education in the world!”
Based on Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, some of the world’s top universities are in the UK! Plenty of them even offer flexible transfer options for Malaysian students who are looking to transfer overseas, especially for popular fields such as:
- Business
- Law
- Computer science
- Actuarial science
If you can get the chance to study in such prestigious institutions (some more in a shorter period of time in the UK), why not kan?
“Being able to study in the School of Law, at the University of Essex was truly an unforgettable experience. Not only were all the lecturers experts in their research skills (which truly affirms Essex), but they are also 51st for Law in the world!” – Tan Jin Chi, 26, LLB Law Transfer Programme
Want to study with the greatest minds in the UK? Find out more below!
If you happen to be reading this and are finding out where you can further your studies, then you should definitely consider studying at the University of Essex! After all, wouldn’t it be awesome to say that you studied at the same university as David Yates, the director of the last four Harry Potter movies and the Fantastic Beasts series? ?
Here’s what a University of Essex graduate from our tanah air had to say about his experience:
“Essex’s economics department’s degree structure has been designed to maximise flexibility in module choices, allowing me to choose from a wide range of modules and shaping my degree to suit my particular areas of interest,” said Cheah Wai Kit, who graduated with Bachelor of Economics in 2013. He is now the Assistant Vice President at United Overseas Bank (UOB) Malaysia.
“Moreover, my participation in societies and volunteering really helped me to enhance my employability skills and enrich my time at Essex. My Essex experience indeed proved invaluable in securing my graduate role!”
In case you still have doubts about whether the University of Essex is a good choice for you, here are some facts about them that you should know:
A) Top ranking in the UK!
The University of Essex may not be under the UK Russell Group Universities, but they still top the charts as one of the Top 30 universities in the UK! On top of that, they’re also ranked 51st for Law in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2021! Ranked quite high and prestigious ah.
B) High post-graduate opportunities
As of 2021, a whopping 88% of graduates from the University of Essex are currently employed or furthering their studies! Additionally, a lot of their courses actually offer placement opportunities and industrial experiences that aid in your career path, not to mention that the UK’s graduate route visa makes securing a job in the UK SO much easier.
C) Get real-world experiences right on campus
You can also expect state-of-the-art facilities like the Essex Law Clinic and Bloomberg virtual trading floor when you study at the University of Essex, which help you gain more hands-on practical experiences and understand your chosen fields better before graduating!
D) Wide range of scholarships to sign up for
Best of all: you will be automatically assessed for scholarships offered by the university! This will save you time (and hassle!) from preparing and submitting scholarship applications, comparing while applying to other universities, and all the other first world problems. Can you imagine not needing to do any of these? ?
E) Study, work AND travel the way you like!
It’s common knowledge that London is a melting pot of opportunities and adventures, beckoning us to explore them! Well, you’ll be happy to know that all three campuses of the University of Essex (Colchester Campus, Southend Campus, and Loughton Campus) are close to London! So convenient ah, just a stone’s throw away if you study at Essex!
These are some pretty solid points! Maybe it’s worth checking out this uni.
You bet! And it’s so inspiring knowing this fellow Malaysian, who used to be a humble shepherd boy in his kampung, graduated with first-class honours at the University of Essex. Give this guy a medal lah!
Mohammad Afiq Ismail was offered to further his studies at the University of Essex due to his 10As SPM results. He studied Accounting and Finance.
If you’re ready to advance your life journey in the UK, you can check out the official University of Essex website on how you can join their October intake.
