To Go Abroad Or Not To Go

Georgios Lampropoulos, Greece

Studying abroad is a phrase that can arouse different feelings for every person. Some people find the prospect of such an experience scary; some others, challenging; and the people who have actually had such an experience usually talk about pleasant memories.

But I think it is time I introduced myself. My name is Georgios Lampropoulos and I am currently doing an MA in Applied Linguistics at the University of Sheffield. I come from Greece and I am 22 years old. When I started writing this article I tried to look back and remember my first days in the U.K. in order to give you my own personal experience. I suppose that if you are now reading this article, you must be one of those people known as prospective students and you probably have so many questions about the potential step that you are going to take in your life.

To start with, anyone who says that studying abroad is a very easy task is definitely a liar. When leaving home there are so many new things that you have to get used to, especially when you move to another country. On the other hand, it would be a huge mistake if I did not mention that the good points of such an experience definitely outweigh the few difficulties of the first weeks.

In general, Britain is one of the European countries that is so open to all nationalities. Whether in the centre of London or in the most northern part of Britain, you can realise at once that Britain is very culturally mixed. Whether Greek, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Indian, American and so on, Britain and its people will make you feel at home upon arrival. It is not coincidental that British people are so renowned for their kindness.

And when it comes to choosing the right place for your studies in the UK, make sure that Sheffield is one of the top places in your list. Being within the top 20 Universities of the U.K., Sheffield is probably THE place for studying. There are various courses in each department and the academic staff are always helpful and supportive. Moreover, the University is spread across a large part of the whole city which makes the feeling of cosiness even stronger.

But what does student life really consist of, apart from the course you have chosen to do? The answer is: a chance to experience unforgettable moments. Sheffield is a very vibrant city with thousands of students of all ages. Students from all over the world (Europe, America, Asia, Australia etc.) arrive each year in Sheffield in order to experience that little bit extra that probably only Sheffield can offer. Whether interested in culture and history, or if you are a sports type of person, or if you just want to relax and enjoy a quiet life, Sheffield has it all: galleries, museums, theatres, cinemas, sports centres, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, shopping centres and many more are available in Sheffield. The most amazing thing is that Sheffield is a fairly cheap city with student discounts in many places. But this should not surprise you because I think that Sheffield is actually just that, A STUDENT CITY!

So, whether planning to do your first degree or a postgraduate course, or even if you are looking for an Erasmus course for only one semester, I would strongly advise you to consider Sheffield as your first choice.

Georgios Lampropoulos, Greece