January 22, 2016, by International students

Meet our Student Callers: Hazel from Malaysia

In her free time, international student Hazel loves travelling around Europe

In her free time, international student Hazel loves travelling around Europe

If you hold an offer to study at The University of Nottingham, you might be lucky enough to receive a call from one of our international students. Undergraduate Law student Hazel has been speaking to students in China and her native Malaysia in the hope of letting them know what life in Nottingham is really like. 

In her role as an International Student Ambassador, Hazel also gives tours around our beautiful campuses. If you would like to arrange an independent visit to campus, please visit our website.   

Why did you choose to study at Nottingham?

The campus style environment offered by the university really caught my heart. I have always wanted to study in a safe campus where everything is conveniently located in one site.

My safe and beautiful campus 600x500

My safe and beautiful campus

What is your favourite thing about living in Nottingham?

Everything (I’m not kidding!), from the people to the food, from the city to its central location, and, not to forget the low cost of living here too!

Where is your favourite place in Nottingham, and why?

It must be Wollaton Park which is only a stone’s throw away from the University Park campus. It is a large and beautiful park with some interesting museums in it, not to mention that the Wollaton Hall inside is cool place to brag about to people as one of the Batman movies was filmed there!

The famous Wollaton Hall

The famous Wollaton Hall

Where is your favourite place to eat out in Nottingham, and why?

Sarangchae. Although I do not have any particular preference towards Korean cuisine, this restaurant somehow has the ability to make me visit it again and again as their food tastes like home-cooked! My special recommendation is their Kimchi Chigae, which is a spicy stew made with kimchi, pork belly and tofu.

Are you part of any societies?

Yes. This is my third year being in the Travel Society. I love their affordable day trips to famous British destinations such as Bath, Cambridge and York, as well as the annual 10-day European trip.

What’s the most frequently asked question students ask you, and what advice do you give them?

Would language be a huge problem for students whose primary language is not English? My advice would be do not be afraid to come to an English speaking country because this is the first step one has to take in order to overcome the language barrier. Although it can be challenging at the beginning, it will only get better as you immerse yourself in the English speaking environment and start practising your English through daily conversation with your friends.

What’s your number one tip for international/EU students coming to Nottingham?

Be prepared to enjoy it. While the idea of leaving home to study overseas can be quite daunting, the truth is that you are going to enjoy your university life tremendously in Nottingham. Not only will the university offer you a great international experience as you become friends with people from all over the world, the fact that Nottingham is located centrally in the UK and near to an international airport means you can easily travel to different UK cities and European countries!

What are you hoping to do after you graduate/finish your course?

I wish to go into the field of education upon graduation. Having experienced a different learning style in the UK, I hope I can leverage my great experience here to better the education system back home in Malaysia.

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