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Getting Organized at University

Come Monday, Welcome Week 2018 came to an end. For those of you who just joined us at Nottingham, I have no doubt that you’ve had one of the most fulfilling, spontaneous and exciting weeks of your life. For the rest of us veterans, it’s been a week filled with nostalgia and failed attempts to …

Healthcare in the UK – A Guide for International Students

As an aspiring doctor, one of the things that attracted me to the UK was its one-of-a-kind healthcare system. However, as a student, the differences in the system and its associated complications were a nightmare to navigate. As an incoming fresher, you’re bound to get fresher’s flu; and even if you dodge a bullet there, …

How To: Fight Fresher’s Flu

Fresher’s week is known for many things; wild nights out, campus fairs, cliché pictures at the ‘Nottingham’ sign. One of the biggest things you’re headed for, however, is the dreaded fresher’s flu. And trust me, there’s no escaping this one. While we at Nottingham do want you all to enjoy your fresher’s week, we also …

What to expect when you’re expecting….to come to Nottingham

The coming fall will mark 2 years since I made the 4000-mile trek to the University of Nottingham. With the start of a new academic year looming, I have decided to use my blog to advise incoming international students on what to expect upon arrival and how to transition to life in Nottingham as easily …

Baby Steps: Preparing for University

I like to believe that this blog attracts a whole array of readers but many of you probably landed here while scouring through the internet for tips on preparing for university. Well, I’m here to deliver exactly that! With less than 2 months to go, this new chapter in your life is just around the …

5 Things you Should Know About Living in Self-Catered Accommodation

You Probably Won’t Set Fire to the Kitchen When I started university, I was certain that I was going to set fire to the kitchen and burn the whole block down. Despite not being a bad cook, irrationally I believed that in a moment of lost concentration that I would turn away from the oven, …

The beginning and the end: musings of a retiring student

One week from now I shall submit my MRes thesis. A glorious, joyous moment of self-praise and achievement, followed by a quick sojourn to my subconscious for a fleeting moment of WHAT THE HECK DO I DO NOW???, before regaining composure and marching post-haste to the nearest fine English tavern/Inn/pub/watering-hole/reduced unbranded supermarket beer shelf. In …

Between worlds: Growing up as a ‘Third Culture Kid’

Recently, I wrangled my family together to watch Hasan Minhaj’s comedy special on Netflix. For those of you who don’t know who that is, Minhaj gained massive popularity as a correspondent on The Daily Show and for his witty banter and unbridled honesty at the White House correspondent’s dinner. His comedy special, Homecoming King, however, …

Tips for Living With Flatmates

So, you’re off to university, an experience that is likely to be your first time away from home for such an extended length of time. If moving away isn’t daunting enough in itself, the idea of sharing a flat with 4+ strangers is probably enough to induce some form of worry. Speaking as someone who …

Getting involved: How to pick societies

One of the best things about university is the chance to try something new. Nottingham has hundreds of societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities for you to experience. There’s so much choice though, it can be hard to know where to start. So here’s my top tips to help you find something you’ll enjoy! Previous …