I’m from Pakistan and it was my dream to study in the UK, so I was delighted when I received the offer from Kent, I had to move quickly to secure my visa, then pack in four days(!) before boarding the plane.
I’d definitely advise you to start your visa application as soon as you receive your offer – you don’t want to miss the start of your course! Also, before you leave Pakistan, try and link up with other Pakistani students who are coming to Kent. That way you’ll know some people when you get here.
My experience at Kent has been fantastic: the lecturers have been great, always ready to listen, which makes it easy to speak up in class; I’ve made good friends in my accommodation, through the societies I’ve joined and as a member of the Canterbury Mosque.
If I were to give you any advice, I would say, be brave! When I arrived I was an introvert, but now I have many friends. I’d also say though, that I’ve become more independent, if I want to go into the beautiful, historic city of Canterbury, I’m happy to go by myself!
Of course, there are times when you feel homesick, the best thing to do is to keep busy. I stayed on campus over the Christmas holidays and took advantage of the library to read lots of books! I do miss my family, but at Kent, I have a new family of friends from Pakistan, from India and from Britain.
I hope sharing my experiences of life at Kent will answer some of your questions.
Bring
things that mean something to you; I wish I’d brought my own Quran.
Bring any medication you need.
Also, I
brought some quick noodles from home – great when you arrive.
In Welcome Week my friend and I went to every stall, it was a great experience discovering all the societies we could join. I joined the Pakistani, the Islamic, and the Karate societies.
Before I came, I didn’t know there was a Mosque on campus. It’s for people in the local area; during Ramadan I prayed there every day and they provided free food. I’ve made a lot of friends.
My favourite place in Canterbury is Westgate Gardens; sitting by the water reading a book, I love that place! A la Turka is a great restaurant and you must visit the Cathedral, it’s amazing!
Many cafés on campus offer halal food, as do lots of restaurants in Canterbury. Vegan dishes are usually OK to eat. The local supermarket sells good quality, inexpensive halal food.
The campus is amazing! My friends and I like to sit on the hill outside the library and enjoy the view of the Cathedral. Fantastic facilities too, including a gym, and lots of nature.
I’ve celebrated Eid with friends from Pakistan and celebrated Diwali with friends from India; I’ve enjoyed Halloween events. Keeping busy, having fun, meeting people is all part of uni life.
It’s easy to keep in touch with home, make sure you have downloaded apps such as WhatsApp, as that makes calls a lot cheaper. Make sure you have a UK sim.
Check out the website for international students, lots of advice on scholarships, study and life in general!
Visit the Pakistan page to see what qualifications you need for your course.
It's a whole new way of learning. You can get advice from our Skills for Academic Success team.
Feeling settled and happy will help you to excel in your studies. Our student support services are here to help with advice and initiatives such as the community garden.
