(This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics)
— Priyali Bathla
After numerous months of filling in tedious college applications and undergoing the tension that kicks in every time the application portal gets a status update, it all boils down to choosing the ‘perfect-fit’ institution that suits one’s ambition and persona. Take it from someone who has been through the tears and grins of several rejections and acceptances, picking the right foundation for a 17-year-old was a daunting task.
My name is Priyali Bathla, and I am a first-year student at the University of Birmingham Dubai pursuing BSc Psychology with Business Management. I did the International Baccalaureate programme and received my high school diploma from Pathways School, Gurgaon.
While browsing for courses that match with my interests in the field of social sciences, while simultaneously targeting universities that could provide me with international, culturally diverse exposure, I sensed a shortage of institutions within India that could offer me a combination of both.
Even though I had made up my mind to leave my home country to pursue higher education, my parents were exceedingly reluctant to send their teenage daughter miles away all by herself. I initially discovered the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus while I was researching potential study abroad options in the Middle East. What attracted me to this particular campus was that it had a good Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking, the faculty consists of some of the experts and the experiences shared by alumni made this whole experience look interesting.
Mix and match — the best of my two interests
One of the main things that made me choose the University of Birmingham was the option of combining the two subjects I wanted to pursue, psychology and business. My course is essentially subdivided into modules. For instance, in psychology, I am required to take several different modules within the subject such as ‘Developmental psychology’, ‘Psycho-biology’, ‘Research methods’ etc, whereas in business, I have taken two prerequisite modules so far ‘Managing financial resources’ and ‘Introduction to Marketing’. The modules offered cover myriad different fields of psychology and business, therefore allowing me to explore my interests and delve into the different aspects of the two disciplines.
We also have labs, workshops, seminars etc., wherein we get to apply the theoretical knowledge we gain during lecture hours to use via several engaging activities. I chose this course specifically due to the breadth it offers, in terms of career paths, and more importantly since my interests and competence lie within these two disciplines.
Receiving admission and scholarship
The process to apply to UoB Dubai was simple compared to most US and UK college applications. I applied through a direct online portal and had to submit my details, along with my past academic qualifications, predicted grades, English proficiency scores, one letter of recommendation and lastly, a personal statement. I received a response to my application within a week of submitting it. The entire process was done by me.
What made the offer even better was the scholarships that the varsity offered me. I received my offer letter with an academic scholarship. The University offered me a 30 per cent Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship based on my IB predicted grades (42/45), along with a 10 per cent Advance Payment Award, totalling up to 40 per cent in year 1 and 30 per cent in years 2 and 3.  Once you apply for admission, you are automatically considered for a scholarship.
The criteria for the scholarship are purely based on your academic qualifications. The Chancellor’s merit scholarship can range anywhere from 10-50 per cent depending upon your predicted and final grades. However, several other scholarships could be received such as the Alumni Connections scholarship, STEM scholarship, Refer a Friend Scholarship etc.
‘Dubai is dynamic’
Dubai is a diverse, friendly, and dynamic city. While it was a mandatory requirement for my degree, I enjoyed learning the Arabic language. I could not have had this experience and opportunity anywhere else.
Culturally speaking, Dubai epitomises a melting pot of myriad different cultures, ethnicities and cuisines, even though Islam is the predominant religion in the city. There are various cultural similarities between India and UAE including an appreciation for arts, focus on family values, flavourful cuisines etc.
Moreover, since Indian expats account for up to 30 per cent of the UAE population, having access to fresh, scrumptious food that reminds one of the home isn’t a big challenge. In addition, since English and Hindi are the second and the third most spoken languages in the country respectively, one is unlikely to experience a language barrier. I did not experience any major culture shocks, given that I was surrounded by several Indian students in my university and accommodation where I could interact with. If any, I was astonished to experience an immensely safe environment to travel, study and work in, as a female student.
Other than that, the city life in Dubai is extremely fast-paced and there is an endless list of places to explore — from beaches, and rooftop restaurants to infinity pools, desert bonfires, nightclubs, skydiving etc, although the cost of living will vary depending on the lifestyle and might need management being a student.
Campus life
Even my experience so far at UoB Dubai has been certainly rewarding. During my first year, I had the opportunity to join a variety of clubs and societies and interact with people from different cultures across the globe. I have had the chance to develop my soft skills by participating in the seminars and workshops offered alongside my lectures.
Certainly, this experience is different from what I would have received in an Indian university. The exposure I have got here is so diverse, culturally, ethnically and academically. The standards of teaching and methods of assessment are tremendously distinct from traditional Indian institutions, given that a lot of my coursework here is in the form of research projects, essays, MCQ exams etc. There is an incredible amount of stress on aspects such as critical, independent thinking, practical understanding of subjects, proper styles of referencing etc.
Doing the IB diploma has played a humongous role in easing my experience at university so far. The skills I learned in high school such as citing and referencing, reading research papers, using GDC, critical thinking, academic integrity practices etc have saved me an enormous deal of time and effort, allowing me to rapidly adapt and adjust to the transition from high school to university.
No part-time, but finance journal is the key to savings
Since I am on a university-sponsored student visa, I am not allowed to do part-time jobs or work here. Keeping this in mind, I devised a plan to keep my spending in check for this. I started a finance journal when I first came to Dubai, to note down my daily expenditures. Since then, I have become very mindful of each penny that I spend.
Another piece of advice to students who want to pursue a higher education degree from abroad is to brace yourselves and mentally prepare your minds before embarking on this journey. Get out of your comfort zone and be strong-willed and headstrong before making such a crucial decision. You need to discipline yourself and learn the basic skill set such as doing laundry, cooking, financing etc., before coming off to university.
As a high schooler, show perseverance and determination and focus on your academics in Class 10, 11 and 12. More importantly, involve yourself in as many activities, clubs, and volunteering opportunities as possible to expand and develop your portfolio. Furthermore, take up internships during your summer holidays and enhance your CV to the best you can. Commit yourself to the process and you will reach where you want to be.
