Our editor, Himani Negi, has given me the hardest blog to write to yet! I'm not sure how, to sum up my experiences thus far and all the way to the United Kingdom. All right, let's try it.
Even though I came to the UK in September 2022, my interest in this incredible country began when a second-year resident studying oral pathology came across an old London tram ticket in a book at the university library. With a sense of both heavenly calling and childish curiosity, I was drawn to the thought of living abroad and imagined what it would be like to attend the highly respected universities that the UK has to offer.
Aside from this, I am passionate about oral pathology and microbiology, which is why I decided to move to this foreign country to pursue higher education in the field. With this idea in mind, I started my research and wanted to explore different pathways. The first opportunity I could find was to register for an international conference that was to be held in London. However, fate intervened, COVID stole our lives, and all our plans to visit the UK were derailed. Even though I was working as a senior resident doctor assigned to emergency services during the COVID wave, I was still thinking about progressing towards my dream of relocating to the UK, even if this phase was depressing. The seed of moving to the UK had been sown. I used to search for appropriate courses and submit applications for them whenever I had the chance. I started my hunt by submitting applications to different PhD programs, but those didn't work out. I decided to apply for a second master's degree and relive my post-graduation experience.
I made a short list of universities based on the courses they provided, such as oral microbiology and oral pathology, which fit with my area of study. I used this search to submit applications to the University of Glasgow for an MSc in Oral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London for an MSc in Experimental Oral Pathology, Cardiff University for an MSc in Oral Biology, and the University of Sheffield for an MMedSci in Diagnostic Oral Pathology. I can vividly recall the day I appeared for my first MMedSci program interview. I was nervous, but everything went well, and I was given the opportunity to accept a master's offer. I was in a state of ecstasy, believing that I had already boarded the trip to the United Kingdom, although I was not even halfway there.
I received offers for positions at other courses in the interim. I chose to defer all these courses since, at this point, the second wave of COVID had already hit, most of the modules were being taught online, and I was really looking forward to receiving training in a classroom setting. This would also give me more time to handle my finances, which is a crucial aspect of studying overseas. I had no idea that this would turn out to be the hardest portion of my quest.
From this point on, I'll attempt to outline my path in detail, but please keep in mind that this is a highly personal account and that each applicant's experience may differ.
As I previously stated, I received offers from every university I applied to, so I had to choose which one to accept. The University Ranking (QS Ranking, Research Excellence Framework, The Times, etc.), the tuition fee structure, the course modules offered, learning more about the teaching faculty, connecting with former students, and the availability of scholarships were some of the various criteria I used to create my checklist. Then, some non-academic but crucial factors for any overseas student were living expenses, which can differ from one city to another in the UK, and the availability of housing, which is a challenging process that needs to be arranged in advance. Now that I had this checklist in one hand and the UK on my mind, I decided to go to the University of Glasgow. “My English dream had now changed to a more exhilarating Scottish reality”.
However, my financial obligations did not end there; I still had to handle my living expenses in addition to my tuition. I began my search and applied for scholarship opportunities. I've included a few scholarship opportunities below that applicants may consider looking into.
Chevening Scholarship
Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
The JN Tata Endowment Scholarship
Education Future
KC Mahindra Scholarship
Doc 24
Entrepreneur Scholarship
RD Sethna Scholarship
Study Portal
Lady Meherbai Tata Scholarship
The Joseph Lister India Scholarship offered by the University of Glasgow
The Saltire Scholarship
The Anonymous Hope Fund
Even though these scholarships are among the most competitive, you should always try since you never know when good fortune will come your way—of course, with a dash of hard work!
The Joseph Lister India Scholarship was given to me in this instance, and it partially paid for my tuition. The remaining costs were paid for with educational loans, which can be obtained at variable interest rates from different banks; further investigation is necessary. I want to emphasize once more to my readers that this is a very personal experience and that results may differ. Because I had been working in India for a while, I also applied my money to the costs.
The next step, after resolving all of this, was to apply for a visa. Although the application process for a UK student visa is laborious and time-consuming, it is ultimately worthwhile. Before completing the application, please make sure you have read everything on the official UK visa website and gathered all the necessary information. Make sure you have obtained all the necessary paperwork and certifications in advance. The only thing that matters is being prepared with your paperwork and knowledgeable about the regulations of the visa office on the day of your appointment.
This blog post will undoubtedly be lengthy. However, my work here is done if even a small number of future candidates benefit from it.
The never-ending waiting period started after attending the visa appointments; for me, it took about a month. On August 4, 2022, I finally obtained my student visa; therefore, it was time to pack my bags. And at last, on September 2, 2022, I boarded the one flight that would forever alter my course in life.
I have now completed my MSc from the University of Glasgow and have spent over a year in the UK, during which I have lived, studied, and treasured every moment. I felt like a student once again, eager to learn everything there was to know about my subject of study. I'm actively looking for the ultimate PhD program right now, not leaving any stone unturned. I know it seems difficult, but I believe you'll never comprehend this until you experience it personally.
There are a lot of challenges that come with living in the UK, including adjusting to the climate, cultural shock, homesickness, loneliness, and an extensive list of additional concerns. My sole piece of advice for handling all of this is to never lose sight of your goals for your future in the UK and, above all, to never allow the student inside of you to get lost in the maze of life's issues. It's only a flight away to return home, but until you do, you'll never know how much it's all worth. I wish you well on your journey!
