Business Students Abroad: Getting Your Business Degree In The United Kingdom

Rukiya Swaleh Ahmed  at Bradford University School of Management

Rukiya Swaleh Ahmed 

Bradford University School of Management

Degree: Management and Business Analytics 

Home City and Country: Mombasa, Kenya 

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Festival Services, Box Office Supervisor 

How has studying business in the United Kingdom enriched your learning experience? 

Multicultural perspective- By studying Business in search a diverse cultural environment, I have gained a deeper understanding of global business dynamics by learning about different perspectives, customs, and practices. 

Practical learning opportunities- through case studies in tutorials and projects in partnership with companies such as Bradford Literature Festival,  this hands-on approach has my fostered critical thinking, problem-solving skills and allowed me to apply theoretical concepts to real-world business scenarios. 

As Data analytics is part of my program, I have benefited from the modules and topics that we learn. In today’s data-driven world, data analysis plays a vital role. Statistical analysis, machine learning such as R and Python, data visualization, and big data technologies, have provided me with analytical skills, and valuable insights into the current industry standards and trends.

What has been the toughest transition to living in the United Kingdom so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty?

Adjusting to the weather has to be the toughest one. I originate from a warm tropical country, Kenya. The coldest it will get would only require I jumper and that’s enough to keep you warm. UK on the other hand has the most unpredictable weather. All the seasons seem quite harsh as it’s either too windy, snowing, raining or too hot during summer. It’s easier to keep yourself warm during winter cause what I do is layer up, though the cold will still get through to me. I had to invest in proper clothing such as thermals, waterproof jackets, and gloves.

What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in the United Kingdom? How has it helped you adapt? 

Unibuddy- I received essential information about University of Bradford through this service. The student ambassador was very helpful and provided essential information about campus resources, cultural norms, accommodation options and shopping essentials. This service helped in organize and preparing myself for a smooth settling in the UK. This support service has played a crucial role in my adaptation to living in the UK as it provided practical assistance throughout my transition journey. 

What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in the United Kingdom? Why has this struck you?

British people’s penchant for queuing (standing in line) is one of their most interesting cultural nuances. Part of my job is to supervise my colleagues’ scanning tickets and it was very shocking to see that although there are several ticket lanes, British people would just queue up and not take full advantage of all the lanes. This came as a surprise to me, the level of adherence to the point I had to go up and down getting people to utilize the free lanes. I realized that Britons’ respect for other people’s time and space is reflected in their dedication to queuing. 

Are you seeking a Visa to work in the United Kingdom after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? 

Yes, I would like to seek a working Visa after graduation. I haven’t started the process as I was advised to do it after I complete my studies. 

What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school?

One of the most challenging things to do as an International Student is to make friends. To overcome this challenge, I enrolled in different societies such as the African Caribbean Society(ACS), a society that celebrates empowerment and diversity, supported my transition to university life and social life enabling me to make quite a few friends. Islamic Society(ISOC), helped with connecting with my religious roots which settled one of my greatest fears coming to UK, which was disconnecting with my faith. Additionally, I was the Student Representative for my course the first two years, which helped expand on my friendship group as I would interact with students from my course regarding any course issues. Lastly, I enrolled as A Student Ambassador which introduced me to fellow SAs outside my course that I would have never had the chance to interact with.

What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in a UK graduate business program? 

1. They should make sure they do their research and choose wisely- look into different graduate business programs offered by different Universities. There are several factors that they need to consider: curriculum structure, location, entry requirements, accommodation, facilities, and University ranking. Their academic and career goals should be aligned with the program that they choose. 
2. They should make a budget and plan for the costs of studying abroad. Being financially prepared is essential as it is very costly to move and settle in the UK. Mainly research on tuition fees and living expenses(accommodation). Travel expenses, visa fees and healthcare costs are additional costs to consider. 
3. They should familiarize themselves with the Visa requirements. Things such as only being able to work 20 hours should be considered. 
4. Lastly, they should adapt to the culture of the U.K. It will be different from what they’re used to, but they need to be prepared to deal with cultural differences and adapt to them.