My course, Master’s in International Relations, is a very intensive and productive course. I was expecting it to be a little less strenuous; however, the reality is quite different. I have to do a lot of readings every week and engage in learning how to do academic writing, since it is not the same in India. Besides these challenges which all students have to face during a post-graduation degree, it is also a very enriching course. I have amazing modules such as Strategic Communications and Political Violence, Counter terrorism and Human Rights. These are full of amazing literature and insight into the real world. I am sure than taking up this course was the right decision!

The university is definitely much more than what i imagined. Academically, I have so many sources to get information. I have access to almost all online databases i can get hands on. So i am never short of study material. The libraries are way too good. They are fully equipped with the latest technology sources, online and offline. I get all the books i need and there is so much space to sit relax study. Libraries can be this good, i never imagined! Compared to India, libraries here are heaven! It’s very easy to get books issued. I can do all my work in the library including printing, scanning, using computers, even borrowing laptops! There are 5 libraries at King’s alone and i have access to many more libraries. So yes, academically it’s a wonderful university. I haven’t engaged in social activities much though as i don’t get much time. I am usually just studying. However, we have social events almost every week! There are dances, balls, pub-socials and many free get-togethers. We get free food and drinks at times. So it is extremely comfortable! The location obviously is right in the heart of London. All other colleges are also close by, so i can go around wherever i want in a short span of time by just walking around. Also, they have amazing organization, as i get emails every week about the events that i can go to related to my course or the career opportunities i might be interested in. They work really hard to provide us with as much as they can so that’s brilliant.

I have fallen in love with London. It’s a beautiful city and so many Indians here; i can never be homesick here! It’s obviously a task to become friends with all the international students. All my Indian friends here have talked about this and we discussed that it’s actually not that easy to befriend foreigners. It’s our accent, maybe a little bit of racism not much though and then we have complexes ourselves. I think as Indians we aren’t that confident. We are also very soft spoken tiny people compared to these people here. So maybe that’s why.

Accommodation is great too. It’s a new place which started just last year – Garden Halls. So all the furniture and rooms are brand new, the food is pretty good too since i am a vegetarian and i am pretty happy. I don’t have to cook at all. Although it’s very expensive. I chose to take an en-suite room with my personal bathroom, which is pretty convenient. However, i realize that i could have taken a cheaper place and shared rooms and bathrooms, which would have been cheaper and more economical.

There are a lot of opportunities here to experience new things here, but everything costs a lot of money. I could go on living here without getting bored ever! Even if I use the student discounts i have to limit my expenditure and outings a lot. Maybe making plans in advance and being more organized with where to spend my money, i could manage to do a lot more. I am trying my best though.

So there are a lot of Asians here. Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asians mainly. Even Indians are at least 10% of the student population. I mostly am close to the Indians i have befriended here. So yes, those are the people we end up spending most of our time with. I had decided to mingle around with other nationals who are living here, but since i stay in a single room i don’t interact with many people. Indians are mostly very friendly so I can hang out with them. Making international friends is quite challenging though. Since my focus is just academics here, I am very happy and satisfied with everything. But if an undergraduate wants to study abroad, it will be very important to break away from our comfort zones and engage in all social events.