Joyce Chan (2^nd year, Law LLB)

Being fortunate enough to read law in the University of Birmingham, my life has been exciting since the first day I touched down at the airport. Foreign flatmates and weird accents may be intimidating at first for a person like me, but in no time I realised how much fun it is to live in student halls. And through societies like Masoc and others I get to know people from all over the world.

The latest mobile phones have made it easier for me to contact my families and friends in my homeland. Modern mobile technology is designed to make communication very accessible even between the farthest of regions.

Stepping into second year is as daunting as ever because the results this year is going to be counted towards my degree. All those assignments, supervisions and lectures literally make many people in my course live in the cosy law library. Still, I don’t forget to have some fun and hang out with friends whenever I can. Soon, my life in university will end and I am glad that I’m not missing any minute of it.

Li Hung (2^nd year, Law LLB) 

My name is Li Hung and I am currently in my second year studying Law in the University of Birmingham. It is now my 5^th year in Birmingham as a student, and I must say it feels very much like a home to me already. At Birmingham University, you are able to meet people from different countries and origins, as well as being able to experience a different lifestyle to that of Malaysia. I think the most interesting way to describe my life here would be to bring you through a normal day of my life in Birmingham.

Basically, my lectures would span from Monday to Friday, although the total hours are just about 11 hours plus another one or two per week for supervision work. Therefore, on a weekday, I would wake up about 7.30am in the morning for a lecture at 9am, and then I would get ready to catch the bus at 8.30am so I can arrive on time since I do not live on University campus. 

After an hour or two of lectures, I would hang around the University for a chat with my friends, catching up on homework, happenings around university and so on. Then most probably we will go to the law library to do a bit of work while waiting for the next lecture. However, there could be a 4 hours span in between lectures, which then we either go home and grab some lunch or just spend it in university with friends.

After lectures in the morning, and doing some work in the afternoon, it’s time to relax in the evening. There are different forms of entertainment available, including hitting the cinemas (they do this buy one get one free ticket at students price offer for students, so it is definitely worth a night out at the cinema), having a nice dinner at Chinatown with my mates, playing pool at Rileys, groceries shopping at Tesco or personal shopping at Bullring, having a good time at the clubs dancing or just chilling out with friends at their houses cooking dinner together, playing sports, or work part time.

It would be great if you are able to work part time in UK, but of course only if you can manage it well with your studies at the same time. There are all kinds of part-time jobs in the food, clothing, or management industries which love to take in students as part-timers especially during weekends. Currently I am working two nights a week in a Japanese restaurant, which offers a challenging working environment and of course some extra pocket money. Besides that, it is a great way to accumulate working experiences as well as taking my mind off university student life for a change. Therefore, it is definitely worth the experience to take up part time work while you are studying in the university.

Lastly but not the least, being part of the Malaysian Society means being able to coordinate and help out in events for Malaysian students in the university with a group of lovely committees, such as the up and coming Chinese New Year dinner and Asian Sports Tournament. To prepare for the sports event means that we would have regular sports practices as well, in which all members and non-members are welcome to join.

Therefore, to sum up a life in Birmingham, I would say study hard, play hard, and work hard, and to enjoy every moment of it by making sure everyday is passed to the fullest possible.

M. Hadri H Mokhtar (2^nd year Electrical and Electronics Engineering)

Being a student in School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer is really a challenging and adventurous part of my life in the UK. Obviously, the experience of adapting and integrating with different people and background is the most electrifying experience which is not easy to gain in life. Life in the UK has really thought me to stand on my own feet with every decision has to be taken wisely to ensure that every aspects of my life is good. Regardless what your course is, it is always exciting to undergo this transition from a student to an excellent worker later. In term of leisure, the only chance for me to travel around in Europe lies within these 4 years of my course.  Go around the world and you will see the diversity of languages, cultures, foods and many things which totally different with our culture in Malaysia. Luckily, as refurbishment in my department is undergoing now, this will promise to current and prospective students that we are absolutely will be fed with better technology, facilities and educational material. With the new lecture theatre that will be built soon, it will definitely create a better and conducive environment to study. About the foods, you don’t have to worry because you can even find ‘Kicap Manis Kipas Udang’ in Chinatown and ‘Sos Cili Maggi’ in Tesco. Interesting.