Outstanding Academic Experience
Having attended a British school in Mexico City from the age of 2, it had always been my dream to one day live in the UK. When I was in high school browsing sustainability-related undergraduate courses, I came across Environment and Business in Leeds. It seemed like the perfect course for me, and after doing more research I fell in love with Leeds as a city too. It certainly did not disappoint! I have thoroughly enjoyed my academic journey at the university; from the engaging lectures, to the challenging assignments. The interactive and dynamic learning/teaching environment we have here is quite different from the more traditional teaching in Mexican schools and universities. My favourite thing about studying in Leeds is that I have been able to take various modules that cover a wide range of subjects, including modules such as Sustainable Development, Environmental Politics and Policy, Economics and Sustainability, Social Ecological Systems, People, Sustainability and the Environment, and Strategic Energy Issues.
Fun Student Life
I have not only enjoyed my academic life, but also the day to day. Leeds is a beautiful city, with hundreds of things to do, I have never been bored for a day! It is full of delicious restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shopping centres, parks, cinemas, and much more. Coming from such a big city, Leeds seemed like a very small place, but I had nothing to worry about. In fact, I really like how different the lifestyle is here. Having access to safe and reliable public transport, easily visiting nearby towns and cities on train, being able to walk pretty much anywhere I need to go. Student accommodation has also added to my student experience, and is one of the biggest differences I find between being here and living at home. In my first year I lived in university residences, which was such a fun experience! I met all the people who, still today, are my best friends and helped me get adjusted to British culture and introduced me to some of their friends as well. After that, in my second and third years I lived with friends in private accommodation in a popular student area called Hyde Park. This allowed me to become much more independent and responsible, and to truly experience what it is like to live on my own.
Diverse Welcoming City
From day one, everyone in Leeds has made me feel welcome. From students and lecturers to random people on the street, everyone here is polite and kind, always willing to lend a helping hand if you’re in trouble. Especially as international students, people understand we might experience a few extra struggles when we first move in, and they are therefore very supportive. Both the city and the university are very diverse; we have students from over a hundred different countries! I have made friends here not only from the United Kingdom, but also from Japan, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Ecuador, Spain, France and Kenya, to name a few. This has allowed me to learn about and appreciate different cultures, lifestyles, foods, traditions, and also to share my own!
- Almudena