Name: Umar Gaba

Course:  Biomedical Sciences

Study Level: Undergraduate

University: Kingston University

Country of origin: Pakistan

Q. Why did you enrol on your course and how did you choose your university?

I did everything online before I even got to the UK. I had short-listed a few universities, but I read some good reviews about Kingston and the most important factor in choosing this university was the fact that my brother studied here as well, so it was much more convenient.

Q. Why did you choose the UK as a study destination?

The UK has been famous for its academic and educational work for many centuries. Also, I had been here before in my childhood and I had an attachment with this place since the beginning, so it wasn’t hard to choose UK as a study destination.

Q. How would you describe the structure of your course?

It’s a 3-year program which basically focuses on the diagnostic side of medicine.

Q. How did the English teaching style differ from that in your home country?

Well, I was fortunate enough to study in good English schools at home, so for me, it hasn’t been that different from what I saw in the UK. Some people might have to get used to the accents and other minor factors.

Q. How did you fund your studies? 

My uncle is sponsoring me for the tuition fees and the rest I have to manage myself.

Q. What were the biggest challenges that you faced in your first year? 

To be honest, it’s always difficult when you leave your home where you have lived for almost 20 years to a new place, where everything is so different. So of course, at first it was hard, especially the winters there. Then another thing was the food, it was hard for me to cook at first although now I have learnt a lot. So, I would say that the first couple months are rough but then from there it’s all uphill.

Q. What were the best things about your course?

I always had an interest in science so biomedical has a mixture of computing skills, science, medicine everything which I like studying.

Q. What advice would you give to new international students?

To never give up on their dreams and to always work hard.  I would tell them to choose a course or a field that they really like and have an interest for. Like this, they will never have to work even for a single day in their life.