Being an international student abroad is a unique experience that changes you, even long after you graduate. You pick a university out of hundreds based on your interests and goals, you move to a city that you've never stepped foot in before, and you adapt to the pace, the lifestyle and the community there.
I chose to study at the University of Kent because it offered a variety of options for psychology, including the option to complete a year in industry as part of the degree as well as courses that are more research-based. Even though I didn't do Psychology in A-levels, the first two years of my undergraduate degree gave me an adequate introduction to the wide scope of psychology. This later allowed me to tailor my final year modules towards my developing interests in clinical and forensic psychology. Altogether, I got a good blend of academia and practical experiences with my degree without limiting myself right at the beginning.
For my placement year, I worked in a private clinical therapy practice in Whitstable, dealing with anxious, depressed or trauma patients. From carrying out psychological assessments to shadowing therapy reflection work, I enjoyed my role as an assistant psychologist. My hybrid work setting allowed me more flexibility as a University student and the opportunity to develop my professional skills.
Coming out of my placement, I had a clearer direction for my final year research based on the feedback I received from my workplace colleagues. A lecturer at the university, who later became my final year research supervisor, would help me explore this further and contributed to my final thesis. The support from the University of Kent —such as the placement staff, the mentorship programme for placement students, and the student support and wellbeing team—was invaluable in navigating the placement and overcoming challenges. Their guidance and encouragement positively contributed to my overall educational experience.
The campus is my favourite thing about the university. Surrounded by lots and lots of greenery, it is beautiful, spacious and communal, with a blend of old and new facilities. Sometimes, on weekends, you'll even see locals bring their dogs out for a walk or families cycling together on the campus grounds. When I'm not in lectures, I sit outside on bench tables to enjoy the sun. Otherwise, I spend my afternoons working in the library or lounging in the library café.
As a psychology student, we have access to all the core textbooks and scientific journals through the library. Moreover, we have a common room exclusively dedicated to Psychology undergrad students. It is a place for us to work on group projects, meet in between lectures and engage in discussions about niche topics. Sometimes, our favourite lecturers would even come in just to say hi and chat with us. From my experience, the common room is home to a community of kind, supportive people who help each other through their shared university journey.
The Canterbury campus is situated at a prime location. It is just an hour away from London by train and less than an hour away from locations like Dover, Margate, Whitstable and Broadstairs by bus. To take advantage of this, my friends and I have taken morning walks to Whitstable Beach for fish and chips, had picnics by the river in Westgate Gardens, danced on the beach at sunset in Margate, and climbed the Dover Cliffs, amongst many other things.
University of Kent is famously known as ‘The European University’. This rings true in my experience. In my four years there, I have encountered many people from different parts of the world and found that people are as interested in you as you are in them. Having a diverse group of friends meant that cultural exchange was an inevitable part of the socialising experience. I have made Chinese New Year dinners for my friends and also picked up Latin dancing. This openness to learning about each other’s cultures helped me connect with my friends on a deeper level, and some of them remain my closest friends to this day. My advice to any new students studying abroad would be this: take the opportunity to connect with people from different backgrounds, and don't be afraid to try new things… You'll never know if this person you meet or this new activity you try will end up opening up a whole new world. Studying at university is educational in ways that go beyond your degree; it frees you to experience life.
