Being an Overseas Student ♥

OVERVIEW OF AN ACCOUNTING STUDENT'S LIFE IN SHU

It was my first time to go overseas study !
Excited ! Looking forward and I couldn't wait to explore the new environment as soon as possible !

Thank you my family for giving me the opportunity to take the summer degree top up course in SHU.

There are two main universities located in Sheffield.

• Sheffield Hallam University (SHU)
• University of Sheffield

Of course, there are differences between studying in TARC/local universities and SHU, Sheffield !

Discovering the differences is FUN :)

Let me tell you what are the differences !

♥ University's Facilities ♥

There are around 10 buildings at City's centre, including the university's library - Adsetts Centre. They are scattered around the heart of the city but within the walking distance :)

Unlike TARC, where every buildings are built within a compound...

Owen Building

Owen Building main entrance

Stoddart Building
The business school :)

There are lecture theatres and seminar rooms in each building.
We usually have our lecture at Owen Building/Stoddart and seminar at Stoddart.

Compared to TARC, the lecture theatres here are far comfortable and well equipped with comfortable and cushioned seats, spacious legrooms, carpeted floor, huge wall screen, automated document camera, pc etc.

Furthermore, the toilets are CLEAN !
Much more cleaner than TARC ! 

Lecture theatre in Owen Building

 The seminar rooms where we attend our seminar are well equipped too !
With the similar facilities provided in the lecture theatres !

We usually have group discussion during our seminar, especially PASBD seminar where we will have role play, meeting and all. Very fun ! 
The lecturers here are anticipating questions from everyone of us and are trying their best to interact with us.
Don't worry about the slang, you will understand what the lecturer say :)

Lecture theatre in Stoddart

Discussion during seminar

The building below is HUBs where I bought my day trip tickets from !
Hallam Union Building of Sheffield ! One of the Sheffield's most iconic building !


The students' union is the heartbeat of life as a student.
HUBs houses :

• student advice centre
• volunteering, sports and societies
• a stylish coffee bar and shop
• Bar phoenix - shows a major sporting events on a massive 20 foot screen ( I watched the Euro Cup 2012 there )

HUBs 

Talking about the Adsetts Centre, the university very own library, the facilities here are superb !!
Booking of the university's facilities can be done online, simple and convenient for students !

There are self study area and group discussion area which can satisfy different needs from the students ! 
I enjoy having discussion in Adsetts Centre, not only that, be it self study moment, internet surfing, etc.

The internet connection there is superb ! Not only in Adsetts Centre, the free WIFI around the university is SUPERB too, with great speed and stable connection.
Unlike the free WIFI back in TARC.
I enjoy the stable and fast internet using my smartphone here !
Really love the internet connection !! ♥

Besides that, printing machines can be found in every floor of the library and this makes our life easier too when we want to print our assignments/notes.

Furthermore, food is ALLOWABLE in the library !
There is chef hallam in Adsetts Centre. You can bring your own lunch box there too !
Enjoy your lunch/tea while studying, this give you extra enery and keep you going !
But make sure you clean up everything and don't leave any rubbish there :)

In the university, there is a wide varieties of sport facilities in Club Hallam for the students to work out. 
There is badminton/table tennis too !

Student health centre functioned like a clinic. 
The medical team there offers a range of medical services including health checks, repeat medication, diabetes management, vaccinations and minor surgery. 

So, if we have allergies or feel ill, we can always consult the GP in the student health centre for FREE, but we need to buy the prescribed medicines in local pharmacies.

There are way more facilities provided by SHU.
Read more about SHU here





♥ Weather in Sheffield ♥

You have to get used to the weather here !
The weather in UK can be unpredictable sometime.
A moment ago, the sky still bright and shine... but a moment later, it may starts to drizzle or even rain (Umbrella is an essential tool when you go out here)
Hence, BBC weather forecast is very useful during your stay here !

The SUMMER in UK

Still remember that the first day we arrived, it was just 10 degree celcius !
10 degree celcius during summer ! haha ! Very very cold and we were shivering while moving our luggage !
However, it turns to be a REAL SUMMER during mid of July till August. 
It is hot and there is no fan in our room :( quite stuffy
A walk around the compound may help :)

The sky will be bright early in the morning like 430am and only get dark at 9pm or 10pm during summer. You may not used to it as the sky still bright while you are having your dinner already. 
The summer here doesn't mean that you get sunshine and warmth for the whole day, you will feel cold when the wind blows !

The AUTUMN in UK

The weather now starting to get colder.. Just like the first day we arrived !
It can be 7 degree celcius at night !!! Wow !! 
Enjoy the cold before you go back to Malaysia :)
Extra layers of clothing may be required to keep yourself warm !

The sky starts to turn dark around 730pm.


So good to be here. 
You get to experience 2 seasons out of 4 seasons :)






♥ Things to bring/not to bring from Malaysia ♥

As a student, we only have 40kg bag allowance.
Hence, be wise in choosing what you are going to bring here ! :)


Things not to bring / not to bring so much of it :

• Rice (Available at Aldi/Asda for £0.40 per kg)
• Electrical appliances (Provided by student accommodation)
• Biscuits/Chocolates/Butter/Bread (Selling at an affordable price. You can get 3 packs of Bueno for  £1 here)
• Shampoo/Shower Cream (They are selling at affordable prices i.e Loreal Paris Conditioner for  £1.50 during sale... *Unless you are used to your very own brand of shampoo/shower cream which is very hard to find in other countries*)
• Chili sauce, Ketchup, Pasta Sauce (Priced around  £1 -  £1.50)
• Tooth paste (Colgate toothpaste priced at  £1 -  £1.50)

*Not to bring too many clothes here :)*


Things to bring :

• MILO/COFFEE/NESTUM (The taste and flavours maybe different from Malaysia)
• Garlic (So expensive here ! 3 or 4 garlics for  £1)
• Contact lens solution (Bring more to last for 3++ months as it is quite expensive here)
• Skin Care/Cosmetics (Although there are quite a lot of cosmetics brand here but they might not suit our Asian's skin)
• Pens/Liquid paper/Highlighter (Bring some from Malaysia as the stationeries here may not be the one you are familiar with)
• Papers/A4 papers (Can be expensive here compared to Malaysia)
• Instant Noodles (May be expensive and I couldn't accept the taste of the local instant noodles. Still prefer Maggie Mee, Shin Ramen, etc)
• Seasonings such as Bak Kut Teh, Curry Paste, Tom Yam Paste, Chinese Herbal Soup Packet (Hard to find here. You are gonna miss the taste !)
• Enough cash in Pounds Sterling (You are gonna wait for 1-2 weeks to get your bank account ready)

So glad that I am given the chance to study here, to experience the difference in cultures, foods, perspective, learning approaches !
This is the time where I learnt how to be independent !
Walk/cycle to school, cook own lunch and dinner, wash clothes and many more !
It is once in a lifetime experience !

You have to experience it yourself !!

No regrets for coming here (SHU) to pursue my degree !
I love SHU and I love Charlotte Court !
I love everything here ♥

I know I am gonna miss Sheffield :)