In September 2020, Rahul left his family and his life in India behind to make the most of the opportunity they had provided him with. Having wanted to study abroad for over five years, he felt entirely responsible and motivated to succeed. We spoke to him about how his university experiences in India and the UK have shaped him as a person.

By Lauren Valentine

• Name: Rahul

• Comes from: Bangalore, India

• University: Anglia Ruskin University

• Studying: MSc Accounting and Finance

• Words to live by: “Believe in yourself, do the right thing and keep your purpose in mind.”

How university might help to find your focus…

Can you tell us about your first degree in India?

“Before I came to the UK, I did a BA in Business Administration and it completely changed me. Now only was the course fascinating, but I learned so much about myself and about life. It was like a milestone for me: I discovered who I was and where I was going. I knew exactly what I wanted to do after that and decided to just focus on my close ones and myself.”

Do you believe you’ll continue to change throughout your Master’s?

“Definitely! Coming to the UK was a big step for me as I had to leave a lot of my responsibilities to my parents and siblings.  Equally, I had to do everything they used to do for me: I’d never cooked before! I don’t tend to look at recipes now; I just imagine how it should be or how I’ve seen my mum do it. My favourite thing to make is a vegetable biryani!

For me, it’s made me consider how to stay productive. How can I make sure I’m learning every single day? I make a to-do list every day and set weekly reminders to complete tasks so that I never forget to do anything. Before, I was really shy too and used to hesitate to talk to people. Now, after exposing myself to several situations, I don’t think twice before asking people for help.”

Studying MSc Accounting and Finance and planning a placement year…

What do you like about studying Accounting and Finance at ARU?

“I really enjoy this course as I’ve got a good connection with numbers, which I’ve had since childhood. One of my favourite modules now is UK Taxation. I just love the numbers and the content is great! Although it can be difficult for those who aren’t that interested in numbers, I find it quite easy because it’s so engaging. The university is wonderful too: I had all of the course information and knew exactly what I was getting myself into. They’re also trying hard to make things seem normal, as they would have been before the pandemic.”

Is there anything you’ve found challenging so far?

“Well, of course things would be much better without the pandemic. You come to university to build up your contacts and expose yourself to opportunities, but I’m not able to do much of that right now. I love my on-campus classes but there are only around 15 people in my class, which surprised me as it’s quite a low margin for interaction. But, it all depends on how you take the opportunities! The staff and faculty have been great.”

Your course has a placement component – have you started planning for this?

“I won’t actually be on placement until next year, so for now I’m just trying to enhance my CV. I’m also trying to build on my skills to put me in the best position to secure a placement. With my current visa, I can work part time, but after this year, I’ll be able to do a fulltime job for my placement year. I’m going to look within the accounting field to suit my interests. If you go for what you’re passionate about, you’ll be more dedicated.”

Sound advice and where to seek support…

Where do you look for support outside of your studies?

“I get a lot of help from my landlord and friends over here, both mental and material. Luckily, I have some friends from last year’s intake who know the area well and know how things are done here. They never let me feel lonely either! I knew one of them from back home and she introduced me to the rest. It’s good to meet people through mutual friends.”

What would your advice to potential applicants be?

“Get as much information from trustworthy sources: the university, current students, fellow applicants. Find out about people’s experiences but, ultimately, do what’s right for you. As much as short-term decisions might be easier to make, you’ve got to think about the long-term benefits. For example, when thinking about my placement, it would be easy to opt for one with a high salary. However, the skills you can develop over here are much more important for the future.”

Once he’s finished his course, Rahul is hoping to complete the ACCA. “With the government’s two-year post-study work visa, I’ll be able to gain plenty of experience in the UK.” He’s also delighted to have taken the plunge into studying in the UK: “Once you’re capable of being alone, you can survive anywhere!”

To find out more about Rahul, connect with him on LinkedIn.