Hi Guys! My name is Ye Chit Oo, and I am from Myanmar (Burma). I am currently studying at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as a full-time international student. I recently studied at the University of Leeds for 2-week as part of the Leeds International Summer School (LISS). I was able to apply this through Global Short Programs from UTS. I chose to study the Business and Cultural Awareness: Bridging the Gap module. My lecturer was Dr Gideon Azumah, and his lectures were engaging and interesting. I decided to study at Leeds as it is one of my dreams to study there, and I want to explore more about the culture, visit London simultaneously and go out of my comfort zone. These are a whole new experience to me.
It was fascinating. The program staffs are amicable, and the program is engaging. As the borders have reopened, students come from around the world, and the course I chose met more than my expectation. I was able to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and was able to exchange thoughts. The LISS schedule is excellent as well. There are many activities for socialising and exploring places near Leeds. I am sure it will be more fun for 4-week students. I participated in activities that LISS arranged as much as possible as they were engaging and interesting. As part of the module, we went on company visits contributing to the subject.
The accommodation at the University of Leeds is reasonable. I got my bedroom with a shared bathroom and communal area (kitchen). It was not bad. They also offer bed sheets, blankets, towels and soaps. The program is all-inclusive except for dinners and weekends; they offer breakfast and lunch. The meals are not bad; you can choose from various things. And yes, sometimes you might want to eat something different, do not forget that you can use UberEATS. For transportation, you can use your credit/debit cards, especially Visa and Master contactless cards, ApplePay, SamsungPay and GoogleWallet. You can use the Circuit app for the laundry, so download it on the App Store or GooglePlay Store. You have to top up 5 pounds; you can use credit/debit cards and PayPal to top up. They do not provide laundry detergents, so buy one at Co-op, the nearest store to the accommodation. Beware that there is no laundry bags or baskets; for me, I use the food box I received at check-in to carry clothes. You can join Eduroam using your university email and password for internet access. If you already have joined Eduroam at your home university, you can join quickly without needing to reconfigure.
On the arrival day, they gave all the essential things during check-in. The meal card, room key purple lanyard to identify as LISS Student and the sim card. They also offered a box full of foods to cover 1-2 days for convenience. There may be a waiting time to check in, but not too long as there are many students. So, prepare not to be disappointed if you travel a long way to get there. There is a Co-op on campus at Student Union; you can buy groceries there, do not forget to use the membership card if you will be staying there for a long time. Be aware that Co-op closes on weekends. There are other shops around the campus around the Parkinson building. Do not forget to fill in the information for the student identity check when you arrive. Do not forget that you have to upload a photo for the student card. You can collect it when it is ready; when collecting, bring your passport with you. It will be at Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building. You also get access to the gym for a month as LISS Student.
I must choose London Heathrow Airport because I cannot get air tickets to Manchester Airport or Leeds Bradford Airport. You can buy the train tickets in advance for convenience, but I would not recommend that as sometimes the flights can be delayed. There is a student discount for trains on Unidays, but it is available for UK students only. So, if you are already a member of Unidays from other than the UK, you will not be able to get that. One thing you can do is you can change the region by requesting and registering under Uni of Leeds. You can use the Uni of Leeds email to sign up if you have not signed up. As I am only here for two weeks, that is a bit of work I must do so I did not do that. I bought the tickets in advance for return as it is cheaper. You can also get $5 off if you sign up at London North Eastern Railway (LNER). It is worth doing as we are students, cheaper the best. Of course, if you arrive at Leeds Bradford Airport or Manchester Airport, you can request complimentary airport pickup from the Uni of Leeds.
One thing I found challenging is that as people come from diverse backgrounds, it is essential to know Dos and Don’ts. Also, beware of the UK culture. People in the UK do not talk on transportation, especially the underground. I do not know why. It is the most awkward situation for me. Note that there is no service/reception at underground. I would learn from my mistakes to make a better me.
I shared many things here from my experience. It will be handy if you plan to study at the University of Leeds. Overall, LISS is an excellent opportunity to explore while learning and get many experiences useful for daily and workplaces.
I wish you all the best in your future studies,
Ye Chit Oo
Leeds Uni Bound 