5 tips from an international student at Essex Business School

Studying BSc Finance and Management at Essex Business School as an international student has been a thrilling experience. Being the first member of my family to go in to higher education opened the door to a new world of challenges and opportunities that I had to face.

At 19 years old arriving in the UK from Italy, I didn’t speak much English and had little confidence in myself. After my fourth year, I can see how far I have come and I am ready to take on all the challenges life might throw at me.

Overall, my experience at Essex Business School has been transformative and equipped me with the knowledge, experience, and skills to thrive in a constantly fluctuating world.

Therefore, I would like to give both prospective and current students some “big sister” tips that I wish someone would have given me before starting university.

Ask for help if you need it

University is an amazing journey that requires a lot of emotional effort. It Is common to feel homesick or lost but don’t struggle on your own.

Going to university gives you the chance to mature and self-grow, and the first step for self-improvement is realising your strengths and weaknesses and asking for help when you need it! There are many resources available to you, including;

• Your professors


• Other students


• Your personal tutor


• The Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service


• And the EBS learning team

I myself work as a math and finance peer mentor for the EBS learning team. My personal experience led me to want to help others who might also need some support. For example, as an international student during my first year, I struggled to understand lecture content and I was not good in maths high school. It is for this reason that I decided to become a peer mentor (plus it is a good way to earn some extra money!).

Get familiar with your resources 

You are going to hear this piece of advice multiple times, but that’s because it is extremely important. How can you ask for help without knowing what is available for you? It is really important that by the end of your first year the majority of your professors know you by name. Do not forget that they will be the ones writing your references when you apply for jobs and/or a masters!

Similarly, it is important to get to know the learning team staff and familiarise yourself with the EBS student services team as they are the ones you go to when you need academic help. Essex Business School is the largest department at the University of Essex which makes it easier to get the support you need, as we have our own team!

Find a part-time job on campus

There are many reasons why you should consider finding a part-time job whilst completing your studies. For example;

• Adding to your CV


• Earning some pocket money


• Start networking


• And have fun and meet new people!

There are a wide range of job opportunities available on campus.

I have been lucky enough to get three part-times jobs on campus; Senior Student Ambassador, Finance Mentor, and Marketing Ambassador for the business school. Deciding to work while studying has been one of the best decisions I made so far as it helps me keep a balanced schedule and avoid procrastination.

My Senior Student Ambassador role gave me the chance to collaborate with the Outreach Team, the Marketing Team, and Event Essex. This job has helped me to become a people person and inspired me to pursue a marketing career. My second job was as a math and finance peer mentor. This role helped me to enhance my finance and maths skills and develop leadership skills. Lastly, I secured a role as a Marketing Ambassador for Essex Business School which was an extremely valuable experience and helped me realise that my dream is to work in this field and perhaps one day have my own marketing company.

Give yourself some time and credit

Being an ambitious person has always been my biggest strength and weakness. If I could give 2019 Martina some advice it would be to stop trying to do everything and take a deep breath. Going to university is challenging and a big transition. Everyone acclimates in their own time to university, and you always need time to self-reflect and adjust to your new environment. I wish I could tell myself that I didn’t need to achieve a first in every module to be a good student and that I didn’t need to take on lots of extracurriculars to be productive. Balance is the key; talking from experience, academic validation is NEVER worth sacrificing your mental health.

Find your happy place

I never felt part of something before coming to Essex and in the beginning as an international student I used to feel homesick almost every day. But my luck turned around when I met three of my closest friends that made me feel at home in no time.

Living on campus during your first year is a great way to get settled and to find your own space and people that make you feel supported. Students can find their happy place in societies, accommodation, their lectures, and even on public transportations. It is important to start networking, find your friends, passions, and activities that make you feel at home. It is even more Important to leave those that do not align with your values and do not make you feel valued behind!