We sat down with Ashley, a recent high school graduate from the Philippines, and discussed how she was able to fly to the United Kingdom to pursue her bachelor's degree.

IDP: Why did you want to study abroad?

Ashley: In 2017 and 2019, I was lucky enough to be granted opportunities to take summer dance courses in the USA. After stepping out of my comfort zone and learning how to be more responsible and independent, that was when I decided I wanted to pursue my studies abroad.

IDP: Why did you choose the United Kingdom as your study destination?

Ashley: I chose the United Kingdom because I wanted to explore a country that was new to me. I also wanted to pick a country where I had some family nearby in case of any emergency. I have a few relatives around the UK and cousins who are going to different universities around England. I also love how it is so easy to get around. I have learned how to use the trains and buses, and use this as my main form of transportation, as it is very convenient and inexpensive.

IDP: How did you choose your course and school?

Ashley: I have always loved traveling to urban cities around the world. This was mainly why I chose to go to the University of Birmingham, a school located in the second biggest city in the United Kingdom. Before applying, I also wanted to look into a school that consisted of student groups or organizations. These are known as "societies" in the UK, and the University of Birmingham has over 500 student-led societies! I got to sign up for some of these during welcome week and have met a few of my closest friends through society events.

IDP: What was the most challenging part of the application process, and how did IDP help you with this?

Ashley: The most difficult part for me was the visa application, as I am a Filipino citizen and was required to have a UK student visa. IDP helped me by giving me a checklist of documents I would need to prepare for my application. This made it easy for me to gather and organize everything before sending in my application.

Whenever I had questions regarding my application and study options, IDP would be there to answer them. We would often set up Zoom calls that guided me in picking the right school and assisting me with whatever inquiries I or my parents had.

IDP: Despite all the requirements needed, do you think it's worth it to study abroad during the pandemic?

Ashley: Oh yes! In my opinion, it is certainly worth it to study abroad during the pandemic. Life here is so different, and I've already learned and gone through so much in the month I've been here. Although, I do have to be as safe and careful as possible, as I will have to be responsible for myself if I do get sick. In terms of the requirements needed, I did not have a hard time at all since IDP helped me prepare everything ahead of time.

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IDP: Please share your quarantine experience and what it's like to travel to the UK during a pandemic.

Ashley: As for the flight coming here, I flew with KLM, which offered a student promotion. When I arrived at Birmingham Airport, my bags were already set aside for me since that was the system for those required to quarantine. All the airport staff were accommodating and made my travel journey less stressful than I thought it would be.

Coming from the Philippines, a red list country, I was required to do the 10-day hotel quarantine. As of now, the Philippines is no longer on the red list, and the restrictions have eased. Many people would think that doing the quarantine would be a hassle and a waste of time, but I tried my best to look at the brighter side. Being in quarantine helped me get over jet lag. I also got the time to do shopping for my household items, set up my sim card, and other last-minute preparations before I officially moved in and began university.

IDP: What are your plans after graduating? Are you planning to continue your career there?

Ashley: If I get the opportunity, I would love to get a job over here before returning to my home country. But if I do go back to the Philippines, I would then like to apply for jobs and gain some work experience before possibly opening my own business.

IDP: What advice can you give to people who are interested but afraid of studying abroad, especially in a pandemic?

Ashley: I would suggest studying abroad as soon as one could get the opportunity to. There are no better words to explain it other than a life-changing experience. As I said earlier, you learn so much both in academics and life. In terms of studying abroad during the pandemic, we may not know if and when this will end. At the moment, I think it may be best to live through the circumstances and adapt rather than delaying goals and opportunities.

If you're keen to study abroad, IDP is here to assist you every step of the way. Just fill out our inquiry form to get started!