My time at Manchester is coming to a close. It is an experience that I will never forget, and one that I will look back on fondly. I love that I will always have a place to visit that felt like home for me, as short as that time may have been. As I reflected on the past year, I made a list of five things that made my time at Manchester a wonderful experience. That’s what I want to share with you for my last student blog.
My top 5 favourite things about my experience at the University of Manchester:
1. A Great Travel Hub
I would be lying if I didn’t put visiting places outside of Manchester on this list. Living in Manchester gave me opportunities to visit several European countries on a low budget. Manchester airport flies direct to most locations you can think of and for an affordable rate. Think $30 round-trip tickets to Dublin or $100 to Barcelona. Keep a lookout for deals when you have a long weekend or break. Travelling with your peers will be some of the best memories you make.
2. Living in the City
Living in Manchester was the first time I had lived in a city for any significant amount of time. I will miss the many study spots in cafes throughout the Northern Corner, the big city events (especially during Christmas), the availability to theatres, concert halls, and sports arenas, the ease of getting a slice of pizza or another quick bite, and the quick walk to campus. All of this and at a much cheaper price than London. Plus, it’s only a four-hour bus ride or a two-hour train ride to London when you really want to hit the town.
3. University Values
I am continually impressed with the values that the University of Manchester has and their effort to uphold and meet them. The staff and directors care about the students and their opinions. More than once they took our opinions into consideration and subsequently took action. I love the commitment the university has to sustainability issues and equality as well. None of these values take away from the goal of creating a well-informed, highly educated group of students. They are student-focused, and it shows. I will proudly wear my purple university gear wherever life takes me.
4. Diversity
Diversity was a main reason I chose this city, this university, and this program. It did not disappoint. Chinatown was just a five-minute walk from where I lived, and Curry Mile was only ten minutes away. I had some fantastic Thai, English, and Italian cuisine as well.
Our cohort was just over 90 students and we had over 25 nationalities represented. This was one of my favourite aspects of my educational experience. Working and learning with and from individuals from around the world added just as much as the content we studied.
5. The Relationships
I saved the best for last. Between the students I met in my program and those I got to know from student union activities or sports teams, I will have some friends for life. I have mentioned some of my interactions with students in other blogs, and I can’t emphasise enough how much I appreciated the comradery of these people from day one. You will find wonderful friends in Manchester.
I’ve had a great time at Manchester and loved writing these few blogs. If you have the opportunity to do so, I highly recommend it. Reach out to me anytime if you have any questions about the university or just want to reminisce about your experience as a student. Manchester is a city you will love, come rain or, well…rain.
