My Study Experience in UK
LSOM 2nd semester,  Wenliang Ma
 
I was super lucky to get the chance studying aboard as an exchange student. In China, due to the large number of students, only few of them are possible to get the opportunity. As a foreign student in South Korea, I really feel it is so kind of Korea University Business School that it gave me such a wonderful chance, enabling me to learn, to experience, to grow in a developed western country—United Kingdom.

 Actually, when I first arrived in Southampton—a big harbor city located at south part of UK, I felt a little disappointed. The city is not as beautiful as I thought. My eyes were filled with narrow roads, rows of trees, chunks of grass and elegant villas—not beautiful enough, but still own special charms. I lived in a rented house with other 3 Chinese students nearby the university. On the second day after I arrived, my friend showed me around the university. Walking in the campus, I began missing those majestic white buildings in KU. Because all the buildings there are very old and not high, only by outward appearance, KU is too much better than Southampton Uni. My favorite part of the campus is grass. Although it was winter, grass keeps green. In front of the library, many western students were reading sitting on the grass. The university does not have a real gate. It is consisted of fragments of roads, buildings and dormitories. The campus is not very large and it only took me 40 minutes to visit around.

Now I will talk about my study experience there. In management school, every lecture lasts for 4 hours and all the lectures only last for 6 weeks. When I entered a classroom to have my first lecture, my mouth opened largely as a big “O”. About 150 students were sitting inside. In KU, the largest lecture I attended in graduated school has 10 students. It is impossible for professors to pay attention on individuals, not to mention asking students’ questions. As to this point, I think education style in KU is better. Smaller classes bring in high concentration and high efficiency. Moreover, 6 weeks of lectures seem too short. It is like spoon-feeding education—feed students food as much as they can at one time, careless of results. The professor just kept talking and talking regardless of students’ reactions. As a UK local friend told me: “education in UK, especially graduated school education, only owns its good reputation.”


The good point of education, from my viewpoint, is the interaction between professor and students. Unlike Asian students, western students are never hesitated to put forward their ideas and argue with professor.  Professors are also very friendly to students. They talk research questions with students on lectures, always kindly and patiently. Unlike the situation in KU, students commonly feel there are a high wall between them and their professors. At this point, lectures in Southampton University are more relaxed and active.

Coursework was not as much as that of KUBS, however, more strict. Western countries value integrity highly. An “un-cited paragraph” may lead to an “F” in final grading. Since course process is too fast, coursework and examination mainly rely on self-learning. Of course, if you encounter any questions, you can refer to professors with no pressure. During exam period, the library is always full of people, most of them, are Asians. Comparing to examination grades, I feel that western students attach more importance on group works and creative ideas. 

  To summarize, KUBS is worthy its reputation--the first-ranked business school in Asia. I feel the knowledge I learned in KU is more useful for further study.
Done with study experience, I want to talk something about livings in UK. It took me a while to adjust to humid weather at first. It kept raining during first few weeks after I arrived. It is worthy mention that I become a good cook in UK. Because traditional food there is greasy and expensive, I had no choice but making food by myself. I personally think it is a very good skill. People I met in the UK are all very friendly. They are always ready to help others. When I talk with them, no matter how slowly and badly I talk in English, they always wear big smile on their faces. In fact, after I arrived in China, I felt very hard to adjust to bad attitudes of people and dirty airs. You seldom see entertainment places like 노래방 in UK, because the only place people interested in is BAR. On Friday midnight, all the bars are full of people, they danced and drank, trying to release stress piled during the whole week. It is their culture, crazy and opened.

5 months’ life in UK is pleased and relaxed. I believe the experience will become precious treasure of my life. Now, staying in the office in Beijing, China, I miss the blue sky, green grass and friendly people in UK very much. UK, bye~ Someday, maybe I will get another chance to get closed to you again, with different moods and looks. See you then!

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