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Studying Esports in the UK

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

The UK has had a long history of being a culturally important center for both sports and the games industry, and esports serves as a point in history where these two historical strengths are being brought into alignment. It is the home of both professional esports teams (Excel and Fnatic) and grassroot organizations such as the NUEL (National University Esports League) and NSE (National Student Esports) as well as events such as ESL UK, Gfinity, and Epic.LAN.

 

Many technology and service providers are contributing to a growing industry that UK esports courses are increasingly serving as routes to careers in the esports industry. The UK esports sector has grown at an annual average rate of 8.5% between 2016 and 2019, and the sector supported over 1,200 jobs in 2019 representing just under 8% of the global market. With major global esports event potentially generating 238 full-time equivalents (FTEs) of employment and £12 million pounds in GVA for the UK economy (UKIE, 2019), it is becoming an increasingly attractive context in which to study esports in the West.

 

While America is known for its strong and pervasive sporting culture, the UK has recently become a burgeoning point for the European esports scene and now acts as a global bridge to European scenes and events. Academically, the focus of courses in the UK is more varied and considers more of the general context than just the business and collegiate athleticism of esports. In terms of production, esports are still finding their feet in terms of the broadcasting frame they have adopted. Students would benefit from understanding the ways in which this might differ from the dominant American sports broadcast frame.

 

American students might consider the UK as an excellent chance to study abroad in the UK system which provide modules (or classes) that consider a granular but highly interdisciplinary context for esports. Falmouth University’s Games Academy is a world class school for learning about games and esports and is one of the few esports courses in Europe situated within a department dedicated to games and computing teaching and research. Our aim is to focus on how esports students can work with pre-existing grassroots organizations within and outside of the University. Beyond esports, the course focuses on the practical and technical production skills for live-streaming in other contexts such as data science, new media branding, as well as marketing and financial management. It is anticipated that the course will serve to be at the forefront of how live-streaming might inform the practice of game developers, entertainers, media producers and whatever else the future holds.

 

Rory Summerley is a games studies researcher at Falmouth University who has written and lectured on a diverse range of games-related topics. He has previously worked as a games critic, game design consultant and performance artist and his research interests include e-sports, game fiction and parody.

Study Creative Writing in the UK | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Why study creative writing in the UK? (And why Falmouth University in particular?)

 

If you’re looking ahead to university and considering what you might want to study, and where, you might not have considered creative writing as a major yet. That’s not surprising: it’s not usually taught as a separate academic subject in secondary schools (high school). It’s usually taught as part of your language studies, which for many US students means it’s a (fun, one hopes) component of English class if that is the language of instruction. Let’s take a look at how it’s taught, how it’s taught in British universities, and what’s unique about our program(s) at Falmouth.

 

Maybe you’ve heard the myth that creative writing can’t be taught. Of course it can be, but how does it actually work? The workshop is the basic model of creative writing instruction at universities. The goal of the workshop is to recreate for the student writer how a reader will react to their work. In the real world the author isn’t there to explain their intentions. The written text has to stand on its own. Thus, in the workshop, the students will be guided through a peer-review process—sometimes a very intensive one—to offer feedback. Typically, only one or two students will have their work critiqued in a given session; the instructor will set up a rota or schedule for that. This is done in a focused way, often paired with readings in order to highlight specific skills and techniques, and to assess how well the student writer has utilized them. These may include story or poem structure, different literary forms, language mechanics (grammar, sentence structure, punctuation), description, character development, genre, dialogue, and much more. Does the story make sense, or does it contradict itself? Is it immersive, or is it just a casual, bare-bones telling of what happened? Are there gaps in the logic? Are the sentences clear and well constructed? Or is the writer trying too hard to write Really Beautiful Prose?

 

The biggest difference between UK and US programs, other than duration (3 years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland vs 4 years in the US), is the British focus on industry and outcomes. Although both countries are broadly similar in their methodologies, Britain’s universities have a legal mandate to look at employment applicability. (This is why every UK university program website you look at will have some text telling you how the course might be useful preparation for certain types of jobs.) With this in mind, the classes (modules) comprising the degree will focus on craft and on readings, but there will also be coverage of, for example, the publishing industry and how it works. Like the US, many UK writing programs host literary journals and events, but the UK arguably has a stronger reading culture. Literature is still more valued here, and there is more visible government support for the arts in general. Moreover, the UK’s relative compactness means that literary events, festivals, and so forth are unlikely to be too far away.

 

Why Falmouth University, then? Despite being an arts university, Falmouth also has a strong culture of entrepreneurship. Our creative writing programs feature two modules on the publishing industry during year one, and another module focuses on the practicalities of being a writer. This means you will finish the year knowing how to select appropriate markets for your work, how to submit it, and how the publishing industry actually works—from the manuscript stage through to the printed book or the online literary journal you might read. There is the expected focus on craft, but you’ll also graduate knowing what to do with it.

 

A secondary benefit is the size of the program: it’s just large enough to allow us to run choices of modules, and it’s large enough for students to find their own groups of friends, but it’s small enough that the lecturers are able to offer 1:1 support and guidance. Everyone on the faculty is also a working writer, and a few also run (or have run) presses. Also, the Woodlane campus (now known as the Falmouth campus where the program is housed) is ridiculously pretty and six blocks from the beach. There’s the Lighthouse, a comfortable lounge and events space where students can hang out and work between classes—and, crucially, form community. Falmouth is unique among UK universities in that it has its own personality and guiding philosophy, and it isn’t afraid to do its own thing. If you’d like to know more about the program, please get in touch. Someone from the department would be more than happy to have a chat with you.

 

Dr. Marshall Moore is Course Leader (BA Hons, English & Creative Writing) and Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication at Falmouth University. He holds an MA in applied linguistics from the University of New England (Australia) and a PhD in creative writing from Aberystwyth University. His research interests include the pedagogy of creative writing and the disconnects between the academy and the publishing trade. Recent and forthcoming books include two academic collections: The Place and the Writer: International Intersections of Teacher Lore and Creative Writing Pedagogy (Bloomsbury, 2021) and Creative Writing Scholars on the Publishing Trade: Practice, Praxis, Print (Routledge, 2022). His memoir I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing will be published by Rebel Satori Press in 2022.

5 Things US Students Should Expect | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Not only is applying to university a big step but applying to a UK university is a larger one! You need to navigate the different admissions processes, obtain your visa and book a flight. Once you’ve hurdled all these steps and you’re done, what should you can you expect when you start this new, exciting life?

 

1. Flatmates vs. Roommates

Many UK universities offer students accommodation where they will have their own bedroom.  This means you do not have to worry whether or not you will vibe well with a roommate. Some university accommodations will even have an en-suite option where you will get your own bathroom with toilet and shower! That being said, instead of roommates you will have flatmates. Each flat may be compromised of 5-7 other students that you will share a kitchen and possible sitting room with. Therefore, it is important to understand boundaries and not make too much noise in the hallways.

 

2. Three Year Degrees

Most UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) courses are very subject focused, meaning that if you are studying a history degree you won’t be expected to take any math classes. Due to the lack of general education requirements UK degrees are only three years, rather than the 4 years you may be familiar with in the USA. If you wish to take classes outside of your chosen major many universities will have classes open for the public that students can take for free or at a reduced rate.

 

3. Takeaway, Meal Plans, Kitchens and More

You may be used to the concept of meal plans as many US universities require first year students to take out a meal plan. While available, they are not as common at UK universities. This is due to students having access to a kitchen in their accommodation. This allows you to start cook your own meals at your own time. If you don’t want to cook, no problem! The UK has a variety of places to order delivery, or takeaway, as it’s referred to here. Most universities will also have a variety of cafes, food halls or more to help ease the rumble in your stomach.

 

4. No Grades for Attendance

Academics works a bit different in the UK than it does in the US. For one, there are less things that you will be graded over. In the US you might expect to have 10% of your grade for attendance, 20% for participation, 20% for homework, 50% for exams or tests. In the UK many courses, or modules, will only grade you on your submitted work or seated exams. So, if you have 2 essays and one exam, your essays may be worth 25% each and your exam for 50% of your grade! While daunting, many departments will help to prepare you for each of your assignments and you will receive a personal tutor, similar to a US advisor, who can help answer any questions you may have.

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Another thing to prepare for is the grading scale. For an undergraduate course a failure is below 40% and below 50% for a postgraduate degree. You can then get an undergraduate degree that is labelled as a third-class degree (40-50%), 2.2 degree (50-60%), 2.1 degree (60-70%) or a first degree (anything over 70%).

 

5. Hundreds of Societies

Students in the UK are able to join a variety of societies that cater to their interests. This can range from sport societies, such as rugby, soccer and American football, to specific societies that relate to your course, hobbies, politics, beliefs and more! Most of these societies will allow you to go to the first meeting free of charge before you are expected to pay a smaller membership fee that goes to the students Union.

 

The students union is a common concept in the UK and is there to work or the student. They help to raise awareness of student issues at the university and work on improving student satisfaction. The students union will have a variety of student-elected full-time officers that serve as the student voice on campus. They may hold positions that focus on wellbeing, student opportunities, societies and more. The students union will also hold events on campus and hosts a variety of welcome activities during the first week of term to help introduce new students to student life.

 

Jackie Jarocki is a Regional Officer at Aberystwyth University. Jackie is a former international student from the USA who came to study in the UK in 2018 and never left! She has been working in the UK Higher Education in international student recruitment since 2019.

Predicted Grades and UCAS Application | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Yay, you’ve completed your UCAS Application! The next step will require your counselor or teacher to supply predicted grades for you IB, AP, or other exams. You may be wondering: What is the best way to approach this? Will submitting the wrong grade hinder your chance of acceptance? We asked Ashley Warmington from University of Glasgow to help us understand this process.

 

Before we begin, it’s important to understand a major differences between US and UK secondary education. In high school, which is called ‘college’ in the UK, there are no GPAs or transcripts. Instead, students work towards exams called A-levels or Higher’s (Scotland) taken in May or June at the completion of their course. Students use scores they receive on quarterly practice tests to estimate the grade they will receive on their final exam. This is the predicted grade.

 

Often US teachers or counselors do not know how to calculate a predicted grade and are afraid they may be held accountable if they guess incorrectly. This is not the case. When approaching the predicted grade, think of it as the University asking you if the student is likely to meet the academic requirements. Using the mid-year transcript or a first semester progress report is a great way to estimate a final grade. We recommend that the teacher try and answer as honestly as possible based on the student’s previous coursework, but also keep in mind what the university’s minimum entry requirements are.

 

With all this in mind, we can see why the UK admissions process is historically test-focused. US applicants either appreciate the transparency (get the grades and you’re in, fall below and you aren’t) or fear it. It isn’t a perfect system, but one of the silver linings of the pandemic has been more and more UK institutions offering a flexible and holistic review process for US applications.

 

I hope that clarifying the UK grading/testing system helps you to understand the UK application/admissions process a bit better. As always, we recommend reaching out to a UK university representative if you are unsure. You can always find helpful articles on our website, The UK Study Expert or UCAS.

 

Ashley Warmington is the Senior International Officer for western USA at the University of Glasgow. Ashley studied her undergraduate degree in Scotland and has worked in UK admissions since 2016. She is now based in Southern California, where she helps American students through the UK application process.

 

 

Should You Consider a Foundation Year?

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Foundation years are something that are often overlooked in the UK university system, but provide benefits to certain students. There are typically two different types of foundation years in the UK.

 

The first is aimed at those who need some assistance with English before undertaking a full degree. This is called international foundation. We wouldn’t recommend this to US students since their first language is English. The second is a different type of foundation year, that students might take for a number of different reasons, and it is this one that would be most relevant to students from the US.

 

Foundation year is a preparatory pathway taken prior to starting a three-year degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are in broad subject areas, which will allow you to progress into a more specialized area. For example, at University of Sussex, our foundation year in Business, Management and Economics will allow students to progress into any of our 3-year degrees in the University of Sussex Business School.

 

So why take a foundation year?

A foundation year can be taken for a number of different reasons. As you start to research English universities, you’ll see that undergraduate degrees are in specialized areas (and start in the subject from day 1; we don’t have general education classes in our system!). But you might not be ready to commit to something that early on, so a Foundation Year can provide you with an intro year in a broad subject area whilst you finalize your choice on the three-year degree.

 

Most English degree programs will have specific academic requirements that you need to meet to be granted a place. This may be AP test scores, SAT/ACT scores, GPA, and we do this to ensure that you’ll be able to manage the workload on your chosen degree. If your test scores aren’t quite matching up, you could also consider a foundation year. There will still be requirements to meet (again to ensure that you can work at the foundation year level which is higher than high school), but they tend to be lower than the requirements for the degree, and give you that chance to bridge the gap between high school and first year of university.

 

Think of it like a final year top-up or attending community college in the US: It’s a great option if your grades aren’t strong enough to get into the school of your choice and you want to improve your academic skills. The foundation year gives you that option but you won’t be taking general education classes. Instead, you will be developing your subject knowledge before starting your bachelor’s degree.

 

You may also want to consider a foundation year if you’re rethinking your educational path, or if you’re coming back to education after a little while out.

 

How can a foundation year benefit me?

Foundations years have the aim of preparing students to be successful in the full degree they progress into. Because of this, you will be learning material specifically aimed to preparing you for a certain subject area – when school may not have done for you! You’ll learn essential skills and knowledge, and be taught by members of your university’s faculty. In fact, you’ll be considered a full member of the university, and get access to all the support services, facilities, and student life experiences that English universities have to offer.

 

What happens next?

Once you have successfully completed your foundation year (each university will have a certain grade they need you to make), you can then progress into one of the 3-year degrees that is in your chosen pathway. For example, the Social Sciences foundation year can lead into degrees in Politics, Law, Sociology, International Relations, Criminology, Geography- just to name a few. At this point, you’ll join the first year of your chosen degree and complete it successfully! And we know that students who have done a foundation year do really well too! At University of Sussex, over 88% of foundation year students went on to achieve the top two grades in their full degree in 2021.

 

Kasia Symons is the International Officer for the Americas at University of Sussex.

Studying Your Graduate Degree in Sheffield | UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

After finishing my undergraduate studies in 2015, I decided to take a break from school and worked full-time for my local government for six years to think about what I wanted to do for my postgraduate studies. During this time, I started to understand how pervasive social injustice is in the United States and around the world. This understanding was greatly enhanced with various crises on national and international stages such as the United States federal government’s response to immigration at the Southern Border, immigration crises around the world, the ramifications of climate change, government instability, war, and more recently, COVID-19.

 

All these crises have made me ask if local, national, and international solutions were available (and if so, what solutions), why such little action continued to be taken, why governments cannot or simply do not effectively work together to seek and implement solutions, and what the roles of local communities and governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and national and international governments should be. Because these questions require an interdisciplinary approach that at the very least incorporates sociology, anthropology, history, and politics, I decided to study International Development.

 

Studying in the UK has been a lifelong dream. I looked at programs all over the country and eventually decided on the University of Sheffield because of my program’s courses as well as the student support. The student support was especially important to me in my postgraduate studies since I was studying internationally.

 

I have since been impressed with all the opportunities that the University offers to students before beginning their studies (through frequent webinars and one-on-one chats with staff and current students) and during their studies (through volunteer, career, and student engagement opportunities, in addition to student well-being support). My program had a week’s worth of welcome activities that introduced me to the university’s support services, my professors, and courses, and this also helped me make friends quickly and thus settle into life in Sheffield faster than I would have otherwise.

 

In addition to my program, I am excited to be taking French classes through the University and am still figuring out what other extracurricular activities that I would like to participate in. There is so much to love about Sheffield. So far, my favorite thing about Sheffield is the beauty. Even on rainy days, there is so much beauty to be found in the greenery of the landscape as well as the city’s architecture. Additionally, people here are so kind and helpful, and I have always felt safe.

 

I do not have any specific plans for when I complete my degree. I love government work and would like to return to that, whether for a local, state, or federal government in the United States or perhaps for the United Nations. I know that I would want to work with policy and/or project management, and that I would like to pursue my PhD at some point. My professors have created an academically rigorous program that prioritizes professional development and exposure to different career options, so with their guidance, I know that I will be prepared for a PhD program and that I will be able to find my career path.

 

Haley Myers grew up in Idaho and is a current student at University of Sheffield. She is studying a Master’s of Public Health in International Development.

 

 

How The UK Study Expert Can Help You

Looking to find your best match UK university? Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy search tool. Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match.

 

Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs. 

 

Top 5 Reasons to Study in the UK | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

When I first announced my plans to come to the UK for university, the general consensus from my family and friends in the US was that they were supportive, but also confused. The idea of me going so far away for school shocked people for many reasons, and I found myself getting the question “but why England?” constantly. Despite the mixed reactions I received, I wouldn’t change anything about my decision to come to University of Sheffield, and here’s why.

 

1. It’s cheaper! (I’m not kidding)

If you’re reading this from the US, especially if you’re a high school student, you know how expensive university in the US can really be. When you think about people who go abroad for school, generally you think about how expensive it must be, but I chose University of Sheffield partially because of how affordable it is! The length of a normal bachelors course in the UK is 3 years, rather than 4 which is a whole year less of tuition! In addition, my tuition in the UK is £19,000/year ($21,000 USD). I ended up getting a merit scholarship from the school so I am only paying £8,800/year ($12,000 USD) for 3 years, which, in my opinion, is incredible considering that going out of state for university in the US generally costs more than $12,000/year.

 

2. You study what you want and ONLY what you want

One of the most refreshing things about the UK education system was that I was finally free from required subjects. Now, of course, there are still mandatory classes within the departments, but the days of taking math, science, and history when all I wanted to do was study philosophy and politics were finally over!

Being at a UK university really allowed me to immerse myself in my selected subjects. While I watched my friends struggle in their required university level physics and algebra classes, I was enjoying the classes I picked for myself, none of which included ANY equations.

 

3. Central location and international community

The UK, being a small island, is an amazing port of travel into Europe and other surrounding areas. Opportunities for travel, and a global perspective were the things that initially prompted me to look abroad for college, and the UK does travel and public transport very well. The train system in the UK is a breath of fresh air for someone who has no interest in driving in England. In addition, domestic and international flights can be found dirt cheap (compared to US prices) and the amazing community of international students allows for meaningful connections and exchanges which ultimately help broaden horizons and build trust and a global community.

 

4. The *aesthetic*

I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t admit that part of why I chose England was the scenery. As a girl from the New Mexico desert, home was a place where greenery was rare and exciting, and rain was almost nonexistent. Because of this, when I arrived in the UK, even small things like seeing fog, forests, moss, etc. made me happy. The whole experience of being a student in England feels like I am permanently living in a cozy autumn movie, which I LOVE. And the green trees, gray skies, and rainy days are all part of that experience.

 

5. A new perspective

There’s nothing like picking up your life and moving to another country where you know no one to give you a new perspective on life. First off, it forces you out of your comfort zone. Everything is a new experience, from grocery shopping to school to trying to understand the man with a thick Yorkshire accent who just said something you couldn’t quite make out. If there’s one thing you can be sure of, choosing to study and/or complete your degree in another country will definitely change you for the better. Your plane ticket comes with a one way ticket to a new lease on life and a new understanding of the world, in my opinion, it’s 100% worth it.

 

Charlotte Flores is a current student at University of Sheffield originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is currently studying BA Politics and Philosophy and plans to graduate in 2022.

 

 

5 Reasons to Study STEM in the UK

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

From Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin to major scientific discoveries such as penicillin and the structure of DNA, and engineering innovations including the steam locomotive, the jet engine and the World Wide Web, the UK has a long and proud history in science and technology. But why might studying a STEM degree in the UK today be a good option?

 

Here’s 5 reasons why it could be an excellent place for you to study a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics:

 

1.     Quality and style of university education

 

For a relatively small island, the UK really punches above its weight when it comes to academic quality. Our universities consistently feature strongly across a range of rankings, including in the QS Subject Rankings for Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Natural Sciences, as well four UK universities placing in the top 10 in the world over-all, and numerous others in the top 100.

 

But rankings are just a small part of the story. UK universities utilize a variety of innovative teaching techniques, designed to encourage independent and critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and self-motivation – all key qualities when it comes to the STEM fields. With access to practical labs, students will be working on real-world problems with many university programmes being designed with industry collaboration and STEM careers in mind.

 

2.     Research powerhouse

 

If you’re considering a degree in STEM, then access to research is often high on the list of priorities. Universities are at the heart of UK STEM research and our academic staff include some of the world’s most renowned scientists, medics, and engineers. The strength of this research has never been more evident than the work carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic – from epidemiologists advising national and international governments, to developing advanced technologies for rapid testing, as well vaccine development. UK universities were at the forefront of tackling the pandemic, with four UK universities collectively contributing to nearly one-third of all published papers on COVID-19.

 

Many of our university researchers are directly involved teaching so as a student you get to experience their expertise first-hand in your lecturers, seminars and reading materials. Hands on experience of research is also key to studying STEM in the UK with many degrees in this area involving a research project at both undergraduate and graduate level. Additionally some universities offer schemes such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) or the International Research Opportunities Programme (IROP) as a chance to gain first-hand experience of life in a research lab under expert supervision.

 

3.     International outlook and experience

 

Innovations in science and technology do not lend themselves to working in isolation, and what better environment to learn to work collaboratively than one that is internationally diverse. When you study at a university in the UK, you won’t just be gaining a British perspective. The UK university sector is incredibly diverse with over 20% of our students and staff coming from overseas, providing you the opportunity to gain new outlooks from international academics and to tap into fresh thinking from your peers who represent some of the most talented minds from around the world.  The people you’ll meet and the connections you’ll make will become your global network well beyond your university years.

 

UK universities also pride themselves on international collaboration, whether that’s though partnerships, student exchanges or joint research projects, and this cooperation carries through into the wider research landscape. In 2018, 55% of UK publications were the result of international collaboration, compared to the world average of 21%.

 

4.     Specialized (and often shorter!) degrees

 

Mad about mathematics? Eager to be an engineer? Convinced science is for you? Well, the UK lets you dive straight into the subject you love from day without having to continue with the other subjects you don’t like so much. Applying to an undergrad programme in the UK means you apply directly to a major which you will study for the duration of your degree giving you a chance to delve deeper into the subject right from the start. Consequently, in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, Bachelor’s degrees are only three years in duration saving you time and most likely money.

 

Similarly for graduate students, a PhD in the UK is usually carried out in 3-4 years and Master’s degrees are usually only one year in duration allowing you to gain expertise in your field in a much shorter space of time and springboard you into your career….

 

5.     Employability and career options

 

And speaking of careers, taking that leap to study abroad will always look great on your resume but there are added opportunities available to give you a head start in your career with a UK degree. As an international student you are entitled to work off campus and this provides an excellent opportunity to gain experience and build professional networks through internships and placements particularly relevant to your chosen field – and be paid for it!

 

            And if you’re too busy enjoying all the other aspects of university life during your studies, international students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or graduate degree will be able to benefit from two (or three for PhDs) years’ work experience in the UK upon graduation, through the new Graduate Route.

 

 So, there’s some great reasons to start considering the UK as a destination to study a degree in STEM – now it’s just a question of which subject and where! With thousands of degree programmes ranging from the more general such as “Natural Sciences” to super specific like “Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering” and a range of universities across the country, you’re sure to find the right fit for you.

 

About the author

Catherine Eames is the International Student Recruitment Manager at Imperial College London, a global top 10 university and the only UK university to focus entirely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Catherine has been working in UK Higher Education and international student recruitment since 2008 and has been at Imperial College London for nine years.