Meet your Peer Advisors: Hinano

We have welcomed four new Peer Advisors to the Global Mobility Office for 2024/25! The Peer Advisors are here to help you, whether you’re an incoming student studying with us at King’s for a semester or a year, or whether you are a King’s student thinking about or planning on going abroad as part of your degree! 

You can make an appointment with Hinano during her Semester 1 office hours on Thursday from 2pm-4pm.

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HInano sitting outside in a restaurant

Hi everyone! My name is Hinano, and I will be one of the Global Mobility Peer advisors for the 2024/2025 academic year 🙂 I’m currently in my final year studying International Relations at King’s. Last semester, I studied at Sciences Po, Paris.  

 

I’m originally from Tokyo, Japan, but I’ve lived abroad for quite some time now. I spent high school in the United States and Australia and came to London to pursue my bachelor’s. In summer of my first year, I spent three weeks studying International Law and International Humanitarian Law at the University of Geneva, and I decided to go on exchange for a semester to France in my second year. To me, studying abroad has always been a great opportunity to discover different parts of myself and the world, and I’m very grateful that King’s provides many opportunities for students to do just that.  

 

At Sciences Po, I particularly enjoyed how intellectually stimulating the modules were. I was able to engage with students from top universities in countless countries and with professors who have real-life experiences practicing law, economics, politics, and diplomacy. For example, I was learning from a former Supreme Court Judge of France in my Environmental Governance class.  

 

In Paris, besides the obvious like picking up a pain au chocolat from a boulangerie around the corner and discussing politics over wine with friends, I loved trying new activities — I loved going to a jazz club, trying different museums on my own, and learning to enjoy slow moments in life at one of Paris’ beautiful parks like Parc Monceau.  

 

For tips about living in London, I would recommend taking advantage of the free museums, going on walks to different neighborhoods (e.g. Notting Hill, Primrose Hill, Hampstead Heath), and trying different markets like Portobello Road Market and Columbia Road Flower Market. London is quite safe but be wary of pickpockets! (I know many people who have had their phones stolen.)

 

While studying abroad is very exciting, it’s definitely not easy to move halfway across the world to such a big city like London. Us Peer Advisors are here to help you have the best time at King’s so please don’t hesitate to come into our office, we are all very excited to meet you all.

Hinano and her friends at the Sciences Po ball.
At Sciences Po Ball
Hinano and her friends in a kitchen on her birthday
On my birthday

Meet your Peer Advisors: Emmie

We have welcomed four new Peer Advisors to the Global Mobility Office for 2024/25! The Peer Advisors are here to help you, whether you’re an incoming student studying with us at King’s for a semester or a year, or whether you are a King’s student thinking about or planning on going abroad as part of your degree! 

You can make an appointment with Emmie during her Semester 1 office hours on Wednesday from 9:30am – 11:30am. 

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Hi! My name is Emmie, and I’m one of the four lucky students who get to be a Peer Advisor in the Global Mobility office this year. I’m currently in my third year at King’s, studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to study abroad several times, and I’m excited to share my experiences with all of you and hopefully provide some great advice!

 

Most recently, I spent a fantastic semester in Singapore, which was a “double abroad” experience for me since I’m an international student here at King’s. It was the sixth country I’ve studied in so far, and I’m eager to continue adding to that list! Before that, I had the chance to spend a summer studying across various campuses in Mexico through the Global Summer Exchange program. These experiences have shaped my worldview, and I’ve come to deeply appreciate the power of cultural exchange. Meeting people from all over the world, with different beliefs and perspectives, challenges you in ways you don’t expect and helps you grow—as an independent thinker and as a person.

 

Emmie and a friend on Lunar New Year with a plateful of food
Celebrating the Lunar New Year was a highlight- This year is the year of the Dragon
View of the National University of Singapore campus
View from my dorm room at National University of Singapore- The campus even had a swimming pool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As much as I love throwing myself into new cultures and experiences, I’m also aware of the challenges that come with it. I’d actually consider myself somewhat of an expert in homesickness, having felt quite a bit of it myself over the years. But with that, I’ve developed strategies for coping and thriving, even while feeling a sense of longing for home. A good starting point for dealing with homesickness is to reframe the cause of it—I try to remember that I am grateful that I have somewhere and someone to miss. If you’re preparing for how to deal with homesickness or experiencing it right now, I’d love to give you my two cents.

 

London is a city with endless things to do, and it can be quite overwhelming to choose between all the exciting options. When friends visit me here, I often recommend starting with a free walking tour—there are tons of companies offering various types, from historical tours to pop-cultural ones. It’s a great way to get to know the city! I also always suggest visiting the British Museum and Tate Modern, both of which have free admission (I’m a big fan of free activities!). Websites like VisitLondon.com and TimeOut.com are also fantastic resources, with the latter offering up-to-date info on events and discounts that are happing at the moment.

A group of students on Primrose Hill, with a view of London in the background
Picnic at Primrose hill is always a great idea when the weather is nice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy sharing my experiences as an exchange student, and I hope that by doing so, I can inspire and guide you in your own study abroad journey. Whether you’re considering your options for studying abroad or need tips for making the most of your time in London, I’m here to help!

 

Meet your Peer Advisors: Maria

We have welcomed four new Peer Advisors to the Global Mobility Office for 2024/25! The Peer Advisors are here to help you, whether you’re an incoming student studying with us at King’s for a semester or a year, or whether you are a King’s student thinking about or planning on going abroad as part of your degree! 

You can make an appointment with Maria during her Semester 1 office hours on Tuesdays from 11am-1pm. 

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Hi everyone, my name is Maria and I’m currently in my final year studying Biomedical Science. I had the amazing opportunity to study for a year at The University of Melbourne, Australia, and am incredibly excited to be one of your Peer Advisors this year!

 

Two females standing in front of the 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia
Visiting the 12 Apostles along The Great Ocean Road

I was born and raised in London and decided to go to KCL as I wanted to experience university life in the city I grew up in, and explore more of what London has to offer. I also loved that I could go home and visit my family as much as I wanted to as well! However, I’ve always loved to travel and knew I wanted experience living in another country, so when the opportunity for study abroad became possible I knew I had to take the chance and throw myself into something I’d never done before. Having never been to Australia and not knowing anyone there, it was definitely a stab in the dark but one I hoped would pay off. Safe to say it definitely did!

 

Having gone from living at most an hour away from my family, to being on the other side of the world, it was definitely a massive change but one I knew I needed. Now having completed my year abroad and looking back at my time in Australia, I’m so glad I took the chance to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, as it genuinely was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever undertaken!

 

The thing I loved most about Melbourne was the genuine friendly community there which made me feel so welcome from the moment I arrived. I had the chance to partake

Giant Koala statue
One of the giant attractions you can see around Australia!

in some amazing activities such as joining the surf club, which I knew was a must try when visiting Australia! It was so fun to have the chance to study modules that were outside of my degree too, such as street art and Indonesian gamelan. Melbourne itself has incredible markets, bars and restaurants, and is renowned for its incredible coffee! It also has easy access to The Great Ocean Road which is a paradise of beaches and coastal attractions.

 

For those of you who are undertaking your study abroad in London, I am so excited for you to experience all of its charms and immerse yourself in all that London has to offer. Studying at King’s allows you to have central London on your doorstep, so I would definitely try to make the most of it if you can! If you’re into plays and musicals I would definitely recommend checking out the West End which always has incredible shows for you to see, with many offering student discounts! I would also recommend checking out Camden Market, Primrose Hill, South Bank and Hay’s Galleria as some of my favorite spots in London. Also, if you have the chance, try walking from Guy’s Campus to Strand Campus as you can walk the whole distance along the Thames. It is one of my favourite walks as you get to see some of London’s main attractions along the way like St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben. Warning it takes around an hour though so be prepared!

 

I really can’t wait to start meeting you all, share some study abroad experiences, hear about your travel plans, and hopefully offer some advice that can help you along the way!

Meet your Peer Advisors: Sarah

We have welcomed four new Peer Advisors to the Global Mobility Office for 2024/25! The Peer Advisors are here to help you, whether you’re an incoming student studying with us at King’s for a semester or a year, or a King’s student thinking about or planning on going abroad as part of your degree! 

You can make an appointment with Sarah during her Semester 1 office hours on Mondays from 2pm-4pm. 

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a picture of Sarah, with a Berkeley mascot teddy bear
Sarah, with a Berkeley teddy bear

Hello! I am Sarah, a 3rd year studying Classical Studies with English. I am very excited to be one of your Peer Advisors this year. I am originally from Egypt but have lived in England since I was 14. I did a semester abroad in Berkeley last year which was very different and exciting! 

London itself was a new environment for me as I had only visited it a couple of times before starting university at KCL. I eventually fell in love with all that the city has to offer. As a humanities student, I think London is one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. From museums like the Tate and the National Gallery to institutions like Shakespeare’s Globe, I never run out of ways to explore my interests and expand on my studies in the city. London also offers lots of activities to do outside of academics; there are many cafes and restaurants to try (for example I have gained a love for Japanese cuisine which led to me planning a trip there next year!), as well as fun events happening year-round like Winter Wonderland or music festivals.  

 

London has excellent transport links too, allowing you to go anywhere in London and throughout the UK. London has multiple international airports and trains to mainland Europe as well, which I definitely recommend exploring and making use of while here. Just this summer for example I have had the opportunity to visit Spain, Italy, and Poland, all a short flight away from London’s international airports which are easily accessible from central London. I truly believe there is nowhere better to be as a university student and I am always happy, alongside my team, to offer suggestions for activities to do in London. 

Doe Library, Berkeley     a picture of Sarah, with a Berkeley mascot teddy bear     Oski, the school mascot, at a basketball game

Some highlights from Berkeley: Doe Library, the Campanile, and Oski, the school mascot, at a basketball game.

 

Having studied abroad myself, I think it is an opportunity everyone can benefit from doing as part of their degree. My time in Berkeley was academically rewarding and extremely fun! I have always thought of studying in the US after I finish my undergraduate degree in the UK, and studying abroad there for a semester helped me understand the culture there and what it would be like to live there long-term. I have made some amazing friends, some of whom I have already met again in the UK as they did their own travelling (and studying abroad!) here over the summer.

 

However, I do understand how difficult it can be to study abroad and what kind of challenges are often faced by students. I myself struggled with the time difference, especially in my first few weeks in the US when I was homesick and all my friends and family would be asleep halfway through the day for me. The workload was also more intense than at King’s, which took some time to get used to. As with everything, it does get easier; you form strategies to help deal with those challenges and, most importantly, you create a new support system of incredible friends while abroad that help you get through those troubles and enjoy your time there. I, as well as the other advisors, have experienced both the highs and the lows of study abroad, and we would be delighted to help you make the most of the programme. I cannot recommend studying abroad enough, and I will try my best as your advisor to help you get there and have a worthwhile experience!

a collage of photos from San Francisco: a row of houses, a picture over the water, a picture over the bay filled with sea lions, a seagull, a seaside sunset with palm trees, and another coastal view
San Francisco and other views from the bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do an internship abroad? – Emily Curtis

Hola a todos! I´m Emily, a southwest London undergrad currently in my penultimate year (in industry) of Management with Spanish studies, giving you the run-down of my year-long internship abroad in Madrid with the British Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber, whose mission is to facilitate the international business growth and development between Spain and the UK, caught my interest as an incoming Investment Management Analyst with Morgan Stanley, as it provides the opportunity to understand international business between two differing cultures and perspectives through networking and events that capitalize on this relationship like bilateral forums and cocktail parties. As an investment manager I will need to be able to work with global investors´ money and be able to help them reach their financial goals regardless of their business culture style and norms and working at the Chamber has given me invaluable experience and insight into this intercultural communication.

So far, I have been offered so many opportunities both in my business and personal life from this internship abroad. Being in Spain has meant that I have been able to travel around the country on my weekends (and abundance of bank holidays) to soak up the culture from many of the different autonomous regions such as going to Las Fallas festival in Valencia or going to the Feria in Sevilla. In the Spanish business world, through the Chamber I have been offered endless networking opportunities and access to some very influential contacts.

If I could give past me one piece of advice about what to expect from your year abroad, it would be: be prepared to be thrown into the unknown and be patient with yourself! Compared to people who chose the study abroad path, in completing an internship your Spanish will excel much faster as you don´t have as many chances to speak in English. I found it tough work transitioning from previous university life where we had a Spanish lesson or two a week to working in Spanish from 9-5 every day, but with time you will find that you become more comfortable and confident with your Spanish. If it makes you feel any better, I had a constant headache for the first few weeks!

In a nutshell, don´t try to rush the immersion into both Spain and your internship, give yourself the time to settle in and adjust to the new lifestyle – most of all remember to be patient, explore and disfruta!