Kari Medalla

I did a 12-month internship at the University’s International Student Office in order to get work experience before I graduated. I chose to come to Leeds because the communications programme in the School of Media and Communication is one of the finest in the country – when I was applying to come here, Leeds’ communications programme was one of the Top 3 in the country!

The best part about my course is that we’re lucky to have some of the best experts of communications actually working and lecturing at our School. All of the professors are passionate and keen to discuss the content of my modules. I’ve also had many opportunities to develop employability skills through initiatives like the Intercultural Ambassador volunteer programme, which helped me secure my current placement and gain work experience before graduating.

My favourite part about the University and of Leeds is that it has something for everyone – cliché, I know, but hear me out. The University is compact, not large, but not small, and you can get from one end of the campus to the other end in about 15 minutes. There are loads of libraries and 24-hour clusters and numerous nearby cafes.

If you’re into lots of social events, there are over 300 societies that you can choose to try out or join, plenty of events happening every single day, 2 pubs that make it easy to meet friends for a meal or a drink, and of course, ‘Fruity’ every Friday, which is the University’s infamous club night, in addition to numerous clubs around the city. If you prefer a more toned down, personal and relaxed way to have fun, Leeds has a shopping centre, nice pubs, movie theatres, parks, and cafes that give you a wide range of things to do.

I personally love films and food so my friends will always see my posts on social media filled with food from a new restaurant, a hipster-y photo of coffee from a fancy café, or when I go to see films with my friends at Hyde Park Picture House. I also spend a lot of time trying to stay active at the Edge, our university gym, and travelling to nearby cities around Yorkshire, like Harrogate, Knaresborough, and York which are super easy to get to!

My whole experience has been exhilarating and new and different from anything I’ve experienced when I lived in Asia. I’m exposed to so many different kinds of people and to put it simply, it’s just made life so much more interesting.

I’ve lived in university accommodation such as Ellerslie, the global residence, and smaller residences, which can be cheaper than other university residences and are still conveniently located on campus. In my final year, I lived with 4 friends in private accommodation just 10 minutes away from campus so it’s easy for us to go to classes and go to the city.