How is studying in Sheffield different to studying in China?
As an international student from China, it can be a very different experience living and studying in Sheffield. MA Student Ambassador Xintong Yuan has lived in Sheffield for almost 6 months now, and she has experienced the differences between studying in China and studying in Sheffield. In this blog, she explains these differences, and advises that learning these in advance will help you study better in Sheffield.
1) You are often required to read before and after your classes
First of all, we need to form a habit of checking pre-seminar and post-seminar reading lists, and reading the texts on there before and after the class. These pre-seminar reading materials provide us background and related information about the seminar, while the post-seminar reading gives us further knowledge to explore on our own. Sometimes, students are required to discuss our opinions with each other about the content in pre-seminar reading materials. We can also put forward our questions about reading materials on the Sheffield online system in advance or in class.
2) You are welcome to keep questioning
The second difference is you are expected to raise questions in class. Chinese students are accustomed to keeping silent and listening to teachers carefully in Chinese class. If we feel confused about something, we prefer to ask classmates or teachers afterwards, instead of raise our question in class. However, in Sheffield classes, teachers are willing to answer any questions during the class. Therefore, if you have questions or feel confused, just raise your hand and ask in class bravely.
3. Keep Deadlines in Mind
The third difference I have found in Sheffield is that when starting to write assignments, we need to pay attention to each deadline. Making a plan is a good choice, and enables and encourages you to finish on time. When the time comes to submit your assessment, my suggestion is to upload the assignment at least one hour before the deadline and do not wait for the last minute to submit. Once, we had an assessment deadline of 12pm. One of my classmates submitted their work at 11:57, but failed because the system was closed.
4) Be careful not to copy!
The fourth difference is that plagiarism is an unacceptable issue in British universities. Although many international students from China do not realize this, we should understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid this by means of language skills, summarising and paraphrasing: the University of Sheffield Skills and Library Services can help you build your confidence.
About the Author
Xintong Yuan, MA Education
“The University of Sheffield has a great reputation. My British friends and teachers described Sheffield’s academic atmosphere, which corresponded to my expectations of university life. I think the services and activities for international students provided by the University and Students’ Union are excellent. These activities helped me make new friends and fit into the University quickly.
What’s more, in Sheffield I’m surrounded by students from different countries and cultures. I realize that education takes place everywhere, not only in schools, but also in family and society. I learn a lot that I have never considered before. Studying in England has encouraged me to rethink my future career; before I came to England, I wanted to be a teacher in a school. Now, I am passionate to try different career routes relating to education.”
