‘Govt scholarship helped me getting admission at this UK university’ | Life in a Foreign University

I am from Assam. I did my schooling at Army School Narengi, Guwahati, and my graduation from Delhi University. After that, I returned to Assam for my postgraduation from Tezpur University. I also did an MPhil from the University of Hyderabad. I am now doing a PhD in Sociology at QUB.

‘How I got this scholarship’

I was working as a full-time contractual employee at the Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) in the School of Social Sciences after my MPhil when I came across this opportunity at QUB. I was responsible for preparing learning materials for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Sociology at KKHSOU. Additionally, I was also conducting video lectures and online classes.

Under this collaborative programme between QUB and Tezpur University, a total of 14 students in two batches were selected for PhD in different disciplines at QUB. There was one vacancy for Sociology in the 2021 batch which I applied for and fortunately, I got the opportunity to pursue this programme. 

The programme design is such that an applicant has to qualify for this through different stages. On qualification, the candidate would automatically qualify for the scholarship. 

The scholarship covers my tuition fee, accommodation, return tickets for travel between India and UK (provided for the first trip to the UK and the last time when the student completes the degree and comes back to India), a monthly stipend, visa and insurance fee.  

‘Stay, fieldwork, progress reports’: Great learning experience

This PhD programme requires me to stay both at QUB and in Assam. Being a social science project, my PhD research involves a strong fieldwork component. The fieldwork for my study has been done in Assam. In the process, I was able to work across two different countries and cultures. It has been a great learning experience. 

It has been a wonderful experience to study at QUB. The process of doing a PhD, especially in social sciences in the UK is a little different from the way it is done in India. For example, in India, there is a fixed duration for coursework either for the first or the first two semesters of a PhD. 

At QUB, different courses are offered for various levels, from UG to PhD throughout the year. One can choose the course relevant to oneself. This can be done throughout the three years, in case of a PhD. 

While there is a requirement of 30 days of training/ courses during the period of PhD, however, there is no limit to the number of courses one may join. These courses focus on different aspects (depending on the target students) including academic writing, writing a literature review, preparing a research design, etc. 

Towards the end of the first year, differentiation for PhD students is held. It is considered to be a milestone for a PhD student as here it is assessed (by a panel) if a student’s PhD research can continue in the manner it has been planned and designed so far, or if revisions are required. Passing the differentiation is crucial as it allows the student to progress to the next stage of his/her PhD. There are instances when students had to withdraw from the PhD program after spending a year on it and he/she failed to qualify the differentiation.

Additionally, progress analyses are done annually by a panel in the form of annual progress reviews. The procedure here is the same as differentiation. 

The student has to submit some written work (as specified by the school), outline the progress made by him/her and also provide a detailed timeline of the work he/she has to complete for the PhD. Based on these documents, the panel will interact with the student and declare whether the student’s progress is satisfactory.   

Also, in the case of social sciences, it is essential to acquire ethical clearance before beginning fieldwork. The ethics application is a detailed explanation of how the research is going to be conducted, the methods to be used, the measures to protect the rights, privacy and identity of the participants, to outline the rights and responsibilities of the researcher. The ethics application is analysed by a panel that further declares if the student may proceed with fieldwork. 

My supervisors (principal supervisor from Queen’s University Belfast and co-supervisor from Tezpur University) have been very cooperative and motivating throughout my PhD journey.  

Socio-cultural exposure

Being at QUB has been a learning experience for me both academically and culturally. The people of Northern Ireland and the UK in general are very courteous, polite and soft-spoken. 

It is common here to greet strangers on the roads. Someone may say ‘hi’ to you, greet you a good morning or just pass a warm smile, even though you are strangers. This struck me at the beginning. It took me a few days to get used to it and to act or reciprocate similarly. It is little gestures like these that make one (who is new to the city of Belfast) feel welcomed and develop a sense of belonging to the place.   

I was fortunate to be a part of the South Asian Heritage month celebrations in my first year of PhD. This is annually celebrated in different parts of the world and also the UK. In 2021, I got the opportunity to participate in a UTV news programme where I and some friends shared how our experiences in Belfast had been so far. 

Free coffee at Treehouse, evening walks

I was fortunate to have been in a wonderful student accommodation at QUB. It has state-of-the-art infrastructure and other facilities. It also houses a social space called the Treehouse. I along with friends used to visit the Treehouse every evening for a cup of free coffee or snacks or just for a lively evening with friends and different kinds of indoor games.  

Also, Belfast is a beautiful and clean city with much greenery. I religiously followed my practice of going for walks every evening after work with my friends. We walked around different parts of the city through our daily doses of evening walks.  

Life at QUB, learnings

While I have grown up in a culture and in a manner where difference is acknowledged and respected, being in the UK further reinforced the beauty in diversity. Particularly, it was overwhelming to see students from different part of the world live together and celebrate each others’ cultures. For example, a group of Indian students organised Ganesh Chaturthi, while the Chinese celebrated the Chinese New Year. Likewise, everybody took part in the Christmas and Easter celebrations.  

Diwali celebrations at QUB

Being in higher education or research often facilitates students and teachers to participate in programmes and events. Last year, I was fortunate to have been selected for the Graz International Summer School hosted by the Graz University at Schloss Seggau, Leibnitz, Austria. It was a fortnight-long event where students from different countries participated, engaged with (through various measures) and deliberated over issues of local and global concern. 

Travelling through UK

One of the highlights of my time in the UK was exploring its diverse regions. I travelled extensively to Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. The university offered subsidised weekend trips around Northern Ireland, allowing me to see stunning sites like the Giant’s Causeway, Slieve Donard, and the Mourne Mountains.

Life in a foreign university: On one of the weekend trips from QUB

In London, Oxford, and Greenwich, I experienced places I had only read about as a child, such as Tower Bridge and the Victoria Memorial. Standing on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich and visiting Stonehenge, where I and my friends deciphered sunlight angles, were particularly memorable. I vividly remember the joy and the sense of achievement we felt in being able to discover and understand the geography of Stonehenge sunlight without the help of maps.

Exploring historic sites like Oxford University and Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and experiencing the cultural and historical richness of the UK was deeply fulfilling, especially given my background and interest in British history and polity.

(This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics)