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Journalism of Courage
(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)
I grew up in Central India’s geographically underdeveloped area, infamous for farmer suicide and ultra-poverty. My name is Deepak Chatap and I was born and brought up in the family of a farmer in Chandrapur district (Maharashtra) wherein I completed my Class 12.
While growing up, I witnessed struggles for fundamental rights, such as not receiving fair prices for agricultural produce, a lack of road connectivity, a primary healthcare system, etc. Additionally, my primary education was in the vernacular language, which made it difficult to pursue higher studies abroad.
I had never imagined that I would be in the UK for my master’s studies in law. My family has been actively involved in the farmers’ movement which motivated me to bring social change from an early age. Therefore, I decided to pursue law. Fortunately, I secured admission at a prestigious Indian Law Society’s Law College, Pune.
When I started pursuing a law degree from Pune, I started the PATH initiative along with other like-minded law students. I, along with my peers, filed a case related to Arabian sea pollution before NGT resulted in water purification work. At that time, I was bestowed with the fellowship to enrich constitutional values among youth by the CORO India organisation.
Fast forward to my final year of a law degree and my senior suggested pursuing a masters degree in Human rights Law from the UK, however, I was hesitant due to funds. He told me about the fully funded UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship, which covers tuition fees, flight fares, and accommodation charges and gives monthly stipends too.
This scholarship is accessible to graduate students with two or more years of work experience and has no age limitations. The application, interview, and selection phases are crucial in the application process.
Usually, the application link is open from July till November. Applicants must submit four 500-word essays about their leadership, networking abilities, programme of study, and why they want to study in the UK. All Chevening applicants are subjected to a thorough evaluation and selection process. Interviews were set up for the chosen applicants. Over 1,600 scholars were picked from 60,000 applicants from 160 countries last year.
To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have extensive work experience in their field of study. In my instance, I have been working in the Human Rights area for over five years as an intern, legislative researcher, and founder of a non-profit organisation. I have obtained positive results from community lawyering for marginalised communities, wrote a book on farm laws, and developed an online course on constitutional morality. I also showed proof of providing pro bono legal assistance to several non-profit organisations. Overall, our extensive work experience should align with our proposed masters study.
Finalising which course and university you want to pursue is a critical step. The first step is to do proper research and identify the universities/ courses that align with one’s career goal. Then, the second step is to go over course eligibility criteria and application deadlines on university websites.
After that, every candidate should ensure that all of their documents are assembled in a place such as the curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, a personal statement detailing their academic and career aspirations, one academic and one professional letter of recommendation, IELTS assessment, and a valid passport.
You will have to wait for the university’s decision after submitting your application. Depending on the programme and the number of applications submitted, this might take several weeks to a few months. In my instance, I received an unconditional offer from the university as well as a waiver for the IELTS exam. I did this process with the help of my friends who are already studying in the UK.
My first day and week in the UK as an Indian student was exciting and filled with new experiences. I was fascinated by the new culture but had to adapt to the new lifestyle, food habits, and climate, which were different from what I was used to in India.
The university environment was also different from what I had experienced before. The teaching style was more interactive, and there were higher expectations for academic performance. Initially, I found it challenging to keep up with the academic demands and understand the British accent and colloquial language. However, I found it relatively easy to build social circles, given the diversity among students from different nationalities. I connected with both locals and other international students and discovered that we had many things in common — both socially and culturally. This helped me feel more at home and made the transition to a new country much easier.
In terms of groceries and food, I was fortunate not to face many challenges. The UK is a multicultural country, and I found plenty of options available in a city like London. I did not encounter any significant challenges in adjusting to the British diet and finding the groceries I needed. Living in London provided me with a diverse range of food options, and I was pleased to find numerous Indian restaurants and shops catering to the Indian community’s tastes. In fact, Indian food was readily available on almost every street in the city, making it easy for me to maintain a healthy and balanced diet while studying in the UK.
Regarding accommodation, while finding affordable housing near the university was initially challenging, I was able to locate some good options in student accommodations, which made it possible to stay within my budget. Overall, despite some initial cultural shock, I adapted quickly and enjoyed a rich and fulfilling experience as an Indian student in the UK.
As a Chevening scholar, I receive a monthly stipend of £1517. My monthly rent is £600, and I spend roughly £300 on food and transportation. I will be able to save £500-600 from the stipend.
The locals here have also been very helpful and have guided me in the right direction from time to time. I have had some heartwarming moments with locals, teachers, and classmates. One of my teachers stood out for being incredibly supportive and going above and beyond to help me understand the coursework. I even made some local friends here who introduced me to their culture and helped me explore the city. These experiences helped me feel more at home in a new country and have made my time in the UK even more fulfilling.
As an Indian student studying in the UK, I had the incredible opportunity to explore the country and immerse myself in a variety of exciting experiences. Among my many adventures, I was fortunate enough to visit the Welsh Parliament and witness first-hand the inner workings of the political system there.
I even had the privilege of participating in a leadership skills conference at Birmingham University, where I had the opportunity to meet and learn from 45 young system leaders from around the world. This was an invaluable experience that allowed me to broaden my perspective and gain new insights into different cultures and leadership styles.
One of the highlights of my time in the UK was attending the Global Ambedkarite Convention and delivering a speech. It was an honour to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for social justice and equality and to have the chance to express my views on important issues facing our global community.
Studying for a master’s degree in the United Kingdom can maximise potential by providing possibilities for academic and personal development. Most master’s programmes in law in India last two years. Yet, in the United Kingdom, master’s degrees are provided for one year.
The education system in India is exam-driven, whereas the UK system relies on intensive independent research to generate essays and dissertations that help students build analytical and critical thinking skills.
In the UK, I have the opportunity to study with a varied student population from all around the world. Several of my classmates had prior job experience as United Nations law officers, domestic court judges, national government officials, and notable community lawyers. It helps me in comprehending legal issues from several approaches. They also informed me of additional worldwide prospects.
The Indian education system falls short of developing students’ ability in English language competence, research, and academic writing abilities, all of which are necessary for career advancement in the era of globalisation and study in the UK.
