A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

UPES gave me the golden opportunity to study a semester abroad at Coventry University, UK. The fact that I did not pay any tuition fee, was a big perk for me as a student

I hail from a non-legal background and being a first-generation lawyer in my family, I had to make a wise decision while picking my law school. After months of research and hard work, I am glad that I chose UPES back in the year 2016. Being a law aspirant, I always knew a balance between personality development and academics was extremely crucial. UPES as a university helps its students evolve their character, get industry exposure and become the perfect choice for recruiters.

Being an extrovert, I was an active public speaker. I represented my university at the national level for numerous moot and debate competitions. I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the Erasmus and Exchange Student Program in England, which also happens to be my dream country to pursue higher studies. As a child, I was enamoured by  London (from what I could see in movies, sports matches and news), but never really got the opportunity to visit the city. 

UPES gave me this golden opportunity to study a semester abroad at Coventry University, UK, as a Business Law student. And, I did not have to pay any tuition fees, which is a big perk for any student. I would say this exchange program was a life-changing experience because it made me more confident and prepared me to conquer the impending challenges. Even though this was not the first time I had gone to a foreign destination  all by myself, I was a little nervous about this new beginning.

However, several people had put in their efforts to make this exchange program successful. From choosing my modules for the exchange to regularly taking updates during my stay, the faculty was always in the forefront to help.

The academic structure at Coventry University was completely different from what we had in India. I had to choose three modules, which were a blend of practical and theoretical aspects of business law. Apart from assignments and coursework, we were also required to attend the practical sessions of Mediation and Negotiation. This helped me build more self-confidence to appear in the courts and do in-depth research. There were multiple conferences and seminars that we attended. Faculty from various reputed colleges around England and solicitors from esteemed law firms gave lectures every week. I benefited a lot from these sessions.

The kind of exposure I got from this exchange program helped in my overall development. There were continuous evaluations and teachers would regularly call students for discussions. I now have friends from  numerous countries. Various co-curricular activities and the chance to build a network across the world made me understand and experience a wide range of cultures. My experience in England was picture-perfect and undoubtedly the best time of my life.

I am thankful to UPES for giving me this exhilarating opportunity, wherein I learned some life-long lessons. I also received my letter of recommendation from a senior lecturer at Coventry University, which will help me in applying for LLM at reputed universities in the UK.

I take pride in saying that I am a part of this prestigious university and it has changed my life for good. 

(The writer is fourth-year BBA LLB Corporate Law student)

Also read: Nothing ever Becomes Real Till it is Experienced