To a large number of foreign students, coming to the University of Hertfordshire is not just the commencement of a new course but a new life in a new country. That journey has an extra burden in terms of the Ukrainian students having to adjust to a new system of education and struggling with the emotional aspect of being away from home.
Helena, who joined UH in 2023, recalls how overwhelming it was in the first weeks. “Moving from everything familiar to a completely different environment felt overwhelming at first.” I needed to figure out how to manage my time, my studies, my routines, as well as my emotions, all by myself. To her, the independence was enabling, but the transition was stressful. She was soon aware of the difference in academic culture between Ukraine and the one at the university. “In Ukraine, the education system is more conservative and organised, whereas here everything is through self-direction. You are supposed to study, explore, and create your own voice as a designer.”
Sofia’s initial difficulties were more practical. “It was problematic to find a room via the university. I did not have any prior reservations and went directly to the university. In Ukraine, a room is typically selected in person, and there is a high chance of paying on the spot in cash.” She remembers that she felt intimidated even going through the big campus, but she learned to enjoy the opportunities that it provided with time. “Life at the university, in this case, is certainly more intense. Activities are numerous, such as yoga, dance classes, clubs, and societies. This was a new experience for me; we do not have university clubs back home.”
In the case of Oleg, it was more of identity and belonging. He says that he easily adjusted to the academic demands, but on the emotional level, he was easily torn between two worlds. “I study, I actively participate in projects, and I live in this place; however, a part of me is attached to Ukraine. It would be as though you are existing in both realities simultaneously. There are also days when I am fully integrated, that is, when I am engrossed in my work, and there are also days when I sense the distance bearing down on me.” His interaction with other international students made him feel less lonely. “It made me remember that I was not alone in this.”
Another area where Ukrainian students are under pressure is finance. Helena gives the confession that it is daunting to repay post-graduation, but she attempts to view it as an investment in her future. Sofia has been far more sensible: “When you start examining the rules and documents, the fear starts fading away. This is paid as a percentage of your salary every month and not the entire amount at once. “That makes it manageable.” In the case of Oleg, the repayment is associated with motivation. “It drives me to think about the future and strive to be stable, but I do not want it to be the determiner of my life. I want to work in a field I love.”
Nevertheless, the three accentuate the development that they have undergone despite the problems. Helena declares that she now feels more confident in her creative voice, Sofia declares that she is now able to feel a part of campus life, and Oleg points out that the stress of achievement has made him more ambitious. One gets the feeling that I have to make it all worth it, my family support, the chance to study abroad, and the sacrifices. This may be tiresome, yet it keeps me inspired as well.
Their narratives emphasise the strength of Ukrainian students at UH who not only adjust to a new academic system but also create new lives that are as distant as possible. Home is not to them the substitution of one identity with another; it is their inability to unravel the strands of the past and the present into a future that is true to them, and hopeful.
UH Student News 