Why did you decide to study in the UK?
I always wanted to study in a British university, whose degree would be highly regarded worldwide.

Why did you choose your particular institution?
I was particularly impressed by how kind and helpful Liverpool people generally were when coming to attend university open day.

What do you think of the program you studied/study in the UK?
Law is hard work and specially tough for us international students whose first language is not English but I have been getting on well and thoroughly enjoy it.

What is it like living in the UK/What do you enjoy the most?
I am sharing a house with three other students. I love the fact that we are now able to bake a cake for ourselves rather than have to go and buy one as we did back home.

What is the best thing about studying in the UK?
There are so many opportunities available to students, such as volunteering in advice centres and working part-time in the hospital while being a student, which is something quite inconceivable back home.

How do you think your studies will affect your professional career?/What would you like to do when you finish your studies?
The degree I am studying for will be crucial for my future career as a solicitor.

THE INTERNATIONAL FACE OF LIVERPOOL
A student from China, who is studying at the University of Liverpool, has won a major national award, thanks to her inspirational story of life in the UK.

Jue Jun Lu, 20, was one of just 12 students from across the country to win a top honour in the International Student Awards - a national awards’ scheme run by the British Council.

The awards recognise international students who have gained experience that has enhanced their personal development, boosted their career prospects or helped them achieve their ambitions while studying in the UK.

More than 2,340 students, representing 142 nationalities, entered the awards by writing a `letter home’ - as if to their relatives, a former teacher, a business sponsor or a potential employer - describing their experiences of life in the UK.

Law student Lu has gathered an eclectic range of interests and experiences since arriving at Liverpool university last year. Participation in law ‘moots’ helped her overcome shyness, enhanced her research and writing skills and gave her a better sense of the rigours of the legal professions. She also works part-time as a medical records clerk at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, and passed a tough selection process to work as a voluntary adviser with the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Lu has also run for president of the Liverpool branch of the world’s largest student organisation, AIESEC, after taking responsibility for contacting local businesses to pursued them to offer graduate internships. And it doesn’t stop there – the determined student has also earned a blue belt in karate, and is learning to speak Spanish.

In her ‘letter home’, Lu wrote: “These experiences not only play a central role in grooming a would-be lawyer, but also make me stronger and more mature to embark on an even tougher journey after university. It is not an exaggeration to say that my stay in the UK has opened a whole new world, with valuable experiences constantly popping up here and there! I believe that when I look back on my student life some years later, I will be glad I have made the most out of it.”

Lu was presented with a silver award by the Rt Hon Lord Neil Kinnock, Chair of the British Council, at a winners’ ceremony in London, which was hosted by TV news presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy. As well as a trophy, she received £1,000 prize money.