Kitrina Bevan, PhD Law
"Deciding to leave Canada in order to pursue my studies at the University of Exeter was one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever had to make. Fortunately, it was also the best decision that I have ever made! Upon my arrival at the university the members of staff in the School of Law made me feel welcome and provided me with immediate support - both academic and pastoral. Soon after, I was incredibly pleased to find that Exeter is a safe and friendly city for international students and I believe that it must surely be one of the best places to live in the UK.
My time spent at Exeter thus far has been exciting, challenging and most importantly it has also been rewarding. I have had the opportunity to not only benefit from receiving a world-class education but I have also been fortunate enough to create friendships that will last a lifetime and establish invaluable connections with top academics in my field. I have had an overwhelmingly positive experience at Exeter and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who is looking to broaden their horizons at a fantastic university set in the heart of Devon's countryside."
Michelle Stone, PhD IN Sports and Health Science
Michelle is from Canada and is studying for a PhD in Sports and Health Science. She was awarded an Overseas Research Scholarship which has enabled her to study at the Health and Exercise Research Centre under the supervision of Professor Neil Armstrong. Her research is to assess the physical activity and eating habits of schoolchildren in the area with a view to reducing sedentary behaviour and poor nutrition.
Michelle chose to study at Exeter as the facilities are outstandig and the staff and students are well known internationally for their research excellence. The School in which Michelle studies is on the St Luke's Campus and Michelle says that it was very welcoming and because of it's smaller size fosters a feeling of connection with other students, which is built upon by collaborations the School of Sport and Health Sciences has with other departments and centres at the University.
Michelle also thinks that the City is beautiful and full of history and enjoys running by the Quayside. She likes the fact that Exeter encourages a lot of Postgraduate International Students to study here as it creates a diverse research environment where different national perspectives can be shared.
Melissa Owoc, MA in International Affairs
"Before coming to Exeter, I worked as a Business Consultant, having completed my undergraduate studies in Commerce at the University of Guelph, Canada. I chose Exeter because it had very high rankings for Politics and an excellent reputation and, as an International Affairs student, I believed that studying abroad would be beneficial to my future career. My proposed dissertation title is 'The Face of Canada Abroad: Investigating Canada's Role in the International Community post 9/11'. In recent years Canada's position has declined on the world stage and I want to understand what factors lead to this situation and what, if anything can be done to change this fact. I'm focusing primarily on events post 9/11 as I believe that these events have made Canadians more aware of what they value and have also given rise to new concerns regarding national security and international dilemmas that affect the world.
Exeter has really lived up to my expectations. Our classes had a good mix of international students which was very benefical to the learning process, particularly given our field of study. The staff are very supportive and open to feedback, acting on input from students on the structure and effectiveness of the course modules, and continually refining the program in order to maintain the high standard of the courses."
