By: Nida Ahmad

Nida is of Indian origin, and was born and raised in Botswana, Africa. She moved to the UK in 2017 to complete her A-levels and then continued on to study the LLB at the University of Bristol, where she graduated in 2022. She is currently an LPC/LLM student at BPP University, London. Below, she writes about her experience as a Muslim international student studying law.

Packing your life into a few bags and setting off to live in an entirely new country on your own is bound to present numerous challenges. Pair this with choosing to study for an academically intense degree, in preparation for a highly competitive career path. As daunting as it may appear, however, it is absolutely possible to embark on this journey and excel – as long as you define what ‘success’ means for you, and align your life choices to achieve the goals that you choose.

For a long time, I felt that being an international student was a factor that worked against my favour, and that I would need to work extra hard to compensate for this, to be on par with my classmates. However, I realised that some of my perceived setbacks were mental barriers that I had imposed upon myself. Here are three tips that helped me along the way.

Invest time and effort in your interests

To stay motivated throughout the heavy workload, I found that staying connected to my genuine interests was very important. As I progressed through my studies and learnt more about various legal concepts at University, I found myself constantly drawing comparisons to the laws in my home country. I would often question whether certain laws were effective in achieving their intended purpose. Through doing this, I was introduced to the world of academia and comparative law. To document my findings, I would write short articles which compared elements of UK law to the various legal structures in Botswana. Unknowingly, I was developing skills which aided me tremendously when it came to completing a dissertation in my final year, which required me to compare laws internationally.

The incredible thing about studying law is the vastness of subject matter that can be covered. The skills you gain from any genuine work can be deemed useful in the legal world. You do not need to give up your other interests to fit in to the perception of a ‘typical law student’. In fact, you may find that there are innovative ways to combine your interests with the study of law. For example, I have always been fascinated with outer space and space travel, and so I kept this alive throughout University by attending related events. Certain laws apply to space travel as well, and I found opportunities to discuss evolving space technology and how the law needs to adapt to changes and regulate this industry. Being fascinated with the things you are learning makes for a more fulfilling experience and will help you to keep going.

Network

This is standard advice for all law students. The legal world is people-centered and the more you grow your circle, the more opportunities will present themselves. As an international student, the prospect of approaching a room full of buzzing law students and legal professionals may feel daunting. You may be the only person in the room with your background, you may be worried about your accent, or overthink social cues because of cultural differences. The nerves are natural and will ease off as you attend more events. If you, like me, were anxious to attend events at first, then start with a more manageable, natural task – to strike up a conversation with someone in your class. I found that most people were in the same position as myself – keen to make friends and more than happy to have a conversation. Building an online presence on social media and LinkedIn is another great way to connect with people – there are plenty of wonderful ‘lawfluencers’ who would be happy to give you advice and point you in the right direction.

It was through networking that I secured a short work placement at a small firm specialising in workplace personal injury. Small firms often do not advertise these positions online, and so being proactive by sending emails or LinkedIn messages to enquire about opportunities certainly goes a long way. I had a lot of hands-on experience, such as attending case management conferences at court, and was even tasked with answering client phone calls. This made me incredibly anxious, and I would break into a sweat every time the phone rang! However, I realised that being pushed out of my comfort zone granted me the best learning experience. The team at the firm were committed to giving me a holistic experience, and were pivotal in helping me consider my chosen career path.

Wellbeing

One of the greatest struggles I face is battling impostor syndrome – always feeling undeserving and underqualified for whatever position I am in. Growing closer to religion is what changed my mindset completely and helped me feel better equipped to face the challenges that will inevitably arise. Particularly, learning about God and His qualities through Islam. I constantly remind myself that God has chosen me for the journey that I am on, and that nothing happens without reason – even if that reason is not evident to me at the moment.

The experience of an international student will not always be smooth-sailing. You may be learning to take care of yourself alone for the first time. You may struggle to understand your identity outside the comfort of your home turf. You may be confused about job prospects, visa difficulties or uncertain future plans. In those moments, remind yourself that:

You have managed to adapt to a series of changes, and you will continue to adapt to whatever circumstances arise. Your background may be different to most, but you are equally equipped to deal with whatever comes your way.

Your merit and hard work have brought you to this point. As with learning anything, you will need time, patience, and consistency. It may take you time to figure out your preferred study methods, or how to pay bills, or how to travel alone for the first time. Grant yourself grace during the learning period – you cannot be an expert on day one, nor do you need to compare your experience to any other.

So, dear international student, remember that God has willed for your journey to be this way. For you to move far away from home to seek knowledge and make the most of your experience. You have a purpose, and you are on your way to fulfilling it.