Helen Chibogu Edozie (M.Sc International Marketing Management student at the University of East London): “I came to the UK to study because I wanted to learn how marketing is done at the international level compared to what we have back home in Nigeria, and also to reposition myself for greater challenges. The Nigerian economy is opening up once again, and employers prefer overseas trained graduates, especially in my sector (the banking sector), with the recent bank capitalization and re-structuring policies, you need western education if you really want your career to progress. Of course I Intend to take the knowledge and experiences back to my country and add value to my people. The experience has really been inspiring and very challenging”.

Mohamed Jama (Accounting Management student at the University of Greenwich): “There are obvious differences between education in the UK and in Somalia my home country. Teachers in the UK are more lenient and understanding with students, especially if the students are going through difficult times, there are no such things as extenuating circumstances back home. It’s either you hand in your work when due or you fail. However, I miss the strictness and discipline in Somalia, here teachers are too soft and lenient and don’t always push students to their limits. Sometimes I think that I could have achieved better grades if I was studying in Somalia because you are made to work harder, and you also compete with your classmates for the first position. I plan to settle in the UK when I graduate, although I will maintain links with my home country and help out in any way I can”. 

Mary Onishile (Business Studies student at Newvic): “I don’t miss studying in Nigeria, and really value UK education, there are abundant resources such as computers and books, the teachers are always here unlike back in Nigeria where lecturers were always going on strike. This is a big opportunity for me to achieve my goals in life, in the UK students can work and study at the same time, whereas in Nigeria, you will be dependent on family and friends for financial support. I’m not planning to go back after graduation, I intend to settle here in the UK, until maybe when I become a pensioner, and then I can retire back to Nigeria”. 

Carlos Goncalves (Accounting student at Middlesex University): “I appreciate UK education because of the ready availability of resources; you have internet access round the clock to help you in your research work. Also the libraries are well stocked. There is really no reason for not doing well and achieving top grades here. You won’t believe what a difference it makes to have uninterrupted power supply incase you want to study at night, without having to resort to candles and lamps. This may sound funny but such little things have really made a difference for me. I miss the African atmosphere though, the spirit of togetherness and so on, people back home are friendlier but then, something has to be sacrificed. I will encourage other people who plan to come to the UK to study to do so; I really see more opportunities here, as one can get a job on graduation. I plan to live here after graduating but would hope to have business relations with Angola, my home country”.  

Delfina Antonio (A level student at Newvic): I am particularly happy with the opportunities for disabled students, the government and teachers in the UK try as much as possible to accommodate their needs. In Angola, many disabled students studying in the UK would have probably dropped out and classified as illiterates. I also value government’s grants to students aimed at encouraging and supporting them. The UK government understands that young people are the future and so provides them with career guidance, and adequate resources. I do have problems though with the syllabus, especially the A level law syllabus because it is constantly changing, and students have to struggle to play catch-up all the time. I plan to go back to Angola someday, but not in the immediate future, when I do go back, it would be to do some charity work, where I can volunteer my skills.

Emmanuel Osei-Tutu (Business studies student at London Metropolitan University): Studying in the UK has its positive and negative sides. On the positive side, the teachers are more helpful, probably because they also need the students to pass in order to retain their jobs. There are also the availability of computers, and technology which are largely lacking in Ghana and in other African countries. On the negative side, the UK society suffers from moral decay; young people could easily get into trouble here by associating with bad friends. There is not enough parental control here, children and other young people are too independent, this is not so good. In this regard, I still prefer the African discipline system where the whole community watches out for each other. Also, feedback from teachers here can sometimes be demoralizing and can make students lose confidence. I am afraid in a way because there are no longer guaranteed job opportunities in the UK as we had thought when we came, especially with the increase in the number of immigrants and also the influx of EU citizens. My advice to other African students especially from Ghana my home country is to make plans of returning after graduating. After graduating, I plan to work for some time, save some money and set up a business which will take me back and forth to Ghana.

Nonye Chidomere (Recently completed the M.Sc Information Management and Finance degree at the University of Westminster): I recently completed my masters programme at the University of Westminster, having previously studied electrical engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The UK experience was quite revealing in many ways, while it lived up to its billings in some areas, it came short in others. I particularly liked the opportunity of meeting and studying with other students from other countries, and getting to learn their culture, the university also offers students career guidance and workshops. Teachers here encourage group activities and this builds your team work skills, something that employers value a lot. Students in Nigeria are pampered in a way, but here you grow up quickly because you have to learn to do research on your own, this is not so much a problem because the resources, technology and books are there. My other issue is that in my course, because it is a combined finance and information management degree, we had limited practical exposure in the information technology modules but the finance bit was okay. I have no immediate plans of relocating to Nigeria, but probably someday, who knows?

Nnadubem Moghalu (Law student at Holborn College): Despite the initial culture shock and difficulties in settling down to the system, I would say that UK education is still value for money because of the quality of teaching, however this is at a risk of students becoming complacent because of the teachers’ approach which is more soft-touch. Compared to the law library in my former university in Nigeria (The University of Abuja) which was housed in a small flat, I would say that Holborn College is well resourced with up-to-date law publications and periodicals. Definitely I plan to go back to Nigeria eventually, and would advise other African students to think along the same line, although opportunities abound in the UK, I believe that those of us that are privileged to have studied here should also take back  our skills to improve the social and economic well-being  of our people back home.  

Chizoba Onyiuke (MA Public Communications & Public Relations student at the University of Westminster):I believe that the quality of higher education in the UK is quite high, despite the high cost that students pay, at least employers here and in Nigeria value it. In that regard I would say that I’m quite lucky because I paid home students fees as I was born here.  On the down side, the cost of living is extraordinary, to survive students have to work part-time and this eats into their study time. I am not emotional about settling in the UK or relocating back to Nigeria, after all emotions don’t pay bills. I will settle where ever I have better job prospects and opportunities.