British Council: A Bridge to a UK Education
For one polytechnic student, the British Council helped make her dream of studying in the UK come true.
Growing up, Tee Ting Hui harboured a fascination with the UK, especially after seeing photographs of her cousins taken while they were there. Thus began her dream of studying in the UK, home to one of the world’s richest historical backgrounds and a plethora of cultures.
Known as an international cultural relations body for Britain, one of the British Council’s aims is to help bring students all over the globe together in an effort to strengthen cultural ties. For Ting Hui, the British Council assisted in making her dream a reality.
“British Council gave me the most useful advice, especially on module exemptions and culture in different parts of the UK. British Council has information on a wide range of universities, from which it is easier to choose the university that meets my criteria, academically and financially,” she recalls.
Working with figures
Ting Hui graduated with a diploma in accountancy from Singapore Polytechnic in 2006, a qualification that, contrary to popular belief, was a great advantage for her studies in the UK.
“Diplomas from local polytechnics are widely recognised in the UK – for example, first year exemption is granted by most of the universities,” the 26-year-old shares. “The three years in a polytechnic enabled me to gain some basic knowledge of accounting, making it easier to understand the subject at university.”
It was with a voracious passion in accountancy that Ting Hui decided to further her education in the field, attaining her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management at the University of Sheffield. “Accounting has always been a life-long favourite,” she enthuses. “I love to work with figures.”
For Ting Hui, an education in Britain stood out among the alternatives due to the lack of disparity between the UK’s and Singapore’s accounting systems. “In accounting fields, Singapore has more similar practices with the UK as compared to the US,” she explains. “I really enjoy the learning environment in the UK. There is a high reliance on independent study, and students are encouraged to make full use of the available resources in the library.”
Balancing independence with team-work
The overall study experience, to Ting Hui, also played a significant role in building her character.
“British education involves a fair amount of group work,” she says. And working as a team is not always smooth-sailing. “I’ve had difficulties working in a group, when some team members were either not committed to the work, or didn’t attend meetings,” admits Ting Hui.
This inequality in members’ involvement can be a crucial issue when most of their assignments are team-centred. Hence, overcoming the odds is integral.
Ting Hui overcame this problem by taking charge. “I took the initiative to contact them and lead them in the work. I also assigned tasks to each person based on where their strengths lay.”
She is certainly glad that the coursework gave her a chance to grow as a person. “Now I can work better in teams, be it as a member or a leader. I’m better at managing my time properly, prioritising those of higher importance and those with tighter deadlines. I believe my communication skills have improved too as I have met a lot of people from different backgrounds!”
More than just academics
Apart from the enriching learning experience, Ting Hui’s time with the University of Sheffield also helped her prepare for the working world.
“The career service of the university places great emphasis on skills development,” observes Ting Hui. “I enjoyed attending the sessions, and they’re very useful. After completing those sessions, I found that I was more confident about myself and more prepared for the interviews that I would face after graduating from the university.”
To Ting Hui, studying abroad was in itself an experience. “Students should consider the many aspects of living in the UK. First, they should consider their ability to adapt to the environment, specifically the weather; and also cultural differences, as some might experience culture shock. Aside from that, students have to be prepared to live independently and away from home.”
A high-value experience
With her degree in accounting and financial management, Ting Hui is now back in Singapore working as a tax associate in KPMG. But she will always remember her experience studying in the UK.
“(An education in Britain) incorporates high-value teaching and coaching,” shares Ting Hui. “Students are trained to work independently and develop skills to think critically. Also, it is a great experience to be able to meet students from all over the world and form everlasting friendships whilst learning about their culture and way of living in their home country!”
Contributed by JobsCentral Pte Ltd
