Have you ever dreamed of packing your bags, leaving your comfort zone, and studying at a prestigious university abroad? The thought of sitting in an international classroom, exchanging ideas with people from all over the globe, is incredibly exciting. But what is the journey really like from the inside, and how does your level of English affect your chances of success?
In this article, I am going to share my personal story of studying urban planning at the Polytechnic University of Milan in Italy. I will take you through my struggles with university rejections, financial hurdles, and the intense academic pressure of a top-tier European institution.
Along the way, you will learn essential English phrases and vocabulary terms related to higher education. These powerful words will not only help you talk about your academic life but will also boost your vocabulary score in English exams like the IELTS.
Why I Decided to Study Abroad: Broadening Horizons
Many students choose to pursue higher education simply to get a degree or follow a traditional career path. However, my motivation was slightly different. I wanted to broaden my horizons—a beautiful phrase that means expanding your range of knowledge, experiences, and cultural understanding. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, meet individuals from diverse backgrounds, and experience life from a completely fresh perspective.
If you are currently mapping out your own future and preparing to study in another country, you are likely making major life choices. To help you talk about this planning phase, you can check out our guide on plans and decisions phrasal verbs in English. Taking the leap to study abroad is a life-defining choice, but the path to getting there is rarely a straight line.
The Hard Truth About University Applications and Rejections
When I was an undergraduate student studying urban planning, my academic records were far from perfect. The reason was simple: I had to work my way through university. This expression means holding a job while studying to finance your education and cover daily living costs. Balancing a job with heavy coursework meant I had very little time to prepare for my exams, which unfortunately reflected in my grades.
Despite this, I decided to take a chance and applied to four different universities across Europe: NTNU in Norway, Helsinki University in Finland, Stuttgart University in Germany, and the Polytechnic University of Milan in Italy. The very first response I received was from NTNU in Norway, and it was a flat rejection. My grades simply fell short of the requirements—meaning they did not meet the high academic standards set by the university admissions committee.
Receiving an academic rejection is a lot like hitting a roadblock on a highway. It feels frustrating, and you might feel like your journey has ended. But a roadblock does not mean you cannot reach your destination; it simply forces you to take a detour. That detour often leads you to a much more scenic and rewarding route that you would have otherwise missed.
Handling rejection is emotionally tough, and it can temporarily bruise your self-confidence. Fortunately, my detour was just around the corner. Shortly after that first setback, the remaining three universities offered me a place. If you want to expand your vocabulary regarding academic struggles and achievements, look at our comprehensive lesson on studying & exams phrasal verbs in English.
Securing a Place and Facing Financial Reality
Once you are offered admission, the excitement quickly transitions into practical planning. To officially secure a place at an international university, you have to address the financial side of things. First, there are tuition fees—the money you pay directly to the institution for instruction and lectures. Depending on where you apply, these costs can vary drastically.
When studying abroad, you must choose between public and private institutions. Private universities are often prohibitively expensive, meaning the costs are so high that they prevent most average students from attending. Even public universities carry a significant cost, especially when you factor in the general cost of living—rent, groceries, utilities, books, and transport.
As an international student, you generally have four ways to fund your studies:
- Self-financing: Paying for your tuition and living costs out of your own pocket or with the help of family.
- Merit-based scholarships: Financial aid awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, professional experience, or high standardized test scores.
- Means-tested grants: Financial assistance awarded based on your family’s financial situation and income levels.
- Student loans: Money borrowed from a bank that must be paid back over time.
Coming from an underprivileged background, self-funding was impossible for me. I also had to be incredibly careful about borrowing money. Many students graduate only to find themselves saddled with debt—burdened with massive financial liabilities that take years, sometimes decades, to repay.
Tip: If your university grades are average but you have rich work experience or high language certification scores, emphasize these in your applications. Many universities look at the holistic profile of a student when awarding merit-based scholarships, rather than just academic grades.
To avoid graduating with a financial burden, I decided to aim for a merit-based scholarship. Although my undergraduate grades were standard, I had several years of teaching experience and an IELTS band score of 8.0, which was far higher than the university’s requirement of 6.5. This strong profile allowed me to win a merit-based scholarship at the Polytechnic University of Milan. For a deeper understanding of financial terms and expressions, read our guide on idioms about money in English.
The Power of English in an International Classroom
In 2018, I packed my bags and arrived in Milan. Stepping into my first lecture hall, I found myself surrounded by 90 students representing over 35 different countries. It was a fascinating mix of cultures, habits, and perspectives. In this highly diverse environment, there was only one bridge connecting all of us: the English language.
Having a high level of English proficiency changed the way my peers and professors perceived me. When you can express complex ideas fluently, your confidence naturally skyrockets, and people respect your input. If you are eager to reach this level of speaking confidence, you can implement our proven advice on how to improve English speaking.
In a multicultural environment, excellent English is like a universal adaptor plug. While everyone else is carrying different plugs that do not fit the foreign wall sockets, your universal adaptor allows you to connect instantly to any outlet, drawing power, sharing information, and establishing instant connections without any friction.
Surviving the Academic Pressure: Reading, Writing, and Oral Exams
Studying at a top European university is incredibly demanding. The academic workload is intense, and it is very common for students to fall behind with coursework. When this happens, you spend almost all your free time trying to catch up on reading and complete backlogged assignments.
For many of my classmates, the language barrier multiplied this academic stress. They struggled to analyze complex academic articles, write term papers, and deliver presentations. Because my English was advanced, reading, summarizing, and writing academic texts came naturally to me. I was able to focus entirely on the subject matter rather than struggling with vocabulary and grammar.
Tip: When preparing for academic presentations in English, focus on your body language, eye contact, and hand gestures. Strong non-verbal communication can mask minor language mistakes and make your overall presentation far more engaging and professional.
This linguistic advantage was particularly crucial during our oral exams. At the University of Milan, we had one-on-one oral exams with professors where we had to critically analyze and connect over a hundred different articles on the spot. Managing performance anxiety while formulating complex academic arguments in a foreign language is a monumental task. My fluency allowed me to remain calm, communicate my ideas clearly, and ultimately graduate at the top of my class with full marks.
Transitioning to the Professional World
After graduation, I completed internships in both the private sector and the public sector, including a role at the Municipality of Milan. While these opportunities were highly prestigious, they made me realize that working as an urban planner was not my true passion. My heart belonged to English education—the very field that had unlocked my own academic success.
If you are currently finishing your studies and looking to take your next career step, you might find our comprehensive guide on applying for jobs in English extremely helpful. Ultimately, my study abroad experience taught me that English is not just an academic subject; it is a life-altering tool that can open doors to opportunities you never even imagined.
Key vocabulary from this lesson
- broaden your horizons
- To expand your range of interests, knowledge, and life experiences.
- work your way through university
- To work a job while studying in order to pay for your education and living costs.
- fall short of requirements
- To fail to meet the necessary standards, qualifications, or conditions set by an authority.
- tuition fees
- The money paid to a university or college for instruction and courses.
- prohibitively expensive
- Costing so much that it is virtually impossible for most average people to afford.
- merit-based scholarship
- Financial aid awarded to a student based on academic, professional, or test score excellence.
- means-tested grant
- Financial assistance awarded based on the student’s or their family’s income levels.
- saddled with debt
- Burdened with a large amount of money that must be paid back to a bank or institution.
- secure a place
- To successfully obtain or win an official spot in a university, course, or program.
- fall behind with coursework
- To make slower progress than expected, failing to keep up with homework and study schedules.
- catch up on reading
- To complete the reading assignments that you missed or did not have time to finish earlier.
Key takeaways
- Studying abroad is an invaluable way to broaden your horizons and build global connections, even if you face initial application rejections.
- Financial planning is crucial for international students, who should carefully evaluate tuition fees, scholarships, and the risk of student debt.
- Merit-based scholarships are attainable even with average grades if you possess strong work experience and high language scores.
- A high level of English proficiency is a powerful asset that builds academic confidence and helps you stand out in international classrooms.
- Developing advanced English skills simplifies complex academic tasks like writing essays, presenting, and passing intense oral examinations.
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This article is based on the video lesson How English Changed My Life (My Real Story).
