Tyler
Law LLB (Hons)
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Seeing the email from Surrey saying that I had been accepted to study at UNCW was one of the happiest and most exciting moments in my life, and from that moment I knew my life was going to change for the better! I wanted to go to North Carolina to experience what American culture was all about, and I definitely made the right decision with where I went. UNCW is located right next to the beach which has golden sand and bright blue oceans, a lot of time was spent there. The education system is very different there than at Surrey but that does not mean worse by any means, the way the modules were structured gave you a lot of free reign over what you wanted to study as long as it conforms with your current degree. For me, I was able to take a range of Law modules such as Media Law and Business Law, alongside Law adjacent courses like Public Speaking, which has helped me gain a lot of confidence in my debating ability since I want to be a lawyer.
There are a few important notes to consider before studying in the USA, the first being that it can be very expensive, including getting the visa and accommodation, the travel there and around the country, and doing your own shopping. A baseline for funds should probably exceed around 20k so that your time away doesn’t feel like a struggle, especially if you’re doing the full year abroad. America is also a very large country and difficult to navigate without some form of transportation, so either taking public transport or sourcing a car will be your best options. However the university is very good when it comes to support for your exchange.
Finally, if you are able to apply for the Turing grant, please do that! It helped significantly with flights and moving in expenses that you will have to buy one way or another. Apply for any type of funds that you can because the more money you have out there, the less stressed you will be and the more you will be able to get out of your time abroad!
I was fortunate enough to travel all across America while I was out there and I can confidently say that North Carolina is one of, if not the best state for living in, especially at UNCW. I never felt unsafe, the weather was always amazing, and the people have the “Southern Hospitality” that was always present!
If there is one last piece of advice, it would be to speak to literally everyone and interact with anything! Whether that be at UNCW or somewhere else, because the Americans love the British and you will be a magnet for attention and making friends and just knowing a load of people will help you in the rough times and, more importantly, in the good times!
*Please note that the Turing Scheme is coming to an end August 2027 but there are other scholarships and bursaries that students can apply for. See the Funding Page for more information.
