Master of Law from King's College in 2000-01

British Chevening Scholarship – 5 Years later

Five years ago, I learned I was admitted to King’s College London for a Master of Laws. Needless to say I was thrilled! A few weeks later, British Council called me to let me know I was awarded the British Chevening scholarship. At the news, my jaw literally dropped. I could not believe it!

A few months later, I was off to London. I was embarking on a journey that was about to be one of the most exciting time of my life.

That year, I got to follow extremely interesting classes while sitting on school benches along with an eclectic international academic community. The first trimester was quite hard for me as I felt I was missing lots of information during the lectures due to the fast pace at which the teachers were going. I could not write it all down. My teachers were also coming from different regions of the UK, and sometimes from other countries. Being French Canadian, it was difficult to understand everything as the information was delivered with many different accents.

At the second and third trimesters, I became cleverer. I asked for permission to record all the lectures. For every hour of lecture, it was taking me two hours to rewrite my notes. Tedious work, but I was not missing anything anymore.

I studied hard, there is no question about it. Especially before the finals; I can say it was one of the most challenging academic experiences I ever had to go through; I was overwhelmed by the amount of information I had to retain. But thank God I did it!

I also survived a long distance relationship with my boyfriend whom I left behind in Ottawa. Everyday we talked over the internet for an average of 30 minutes. At the end of the third trimester and before embarking on the last stretch of studies for my final exams, I got engaged in Italy. My fiancé proposed to me in a medieval monastery where his parents got married 38 years earlier.

I feel forever indebted to the British Council for being given the chance to grow professionally by obtaining my LLM , but also to get enriched on a personal level. I was given the tremendous opportunity to discover fantastic regions in the UK, I made friends from different places around the world, and lived the vibrant and culturally packed lifestyle of the Londoners.

Since then, I continue to live my life in Ottawa, but I feel I am a changed person. I got married. I have greatly progressed in my career, benefiting everyday from my LLM. I have kept my ties with the UK. I have been back to London many times, visiting friends and continuing to discover the wonders of this incredible city.

2000 & 2001 were marking years for me. How could I ever forget… Thank you British Council for playing an important role in my life.

2000/2001 The View From London

I always wanted to study abroad, and London was the city where I wanted to do it. In 1990, I was admitted to King's College London to do my Master of Laws (LLM), but due to health reasons, I was not able to pursue my studies at that time. During the following 10 years, the thought of studying in the UK was continuously entering my mind, then I took the bull by the horns and reapplied for my master. In 2000, I was admitted again to King's College London, and once I got the British Chevening Scholarship, I knew it was my destiny to go there, and finally live my dream.

After working for over 7 years, returning to school (as a mature student!) was not an easy task, especially far away from home. It is one thing to visit a foreign country during your holidays for a week or two, it is another thing to live there for a year. I must admit that before leaving Canada, I underestimated the impact of changing both my lifestyle (e.g. no more money; living in a student hall instead of my cosy apartment), and country of residence at the same time. The adaptation was not easy for the first couple of weeks. However, with the help of my boyfriend in Canada, my family, my friends, and new friends at school and at the student hall, I managed to find my comfort zone, and finally enjoy what London had to offer.

My experience in London is very enriching. I study in a challenging environment where I learn many new subjects. As a student, I enjoy the great fine-art scene at affordable prices. I share great moments with new friends from all around the world, and when time permits, I visit the surrounding cities in the UK. I feel that I'm very spoiled. I could not be more grateful to the British Council for allowing me to realize a life long dream come true.

Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity. Life is Great...Britain. All kidding aside, keep your fingers crossed so that I may pass my exams with flying colours! See you in Canada in September 2001!

Cheers!

Geneviève Giroux