Maciej - Get Ready to Study

Elab has helped me choose my career path. I’ve been given advice on which universities to apply to, to have the most opportunities in the future. Discussions with my consultant and mentors from different universities have helped me to learn what I still need to work on and improve to achieve my goals. I feel much more confident in going to university now! I have already recommended Elab to a few people and will definitely do that again! If you want to study abroad, that is the best place to ask for help.

Emilia - Creative Business, University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

I had never thought about studying abroad, really. The idea came to me when I was on holidays with my parents in Amsterdam. We stumbled upon one of the universities’ campuses and I was just so in love with the place!

On the very same day I checked what courses in English the uni offered. Having done some more research, I decided that studying in the Netherlands was perfect for me.

At the beginning of my last year of high school, I found Elab and immediately scheduled an appointment. I knew that I would need some guidance when it came to the whole application process.

During that time Elab was very helpful. Starting off with instructions on how to fill in the application forms online to helping me collect and prepare all necessary documents, looking for a flat, and any other pre-departure tasks, they were with me every step of the way.

My first days at university were very stressful for me. Everything was new and surprising, but I’ve got used to it now and love the cheerful atmosphere!

I would recommend studying abroad to everyone. It’s an amazing opportunity to broaden your horizons, meet new people, and learn so many useful things!

Justyna - Physical Earth Science, Swansea University, Wales

I started thinking about studying abroad rather late I would say, I was in my second year of high school. Somewhere around that time my friend and I went to a “study abroad” event and I realised that going to university abroad really was possible!

A friend of mine told me about Elab, as she herself applied to unis with their help. They have helped me choose the best course and university for me, write the personal statement, and apply for a student loan. I would call them anytime I had any questions. Also, being an Elab ambassador, I’ve had the opportunity to share my experiences as a student on Elab’s social media, you can check them out on Instagram and Facebook.

My time at university has been lovely from the very first day. The people I’ve met are incredibly friendly and helpful. My flatmates are my best friends but literally everyone at uni is amazing.

What I value the most at Swansea University is my weekly schedule. Having only 13 contact hours per week allows me to engage in a number of activities. This also means that I have to work really hard on self-discipline and my time management. Another thing that I love about this university is the variety of societies which you can join. They offer literally everything, from dancing, singing, languages, through wine and cheese appreciation, to playing Quidditch!

Our lecturers treat us as equals, there is no awkward silence when questions are asked and nobody is afraid of “saying something stupid”. This encourages me even more to learn and enjoy the atmosphere and best environment for learning.

I can honestly say that coming to study in Wales is the best decision I’ve ever made!

Lena, Sussex Medical School

Applying to study medicine in the UK is without a doubt one of the most complicated processes that you can go through. An entrance exam, interview, voluntary work and then the Matura exam, you can fail at any point. However, Lena managed to go through the process without a single slip-up along the way.

Lena worked at preparing her application for almost two whole years. With the help of her Elab mentor, Bernard, and her consultant, Monika, she prepared to sit the entrance exam and pass the interview, wrote a Personal Statement, made sure that she had relevant experience to support her paperwork etc. All this hard work finally paid off - she was accepted to study medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

I was struggling to choose the right university and course until I reached out to ELAB for help. Together, we completed the application process, with University of Surrey as my firm choice, and Durham university as my insurance. I am now at the University of Surrey, on my way to a First-class honours degree in Biological Sciences and the University of Surrey Women’s Tennis First Team Captain. I met an unbelievable amount of amazing people and made lifelong friends from all around the world who I look forward to seeing whenever I go back to university. I am extremely grateful to Elab for helping me through every step of the way -- from figuring out what course is ideal for me, to mentally preparing me for starting university abroad.

I first came across Elab at an educational fair in Krakow. Although I had thought about studying abroad for many years, I had very little information about the application process, courses and universities and no clear idea where to start. To be honest, I was daunted by the prospect of doing it on my own, so Elab was a godsend. My consultant helped me with the motivational letter I needed to write and encouraged me to finish my portfolio, looked it over and  gathered together all the documents and paperwork I needed to submit. And I was accepted at Falmouth University, a wonderful historical location on the south coast, with a university which specialises in the creative arts.

My first days in the UK were a kaleidoscope of impressions, events and tours. I looked around me at the undergraduates, animated, excited and full of ideas, and little imagined that within weeks I would have a close circle of friends. The lecturers treat us as equals, like to be called by their first name -- imagine! -- and are always  accessible and happy to help with any problems that we might encounter. They have many contacts in the field and this will be very useful when I graduate.

I feel I am living in a real community. Some days, I might spend up to 10 hours in the animation studio, taking little breaks with my fellow students, to listen to music and dance, before returning to our respective projects. It's hard work, of course, but well worth it. The only limit to what we can achieve is our creativity.

I am so glad I asked Elab for their help and happy to be studying what I love in the perfect academic environment.

I always wanted to experience the quality of university life abroad but finishing the Polish Matura in a high school in Warsaw meant that we did not receive much help and information about applying abroad. I asked Elab for help and after evaluating my skills and interests through the Morrisby test and talks with consultants which confirmed my interest in accounting, I successfully completed my UCAS application and soon started studying Accounting and Finance at the University of Surrey. Going to university in the UK exceeded my already high expectations and allowed me to not only study my dream course but also have a great time in the meantime by joining the Men’s First Tennis Team and becoming the Tennis Society’s treasurer, making extraordinary friends and keeping in touch with my polish roots in my university’s Polish Society.