Harshita Chhabra

3rd year

Harshita, from Newcastle in England, is studying International Business Management.

What made you choose Heriot-Watt University?

Having completed my schooling in England, I decided only to apply to universities in England receiving acceptance offers. During the clearing process, I saw a lot of advertisements for Heriot-Watt University and decided to visit the university with my family, in which I realised this was the university for me. Upon looking at degrees, the MA (Hons) International Business Management module was offering me a mixture of core and optional courses that I could tailor its modules choices to match my interests and career path I want to go in for. The programmes strong emphasis on business discipline and the program modules covered in IBM course were the deciding factors. The Go Global scheme was also very different and exciting for me, and I could see myself reaching my full potential at this university. I felt like being away from home as well in a city as beautiful as Edinburgh was exciting and which added to me wanting to have a transition and move away from home for university to become self-independent and learn basic life skills.

What programme are you studying and why did you choose it?

I chose (MA) International Business Management (IBM) to study for my undergraduate degree. After completing my GCSE’s, I realised I was passionate in the social sciences field which led me to pick A-Levels in Business Management, Accounting and English Literature. So, I’m pursuing this 4-year IBM programme at university. This programme module relating to all areas in business and assignments we are given puts business theory through a real-world filter which would help me thrive after the completion of the degree, in organisations to imply the theory into practice.

How did you find transitioning from high school to university?

The transition from high school to university was a big change, in majorly a positive way which helped me overall become more independent and self-sufficient. The teaching style became less staff controlled which allowed me to improve essential skills like time management when selecting tutorials or completing assignments before the due date. Having completed my A-Levels, I found Year 1 straight forward with class learning mirroring the lecture content, yet with added theories. The lecturers were also aware that students were transitioning from high school to university post COVID home learning online environment and were very understanding if students arrived a bit late to the in-person lectures since the campus is quite large and can initially be hard to navigate, despite various signage displayed on the campus grounds.

The university also provides us with a personal tutor who we have the option of meeting either online or offline, and any questions I had were almost answered immediately. We are encouraged to ask our course leader or lecturers any course related questions either after the lecture or through emails whichever way we are comfortable in.

How did you find settling in at university?

Settling in at university was exciting for me. The welcome week was a great drive where I got connected and was welcomed with open arms to the HW family. The University also took care of the flatmate’s preferences I had opted for. I instantly came to know my flatmates and started participating in various activities such as ResLife’s, Student Unions, and some of the many societies available on campus which helped me expand my social circle and emotionally as well helped me to blend in, whilst focusing on lectures delivered by the helpful and experienced lecturers.

What’s it like living on campus?

There are many benefits to living on campus. It’s convenient as lecture halls are walking distance, so we don’t need to worry about the bus being delayed or oversleeping too much, making it convenient to attend lectures and access resources and library.

Living on campus is a common place as it is much easier to practice rehearsals and participate in social events, join clubs, and engage in extracurricular activities, since the majority of societies conduct their events on campus. It also provides easy access to support services such as counselling, academic advising, and health services.

Campus life also fosters a sense of community being surrounded by students, creating opportunities to make friends and build a support network. Living in a residence hall can be an educational experience itself, teaching you valuable life skills like sharing, time management, communication, and conflict resolution.

Heriot-Watt University guarantees accommodation to first year students, and I have stayed on campus for 3 years now. After the completion of my first year, I saw a part-time job opportunity at Residence Life as a Warden. Upon successfully clearing the application and interview stage since my 2nd year I have been a Warden. My aim is to be the student who has lived in as many halls on campus as possible before I graduate and help my fellow students and cater to their needs and suggestions they propose and follow that up to my manager.

What extra-curricular activities have you got involved with?

Since my first year, I became a member of badminton, investment, business, and Indian society. My aim was to be part of the committee and when the opportunity arose at the end of the academic year during society election, I put myself forward to be part of the committee. From starting off as social media and events for Indian society and secretary for business society, I became Vice-President for both societies and continuing it till date. This helped me improve my leadership, organisation and team building skills which have shaped me into who I am today and this would help me after graduation.

It is great being part of societies and bonding with students with similar interests as yours. I wanted to be closely involved and learn the processes of executing events which led me to becoming part of the committee. My advice would be to join as many societies as you can in your first year if it doesn’t interfere too much with your studies and renew your society membership of the selective ones, you’re interested in from your 2nd year onwards.

Did you travel home often in your first year?

Coming from England, initially in my first year my family visited me every few months and my main form of travel back to home was by train during holidays, just after competing any due assignments or exams which is why it’s always great to go back home and escape from university for a bit! Nevertheless, it’s amazing to come back and meet friends and throw myself in the next semester. Within Edinburgh, Lothian bus app is very helpful to navigate within the city and the Trainline app which helps us to book tickets at the best prices.

What’s your experience of living in Edinburgh?

On average, I visit the city almost once or twice in a week for shopping, watching a movie, bowling, exploring Edinburgh and seeing it’s night life. Heriot Watt’s bus connectivity is great, and the bus service regulates every 15 minutes. Also, with the help of google maps and transport apps, it’s easy to navigate around the city.

What advice would you give to someone looking to move away from home for university?

Moving away from home for university is a significant life transition. Some pieces of advice I would suggest helping make the experience smoother are as below:

• Plan in advance: Finalising your accommodation arrangements, packing essential items depending on how much weight you can carry, and travel plans if any. This could help improve your organisational and planning skills and reduce stress closer to your departure date.
• Budget wisely: Initially, for freshers keeping a watch on how much you’re spending is a good way to track expenses. Make sure you create a budget for your living expenses, including accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses which will help you manage your money effectively.
• Stay connected: Adjusting to a new environment takes time initially but make sure you still stay in touch with family and friends since regular communication can help alleviate homesickness and provide emotional support.
• Learn basic life skills: You may need to become more independent that you were at home so start familiarising yourself with basic life skills, such as cooking, laundry, making bed, and budgeting which will be valuable in your new independent living situation.
• Explore the area: Take the time to explore Edinburgh by getting to know the local amenities, public transportation, and important landmarks. Reslife and Chaplaincy often do a lot of trips so stay tuned to their Instagram pages to find out more information.
• Attend orientation: Attend as many events as you find interesting which is an excellent opportunity to meet new people, learn about campus resources, and get acclimated to your new environment.
• Join clubs and societies: Engage in extracurricular activities, join clubs, or participate in societies to meet new people who share similar interests and expand your social circle.
• Seek support when needed: If you're feeling overwhelmed or homesick, don't hesitate to seek support from your roommates, your personal tutor, and the university’s student support services such as the GP, Reslife and Safeguarding.
• Stay healthy: Prioritize your physical and mental health. Maintain a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep.