Kamila Bianchi (Brazil)

MA 3D Computer Animation student, Kamila Bianchi, shares her experience with studying in the UK and how it compares with studying in her country, Brazil.

My first thought when comparing studying in Brazil with the UK was that here (in the UK) you have to dedicate a lot more time to your studies than back home. There are also a lot of differences, from the grading system and writing style, to what happens after class.

Good grades in low numbers

In Brazil, we are marked from 0 to 100 and, depending on the university, the ‘pass grade’ is between 50 and 70. Here, even though the grades are still from 0 to 100, you only need 50 to pass. However, getting more than 70 is almost impossible and you will realise this when you do your first assignment or test. It is weird getting a 55 for example, and having to understand that it is actually a good grade. But you get used to it. So, 40-49 is a ‘pass’, 50-59 is a ‘credit’ 60-69 is a ‘merit’, and 70 and above is a ‘distinction’. This article will help you understand a little bit more about it.

More writing and skills support

Compared to Brazil, you have to do a lot more writing here. Some of the assignments are essays and you have a minimum amount of words you need to write, varying from 2,000 to 5,000 words in my experience. Even in presentations or video files, you will be asked to write a personal diary or make notes about your work. The good news is that the university offers a lot of support, especially for international students. They know that a lot of students do not speak or write English as a first language. You can get help from staff to correct your grammar and the structure of your essays before submitting them. It is great and I have used this service a few times.

Beyond the classroom

Finally, there is always an event taking place on campus, such as several art and photography exhibitions during the year. Every week we receive an email with the cultural events that the University is organising and there is so much to do beyond your actual course. I love that and I get involved as much as I can.

By Kamila Bianchi, Brazil, MA 3D Computer Animation, 2017/18