Starting university in Dubai came with plenty of unknowns. Amina shares how support, new routines, and unexpected opportunities helped her find her place.
If you had met me during my first week at the University of Birmingham Dubai, you probably would not have guessed that a few years later I would be writing a blog for the University and helping future students feel more confident about starting their own journey.
I still remember standing on campus during Welcome Week with my phone in my hand, refreshing my timetable again and again. It simply would not load. Around me, everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going. Students were walking together, laughing and talking, while I was standing there trying to figure out which classroom I was supposed to enter.
At that moment, I honestly just wanted to go home.
Looking back now, that moment makes me smile. Not because it was easy, but because I had no idea how much I would grow from that nervous first-year student into the person I am today.
Before applying to university, I had always imagined myself studying in the UK. However, being close to my family was very important to me, and studying in Dubai meant that we could still see each other without the additional visa and travel difficulties that would come with living further away.
I am very close to my parents and my younger sister, so knowing that they could easily visit me, and that I could visit them, gave both me and my family a sense of reassurance. In the end, the University of Birmingham Dubai gave me the opportunity to experience a British education while still being close to the people who matter most to me.
Of course, excitement came with uncertainty.
As an international student moving to Dubai, I had never studied in an English-speaking environment before, so I worried about adapting to a new education system, communicating confidently, and keeping up academically.
The first semester was definitely an adjustment period.
The British education system was different from anything I had experienced before. The grading system, coursework expectations, and assessment style were all new to me. Suddenly, I had multiple deadlines, presentations, and exams happening close together, and sometimes it felt overwhelming.
One of my biggest challenges was QMBE, or Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics.
I came from a school with a creative and humanities-focused background, so I had never felt particularly confident with math. The module included three exams worth 25% each, followed by a final exam worth 50% of the overall grade. Knowing that the final exam carried so much weight made me worry that I would not achieve the mark I needed to pass the module.
Instead of keeping those worries to myself, I decided to ask for help.
I started attending my lecturer’s office hours regularly. I would come with questions, ask for explanations, and practice the areas I struggled with. My lecturer also recommended additional resources from the library to help me understand the topics better.
That experience taught me one of the most important lessons of university: asking for support is not a weakness. Sometimes, you simply have to take the first step and ask.
Interestingly, one of my favorite modules turned out to be Academic English.
Before starting university, I was nervous about studying in English, so I never expected this module to become one of the highlights of my first year. What made it so special was that it never felt like a traditional English lesson. Our professor encouraged us to discuss different topics, share our opinions, and communicate freely with each other, including conversations that went beyond Academic English itself.
The module also helped me understand something I had initially found confusing: how the British university grading system worked. Coming from a different educational background, I did not understand how individual assessments contributed to our overall module grades or, eventually, our degree. Our professor took the time to explain how everything was calculated and what different percentages meant, which made the whole system feel much less intimidating.
Looking back, I think that was one of the first moments when I started feeling more comfortable in the university environment. I was not only becoming more confident in expressing my thoughts in English; I was also beginning to understand how the system around me worked.
I still genuinely miss that module. If it were part of my programme now, I would happily take it again.
Over time, I realised that confidence does not appear overnight. For me, it developed slowly. By my second year, I understood how the assessment system worked, knew how to prepare for exams and organise my deadlines, and felt more comfortable communicating with lecturers when I needed guidance.
The things that once felt intimidating gradually became normal.
Moving to Dubai for university also meant learning how to live independently for the first time.
Although I was already familiar with Dubai, my family had spent a lot of time here, often staying for a month or two before travelling back home, I had never actually lived here on my own. Suddenly, alongside lectures and assignments, I had to think about doing my own laundry, cleaning, ironing, and grocery shopping.
I enjoyed cooking, so that part came quite naturally, but managing everything independently was a completely new experience.
At first, I think I was so focused on adapting to university that I almost forgot to enjoy the city around me. Gradually, though, I started creating my own routines and finding places that made Dubai feel like home.
There was a small café near my accommodation that became one of my favourite places. I would go there for my morning coffee or an evening matcha, and sometimes arrive as early as 7am, order a coffee and a croissant, and sit down to work on an essay, presentation, or practice test.
It became one of those little routines that made my new life feel familiar.
Looking back, learning to live independently was just as important as everything I learned in the classroom. University was not only about becoming a better student; it was also about learning how to manage my own life, create routines and feel comfortable being on my own.
One of the most rewarding parts of my university experience has been working with the University’s Marketing team.
I started working in the Marketing department after completing my foundation year, and I am still involved today. I create content for social media, write blog posts for the University website, and work as a Student Ambassador, helping prospective students by answering their questions about university life.
Sometimes I think about how meaningful that feels.
I arrived at university as someone who did not even know where her first lecture was. Now, I am helping other students who may be experiencing the same worries I once had.
University has also taught me how important balance is. Combining my studies with work has sometimes been challenging, and there have definitely been weeks when everything felt overwhelming. However, these experiences helped me develop one of the most valuable skills I have learned: time management.
If I could speak to my first-year self, I would tell her not to put so much pressure on herself.
I would tell her that she does not need to have everything figured out immediately. It is okay to ask questions, make mistakes and take time to adapt.
The biggest change I have noticed in myself is that I have become more independent and more comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone. I learned to trust myself, express my thoughts, and recognise when I need to slow down and take care of myself.
Today, walking onto campus feels completely different.
I know many of the lecturers, see familiar faces, meet friends between lectures, grab a coffee, and spend time in the library. The campus that once felt unfamiliar now feels like a place where I belong.
If you are about to start university and you are worried about fitting in, making friends or keeping up academically, I want you to know that those feelings are completely normal.
You do not have to figure everything out on your own.
Your lecturers are there to support you. Office hours, library resources, student services, and your classmates are all there to help you succeed. The most important thing is to be willing to ask for help and take opportunities when they come your way.
A few years ago, I was the student standing on campus, refreshing a timetable that would not load and wondering where I was supposed to go.
Today, I walk onto that same campus knowing that I belong there, and in some small way I am now helping other students find their way too.
The biggest thing university gave me was not just a degree. It was the confidence to trust myself.
Not because I stopped feeling nervous, but because I learned that whatever challenge comes next, I will find a way through it.
BSc Business Management with Marketing (Dubai)
Hi! I’m Amina, studying Business Management with Marketing. I love creating social media content and unwinding with a go...
