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When any parent sends their child abroad to study, they mostly think about the university ranking, the course curriculum, and the visa approval. But what about the bed they sleep on? The flatmates they share a kitchen with? The feeling of loneliness at 2 AM in a new country?
On a recent episode, host Saurabh Arora (student mobility expert) and his guest Pavel Bawa (Deputy Head of International, South Asia at UEL) discussed a powerful truth: “You don’t belong to your company, or your university, unless you’re passionate about it.” And that belonging starts with where you live.
This blog, which discusses the core of Mr. Saurabh Arora & Mr. Pavel Bawa’s podcast, powered by Vita Students, places University Living at the heart of Pavel’s journey and UEL’s incredible growth: from 250 Indian students a year to over 15,000 in five years, making them the second most sought-after public UK university in Asia.
The Man Behind the Growth: Pavel Bawa- Humble, Punjabi, Global
Mr. Pavel Bawa was born and raised in Amritsar, the spiritual and cultural heart of the Sikh religion and the second-largest city in the Indian state of Punjab. Unfortunately, he lost his father in second grade. However, even with these unfortunate circumstances he studied really hard & prepared for CAT examinations and SATs (SATs during 12th standard). And with God’s grace, he got a very good SAT score & his mentor told him he would easily get a 50% scholarship from the University of Seattle. He could have gone to the University of Seattle with a 50% scholarship. Instead, he stayed back for his mother and sisters. And he did his MBA from India, worked at Times Group, and was later poached by University of East London, which was awarded bythe Guardian University Guide 2026: #33 in the UK. Today, he is 35, settled in Dubai with his wife and 75+ year old mother, and has helped scale UEL’s South Asian footprint like few others.
His mantra? “Hustle humbly.” A neon sign he looks at every day.
Quick Info – In the Czech language, Pavel means “humble”.
For students, this is the first lesson: you can be rooted and still become a global citizen. But that transition is impossible without the right living environment in a foreign land.
Data That Speaks Volumes: UEL’s Meteoric Rise
Let’s go through the performance snapshot of the University of East London (UEL), as shared by Pavel during the podcast. He used these numbers to demonstrate UEL’s growth, student satisfaction, employability track record, and scale.
| Metric | Value |
| Indian students in last 5 years | 15,000+ from 18 regions |
| Yearly Asian intake (2023–24) | 6,800+ (excluding China) |
| Total university students | 40,000 |
| International students | ~20,000–22,000 (50%) |
| Student satisfaction in London | Ranked #1 |
| Student satisfaction in UK | Ranked #3 |
| Graduates employed within 6 months | 96% |
| Industry partners | 3,000+ (Coca‑Cola, Siemens, AWS, Bloomberg, TCS) |
| University age | 126 years (founded 1898) |
| Growth in intake (Pavel’s tenure) | From ~250 → 6,800+ |
The stats also say that one in every 20 Indian students in the UK studies at UEL. That is not just a mere coincidence. But this is the decision that Indian students are making. However, it is also true that scaling becomes hard sometimes. As Pavel admits, “When you do 5,000 students, you know the quality. At 25,000, there will be 1 bad case in 1,000. People remember the one.” That’s where University Living becomes the safety net, offering a sense of belonging, peer support, and daily structure that catches the ‘one in a thousand’ before they fall through the cracks. University Living offers not only the apartments, but also the student studio in London, cheap student accommodation London (cheap means value for money), and many more options, catering for every need of students.
Belonging: The Most Powerful Word in Student Housing
Pavel used the word “belong” repeatedly. UEL’s first week is orientation and induction, not just academic, but social. They have one of the largest Indian student clubs in the UK, celebrating festivals on campus. Why does this matter for living?
Because a student who feels lonely will not attend workshops. They will not build their “Career Passport” (UEL’s in‑house LinkedIn). They may even drop out.
Pavel shared a personal habit: he stays in UEL’s on‑campus accommodation himself to experience what students go through. Most university administrators never do that.
He also praised accommodation partners like Vita Student (formerly “belong”, now “begin big”). His advice to students: “The moment you get your conditional offer letter, decide on your accommodation. Otherwise, you end up paying more and losing the right location.”
Student accommodation UK is the second largest spend item after tuition, for students who want to build their resume from any United Kingdom university. It affects mental health, study focus, and even employability.
Comfort Zone vs. Launchpad: Why Moving Out Is Non‑Negotiable for Students?
Staying in Amritsar was comfortable. But he moved to Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and finally Dubai.
Each move was tough. “If you do not sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.” He remembers a Buddhist saying: “The journey to the moon takes 12 days, but most people quit on day 11.”
Living at university requires sacrifice. You might need to share a bathroom. You have to cook your own meals. Plus, sometimes (or most of the time) you need to cope with homesickness, which Pavel says is very real for South Asian students because families are close-knit and supportive. But that struggle is the launchpad. Students who live on campus or in purpose-built student accommodation London (PBSA) stay enrolled longer and have better career results because they build peer networks, attend evening workshops, and learn to hustle.
Employability Starts at Your Front Door
University of East London (Ranked 33 in the UK, Guardian University Guide 2026: #33 in the UK) offers a careers guarantee. This is a program with access to career services for up to 5 years after graduation. Their Career Passport tracks student engagement in AI, emotional intelligence, and data interpretation workshops.
It came as quite a surprise to Pavel to learn that an incredible 96% of the graduates from the University of East London receive employment offers within only six months after their graduation. Most graduates get a job in the NHS or get recruited by multinational IT companies such as Google. Others decide to launch their own ventures, including a venture called Sugar Crate, which manufactures eco-friendly bricks made from sugarcane residue waste. Sugar Crate is the brainchild of a University of East London alumni based in Greater Noida.
He also formed a special India Advisory Board at UEL, through which he collaborated with some of the biggest IT firms in India, including TCS, to help create more jobs in India as well as in other countries in the world. Before wrapping up this blog, however, I have a special message for all those individuals who matter most – the parents. It should be noted that the gap between your child’s bed and his first employment offer can sometimes be as small as a few kilometres.
The Billboard Message
At the end of this blog, what do you think Pavel might have said to all aspiring students? “Live by your values and principles.” Yes, these were his words. And he means it. That stands for your student accommodation in London too. And for us at University Living this means
- Offer accommodation that aligns with students’ vibes & personalities.
- Offer students not only accommodation but also give them real bookings for belongings, and hence ULInfinity was born.
- Last but not least, be there for students, on every step, or become friends in an unknown land.
And most importantly, remember his opening words from the podcast: “It’s easy to start, easy to quit & it’s tough to continue.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does any student choose UEL for their Higher Education?
The University of East London has a career-first approach, which integrates professional skills and industry connections into every degree. In 2025, it was named the University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. Not only this, but UEL also offers a Careers Guarantee and partners with over 3,000 employers (including Amazon, Microsoft, and the NHS) to provide placements and real-world projects. This ROI is the main reason why students pick UEL as their career launch pad. Plus, don’t forget about the prestige of this university.
Where do find the right student accommodation in London?
University Living is one of the most trusted student accommodation providers in the UK. It offers numerous room types, including studios, en-suites, shared, as well as private apartments in any city of the UK and worldwide. More to this, students can avail multiple discounts, and they can do group booking as well.
Does a university with high intake numbers compromise on quality?
No, it does not. The higher intakes do not mean compromise on the education quality, but it simply stands for greater accessibility, institutional efficiency, and the ability to serve more students without sacrificing academic standards.
Is it important to have good student accommodation for academic success?
Yes, it is critically important. While a brilliant student can excel in any kind of environment. However, the right accommodation removes those barriers and provides a supportive platform for learning.
What is the acceptance rate of the University of East London?
The current acceptance rate of UEL is approximately 55% to 56%.
