{"id":24988,"date":"2026-05-09T11:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/?p=24988"},"modified":"2026-05-09T12:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T07:20:12","slug":"from-india-to-leeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/student-ambassadors\/from-india-to-leeds\/","title":{"rendered":"From India to Leeds: The Unexpected Lessons I Learned Moving Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beginning of my Journey<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing my MBBS, I knew I wanted to\u00a0specialise\u00a0further, and Leeds Beckett stood out for its strong clinical focus and reputation in sports science. However, moving to a new country is not about academics and planning; it is a deeply personal decision that requires courage,\u00a0trust-and\u00a0a willingness to embrace the unknown. For me, it felt like a huge leap into a completely new life. The months leading up to my departure were honestly stressful. There was always something to sort out: my CAS letter, visa, bank statements, and health surcharge payment. Despite the excitement, I was also anxious about the sheer amount of work I knew was needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About me<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My name is\u00a0Dr Siddhesh Kapadia<\/strong>, and I moved from India to Leeds, UK, to study my\u00a0MSc in Sports Medicine at\u00a0Leeds Beckett University<\/a><\/strong>. I had an experience of living in hostel life in my MBBS but wait\u00a0lemme\u00a0tell\u00a0you when I reached UK, it\u00a0was one\u00a0another ball game.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My experience<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Landing at Manchester Airport felt surreal. I was too tired to fully process it. I was carrying a strange mix of jet lag, excitement, nervousness, and the constant thought\u00a0ie-this is it now. Then I took the train to Leeds, and I remember simply staring out of the window the whole time. The countryside looked calm and beautiful, almost unreal, and for a moment everything felt still. However, stepping outside and feeling the cold hit me properly was a different story. What I had not expected was how emotionally draining the move would be. While people often talk about the planning of moving abroad, they do not mention the loneliness of the first few days. It is not because\u00a0anything\u00a0is wrong but because everything is unfamiliar. Even trivial things feel bigger when you are alone in a new place. Buying essentials, figuring out directions, sorting out your\u00a0student\u00a0accommodation\u00a0Leeds<\/a><\/strong>, understanding accents, and adjusting to the weather none of\u00a0it\u00a0is inherently difficult, but all of\u00a0it\u00a0at once feels overwhelming.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Leeds<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodation tends to be the biggest chunk of your budget, and costs can vary dramatically depending on your city. Places like London, Oxford, and Brighton are notoriously\u00a0pricier\u00a0than cities such as Cardiff, Belfast, or Leicester. To stay on top of your finances, it helps to plan your budget before you even arrive, lean into verified websites like\u00a0University\u00a0Living<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0Wherever possible, cook at home to cut down on food costs, and opt for public transport over taxis. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0settling into Leeds, the city has plenty to offer just around the corner: from green open spaces like Woodhouse Moor and Woodhouse Ridge, to live events at the First Direct Arena and shopping at Trinity Leeds. When it comes to food and drink, the local scene\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0disappoint either whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0grabbing a coffee at Coffee on the Crescent, exploring the eclectic\u00a0Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen, or tucking into something hearty at Nizam\u2019s Kitchen, there is always something worth stepping out for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My home away from home<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"leeds\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s\u00a0included at\u00a0iQ\u00a0Leeds\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 Bills\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 Free, super-fast\u00a0wifi\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 24\/7 security and CCTV\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 Laundry facilities\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 Social spaces\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2981 Games room\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting settled at\u00a0iQ\u00a0Leeds\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I booked\u00a0iQ\u00a0Leeds\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>as my student accommodation, and that was\u00a0hands down\u00a0the best decision ever.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a 25-minute bus from Leeds Railway Station. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0coming via the\u00a0uni,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a 10-minute bus from\u00a0Leeds Beckett University<\/strong>, a 12-minute walk from\u00a0University\u00a0of Leeds<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or a 15-minute walk from\u00a0Leeds Arts<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My tips for Students coming to UK<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing I would recommend is sorting out the important basics before arriving. Setting up a bank account with a provider like\u00a0Monzo or Revolut\u00a0and using apps or services like\u00a0University Living<\/strong>\u00a0can make your first few days much smoother.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another mistake I would recommend against is overpacking clothes you are unlikely to wear. In the\u00a0UK\u00a0especially in the north, warm practical layers are far more important than you might think.\u00a0All the best!\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beginning of my Journey\u00a0 After completing my MBBS, I knew I wanted to\u00a0specialise\u00a0further, and Leeds Beckett stood out for its strong clinical focus and reputation in sports science. However, moving to a new country is not about academics and planning; it is a deeply personal decision that requires courage,\u00a0trust-and\u00a0a willingness to embrace the unknown. For […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1106],"tags":[229],"class_list":["post-24988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-student-ambassadors","tag-united-kingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}