Karway Kan is a Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) student.
What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?
I've always known I wanted to pursue a Bar course when I first started my undergraduate degree in Law. Here and there of course, this goal had occasionally diluted through the hardships and stressful times I went through, but time and time again I reminded myself of my original goal of wanting to be a lawyer and how rewarding that would be in the future.
Plus, just how much the future me would thank me now for persevering through and finishing postgraduate studies. This was pretty much enough for me to attain enough motivation to last another year of studying.
What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?
I was in my third year studying my undergraduate law degree. Between the periods of applying to my postgraduate degree and breaks in my undergraduate studies however, I had also travelled to multiple countries such as Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, etc.
I decided to take the opportunity to travel as I may not get these opportunities again once I start to enter the working life, and I would highly recommend this!
Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree? If so, how did you overcome them?
Definitely! As an international student, I had to ensure my Visa would come on time before the start of my postgraduate studies. I also had to make sure I secured my accommodation in time.
These were extremely stressful on my part as I did not want to miss the beginning of my course as it would have been difficult to catch up.
I did manage to settle these in time by setting goals on when I needed to be done with certain things by - and made sure I achieved them.
I was also worried that I would have to start fresh again at a new university with unfamiliar faces - and that I would not be able to make any friends and be lonely.
However, it turned out that all these were mindless worries and within a week or so, this was proven to not be a problem at all! People all around were kind and friendly as there are so many people who are also at university for the first time with similar kinds of worries.
Why did you choose City?
I chose City because I thought it offered the best Bar programme that aligned with my future goals. City also offers the chance to do a specialism alongside BVS, which has allowed me to specialise in certain modules that I want to pursue in the future.
I also wanted to know what it was like to go to a university in the middle of a big city; City has fulfilled exactly that experience for me. City is also known for its great lecturers and teaching standards, which I hold to great satisfaction - as I absolutely love my BVS tutors.
How are you finding studying in the UK?
It is a big change coming to UK from my country back home, as there are big culture difference sand lifestyle changes from where I am from.
I have been here for four years, and while I miss home terribly, I am really enjoying my experiences here. There are many other Malaysians here in London, which makes it a little less lonely and terrifying.
Being in London is such a fun experience as there are just so many things to do, so many things to eat, and so many people to meet.
What does a typical week at university look like for you?
I have three days of classes each week, and the other days are honestly mostly spent prepping for those days of classes as the BVS is very content and practice-heavy.
My study workload is extremely heavy due to that, but this was something that I expected - so it hasn’t been too bad. During the weekends, I usually go out for dinner and drinks with my friends, and take a rest on Sundays.
I do also try to go to the gym at least three times a week in between my workload and social life.
What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?
My favourite module so far has to be Criminal Advocacy! In this module, depending on whether it's Examination in Chief or Cross Examination, we basically have to play out a part of a trial in a court of witness questioning.
The exhilarating feeling when you manage to get a good flow of questions going, or the creative fun you can explore with when playing the witness for your other classmates is really one to remember.
Not to say the tutor I had was also very friendly and inviting, and made us feel comfortable enough to really dare to test our skills in class.
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?
Definitely my confidence and my speaking skills. I used to be deathly afraid of public speaking, and was always filled with so much anxiety when it is required.
However, with the right set of people I'm surrounded with in my classes, alongside tutors who are always so willing to help, I find that I have improved drastically in this aspect.
What opportunities and experiences has City offered you so far?
City has offered plenty of opportunities as a BVS student since the course started. For example, the City Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC) constantly offers new opportunities such as volunteering in clinics, court visits, and so on.
I found all of these to be extremely interesting and helpful as I would not have had these chances to try things without the help of City.
I personally have also signed up to be a Student Ambassador, and while I haven't had time to do many jobs, it has been a great opportunity for some side earnings and I’ve met new people.
What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?
I am aspiring to be a lawyer one day - and City has really helped me get past the stepping stone through the BVS course. The intensity of the course has trained me to always be on my feet and to learn how to manage my time really well.
These will be handy transferable skills in any career I find myself in, in the future.
What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?
I would say to really remind yourself of how far you have come and think about why you're considering a postgraduate degree. What do you want to get out of it, and will you get it if you continue to pursue one? I had many doubts, but ultimately the pros overcame the cons in my case which is why I am here.
Is it something you're interested in? I would not advise pursuing a PG degree just for the sake of the qualification, as it is very difficult, and having a real interest will play a massive part in doing well.