11 Hematológicos Hematología

The purpose of this section is to investigate how long interview participants had planned and prepared for their UK study. It also investigates whether one’s decision for study abroad was influenced by anyone. It finally aims to know whether interviewees also applied for other universities and how they made their final decision to study at USW. The relevant findings provide supplemental information related to the decision making of studying abroad.

Preparation Duration

The length of preparation for UK studies depends on individual cases. Most of the Masters study applications took a few months, but preparation was always less than six months. Usually, students only needed to wait about one month before knowing whether their school application was accepted. Most PhD applicants’ followed a different application path: many of the PhD interview participants first tried to find teachers (in several universities) whose expertise

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fitted their research interests. After receiving a response or permission from the professors they had contacted at USW, they then started their school

application. Some of the students might defer their admission because of financial reasons. For instance, a Middle Eastern student (0025) who needed more income for paying his tuition fees stated that he did the school application about two years ago and received admission from USW. He then decided to work for one more year so he deferred his admission. A married Asian student also explained how she and her husband had taken turns in their education and she deferred her study because of the scholarship application:

We decided my husband did his Masters first in 2008. I was supposed to

enter the university last year, 2009 … But, I did not get the scholarship, so I deferred. I asked for deferral so we went back to my home country first for one year. I then applied again for the scholarship. This time we got the scholarship. (0022)

Usually, for admission in the 2010–11 academic year, students would start thinking about study abroad in 2008 or 2009, or one or two years in advance. They then did the school application in 2010. For example, a male European Masters student (0004) mentioned that he decided to go on his studies in 2009 although he started thinking about his Masters study much earlier. He met a teacher from USW in 2005 and the teacher mentioned to him that the school provided research in his field. He submitted his application in June 2010 and was accepted in July. A European PhD student stated: “I first contacted

teachers at different universities but only my teacher at USW contacted me so I then did the only one PhD application … I actually wanted to go to Warrick … But, a teacher with similar research interest there did not contact me” (0008).

Decision-making Process

The findings in this section can be divided into two parts: whether the decision to study abroad was or was not influenced by someone else. Most of the

interviewees made their own decision to study abroad. For example, an African

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is somehow the goal of my family and my mother. They have expectations to me. I also have expectations for myself and my life” (0001).

However, ten interviewees mentioned that their decision to pursue an overseas education was influenced by someone else. These influential people included teachers, husband, employers, friends with study-abroad experience, parents, and a Masters supervisor in the student’s home country. A European Masters

student said: “My study abroad in South West is influenced by a professor

whose expertise is in my field” (0004). An African Masters student also

commented: “My employer somehow influenced my decision to study abroad.

My husband also influenced my decision to study abroad because he supported and encouraged me” (0006). An Asian Masters student stated: “My friends influenced my decision to study abroad. I want to be like one of them in the future. I was inspired by my friends who used to study abroad and have very good English, many international friends, and precious experiences” (0011).

Decision for Admission

Most of the interview participants applied to different study programs, within the same university, different universities, or in different countries. For instance, one Masters participant (0010) stated that he applied to study in the US and Sweden but was not accepted. He then applied for study in the UK. An Asian Masters student also stated his decision-making process for his USW

admission:

I also applied for Glasgow, York, King’s College, New Castle and others, about seven or eight universities. … I remember three or four

admissions … I then did the comparison … The courses here, to me, are more practical, not just the theories or methodologies. They include how to evaluate students, how to design materials, and how to find out the proper methods. This is very important for me. (0007)

Most of the PhD interviewees, especially European participants, applied for study only at USW because they submitted the school application only after receiving application permission from their potential supervisors. A European

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PhD participant stated how he contacted his teacher and did his PhD application:

I started to find information on the Internet and speak with all of the possible PhD programs in the whole Britain … Probably, my current supervisor was the first person with whom I contacted … I found she was a very open-minded person. I could bring a lot of arguments and speak in a very broad way so the mentality was very important. (0005)