Boarding in the UK? What is it like for Asian students?
10th July 23
Many international students, including Asian students, are boarding in the UK. According to the Independent School Council (ISC) Survey 2021, there are around 65,000 students in total attending UK Independent boarding schools, and approximately 40% of them are overseas students whose parents live abroad.
More and more Asian parents are sending their children to boarding schools in Britain, especially students from China and Hong Kong. Some are looking for more stability and academic freedom but there is no doubt of the confidence that Asian parents have in British boarding schools.
Students can easily imagine their life in a boarding school to be like in a Harry Potter film, but the reality can be very different. For Asian students, the move to a UK school does not just involve moving away from their parents – the move to a new country can also mean learning a new language, tasting new food, and adjusting to the UK weather!
It is important to attend an open day or visit the school you intend to join, as this is the first opportunity to experience the school and its boarding culture. The application process and interview will then give a student a deeper insight into the school and give them an opportunity to find out more about studying and living there. Finally, as students approach the first day of term, schools will take different steps to welcome students while they may still be miles away and living overseas, especially those students living in Asia.
For Asian students, this is the time to become independent and to get to know others from different nationalities such as students from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. This is a great opportunity for Asian students to speak in English, as this will be the common language amongst all students.
A British Education encourages students not to be afraid to ask questions of teachers and other students. Learning in the classroom is done as much by discussion and listening to other people’s points of views, as it is by a teacher talking to the class. This is different than the learning culture in Asia, where most Asian students only listen to their teachers and are shy to ask questions.
Boarding school life encourages students to take time to settle in, adjust, then join in and try something they have never done before. All of these opportunities will push Asian students out of their comfort zone, which helps to develop their character and prepare them better for university study and the world of work.
Compared to the Asian culture, where students are normally reserved and rarely ask questions and speak, boarding schools in the UK actively encourage students to have a go and try things they’ve never done before. Boarding in the UK opens up opportunities to explore a different culture. For example, Asian students can enjoy different food: fish ‘n’ chips, roast dinners, and apple pie are all traditional British dishes that are very different from Asian students’ typical diets based on rice. At a British boarding school, students can also enjoy various dishes from Europe, Central Asia, India, the Middle East, and other places, as all nationalities are celebrated in the schools and many different international cuisines can be found in the UK.
The weather will be very different to Asia, so remember to bring clothes for the UK weather as this can be warm, rainy and cold all in one day.
Asian students are smart and humble, but don’t be afraid – British schools are used to welcoming Asian students, so don’t miss the opportunity to fulfil your academic and personal dreams at a boarding school in the UK.
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