Modern Languages PhD Alice | Study With Us

Hello, I’m Alice. I first came to Newcastle University for my postgraduate studies. After finishing this course, I decided to stay for my PhD and take advantage of the fee discount that was available to eligible alumni.

Pursuing my postgraduate studies at Newcastle has given me the chance to continue focusing on the area I’m interested in. There are fewer institutions back home in Taiwan that offer courses in modern languages.

I love the city and the people, so it was an easy choice to continue my studies here. It’s also an affordable place to live. And it’s convenient too as everything I need is close to campus.

Further information for students from Taiwan

Find out more about my degree

Exploring the local area

Living in the UK, the biggest difference for me is the climate. Taiwan is a sub-tropical island, so it's much warmer and more humid. It rarely gets below 10 degrees and in the summer 30 degrees plus is the norm, while in Newcastle it's cooler year-round.

On weekends, if the weather is nice, Jesmond Dene is a great place for a walk and some fresh air. In the summer, I like to take the Metro out to Tynemouth to see the ocean and get some fish and chips.

I’m part of the Taiwanese Society as I think it's good to connect with other students from my home country and share information about studying in the UK. They have various social events throughout the year, such as mini-golf and karaoke night.

Explore the North East region

Find out more about the Taiwanese Society

Incredible venues for musicals and more

I'm a huge theatre fan, so I've been to a lot of shows at the Newcastle Theatre Royal, including Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Northern Ballet's Romeo and Juliet, and Hairspray. I love the classic architecture and the exquisite interior design of the theatre—it's so different from what we have in Taiwan!

I also love going to The Glasshouse, which is just across the river in Gateshead. They have lots of fantastic, world-class music performances to choose from and it's a gorgeous venue. My favourite trip to The Glasshouse last year was to attend a Lea Salonga concert – something that had been on my bucket list for years!

Explore life in Newcastle

A future in academia and research

Being a PhD student has been more challenging as we set our own schedule and take charge of our study progress, whereas in the MA we had modules to guide us. I have developed the ability to do independent research, find information more efficiently and manage data.

I've received a lot of research guidance and wellbeing support from my supervisors, and my School has provided key information about training and funding opportunities.

Looking to the future, I want to continue in academia. I see myself as a full-time researcher. I’ve been able to get teaching experience alongside my PhD studies, which has helped me develop my CV and work towards my goals.

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