Ramana left home in India and took a bold step to pursue the academic challenge in health psychology that he was seeking to help him grow personally and professionally.

We spoke to him about what led him to the UK and how the course is helping him build towards a career in academia.

Southern India to Bath

My journey to the University of Bath began in the southern part of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. I identify as a Tamilian, and Tamil is my native language, a source of pride and identity.

Though my roots are in the town of Namakkal, I’ve spent much of my life in bigger cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bangalore, where I went to school and began to form a sense of independence.

Growing up, my parents shaped my attitude towards education and work. My mother, who holds degrees in science and education, played a huge role in shaping my perspective on learning; while my father, a civil engineer by trade, is a resilient entrepreneur and my biggest supporter.

They both initially envisioned a future for me in engineering, but I gravitated towards social sciences instead. Psychology fascinated me, as I loved exploring how people think and behave.

After completing my undergraduate degree in the subject in Coimbatore, followed by a master's in Bangalore, I reached a turning point. I began thinking about how I could take my academic interests further and do research that would genuinely make an impact.

I realised that in India, unless you are in IT or management, it’s difficult to find financial stability, especially in academia. The UK, in contrast, offered not only better opportunities in my field but also a more equitable income structure for academics. That definitely gave me a nudge to continue my studies abroad.

Choosing Bath for research

When researching postgraduate options, I knew I wanted a research-intensive course, ideally as a springboard into a PhD.

I found MRes Psychology at Bath. The University’s reputation in this area made the decision easy.

I began reaching out to faculty members whose research areas resonated with me, even if I wasn’t entirely confident in my ideas yet. Professor Greg Maio responded really positively and encouraged me to apply. That support from the outset gave me a lot of confidence.

Moving to the UK was a huge step. It was my first time leaving southern India. I had lived away from my family before, but nothing compares to the experience of starting over in a completely different country and culture.

Settling in and finding support

I’ll admit, the first few days were overwhelming. I was unsure where to go, how to navigate the campus.

One thing that stands out was not having access to the printers in the library. But the staff were incredibly kind and let me print documents before I’d fully set up my student card. That small gesture made a big difference.

Though Bath has excellent support services for international students, I haven’t needed to access many of them. That said, knowing they exist is reassuring. During a couple of moments of anxiety and self-doubt, I felt close to giving up, but it was my own resolve that pulled me through. I reminded myself why I was here and what was at stake.

The course itself is rigorous. There are lectures, group projects, presentations, and an eventual dissertation. I’ve met classmates from all over the world, including Chinese policy students and a passionate public health researcher from the UK. Working with people from different disciplines has been intellectually rewarding and has made me more adaptable.

New ways of learning and working

One of the biggest shifts I’ve experienced is in my work ethic and time management.

Back home, I had a habit of leaving things to the last minute. Here, with constant coursework and deadlines, I’ve learnt to become more structured. I’ve started using digital planners and learned about techniques like time-boxing - where you schedule specific blocks in your calendar to complete tasks. These small changes have dramatically improved my productivity and self-discipline.

I’ve also discovered that the academic environment here is far more collaborative than I expected. Professors are accessible, even outside of hours sometimes, and genuinely invested in our progress.

I’ve developed more in six months than I did over several years before coming here. It’s not just about academic content; it’s about how I’ve changed as a person.

Looking ahead

My main goal now is to put my learning into practice. I’ve been studying for seven years, and it feels like the right time to transition into work, hopefully here in the UK.

I’m about to begin an apprenticeship with a PhD student whose research is similar to mine and I’m also exploring consulting and internship opportunities.

I’ve joined a couple of societies too. One of them is a low-key, friendly group where people meet up to play cards or even feed the ducks, it’s quirky, but it’s lovely. I also joined the Pakistani society, although I haven’t been able to attend as they usually meet and play cricket when I’m at work.

The biggest surprise for me about living and studying in the UK? How early it gets dark in winter! I expected the cold, but not the short days, it definitely took some getting used to.