Vicente Gonzalez

Warwick Business School

Home City and Country: Monterrey, Mexico

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Inventory Planner Department Head

How has studying business in the United Kingdom enriched your learning experience? Certainly, it has been very enriching to study in one of the best universities in the world, but one thing that makes the experience stand out is the wide variety of cultures and different backgrounds that come together in this country. Being exposed to so many different ways of thinking and an endless pool of perspectives really adds a lot on top of the extraordinary learning experience.

What has been the toughest transition to living in the United Kingdom so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty? In Mexico, family is always close, and there is no such thing as being alone. However, being a foreigner, sometimes it is inevitable to feel that way, with no one to talk to because everyone you know is in a different time zone. Nevertheless, I have the good fortune of having my wife and daughter beside me (they came into the country as dependents). Having us for one another helps me recharge my batteries to help me give my best effort in my studies.

What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in the United Kingdom? How has it helped you adapt? The immigration service the school provides has been extremely helpful with all the requirements for the visa, and provides additional information on important matters such as the NHS, weather, and well-being.

What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in the United Kingdom? Why has this struck you? They are very open to foreigners. This struck me because I had the misconception that Brits were cold and rude, but since the first moment we arrived I was proven wrong. Wherever I went, I was treated with deference, and people always smiled back and were helpful when it came to it.

Are you seeking a Visa to work in the United Kingdom after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? My current focus is on managing family responsibilities, clubs, studies, and social life. At this point, I’m not seeking a work visa, but if I were to explore working in the UK later, I hope I can get a visa through the graduate route. This means I don’t need a company to sponsor my visa right away and gives me two years of building relationships before I can secure a sponsor. Seeking guidance from experts, utilizing career support from the MBA program, and networking within the professional community would remain important strategies to navigate any challenges.

What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school? Just be open. Everyone is interested in sharing their background and I have the good fortune of being in a class full of highly driven individuals, so being open to others’ ideas and sharing mine with respect has made it a lot easier.

What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in a UK graduate business program? Start early. Usually, applications start more than one year before studies begin. And while it may seem a long way away, there are a lot of steps in the application process (GMAT, English proficiency exams, essays, interviews, etc.). Also, the UK and its universities offer a lot of economic support for international students, and in this regard, it is the early bird who catches the worm. So, if you have already decided that you want to study in the UK be mindful of all the important dates, create a calendar where you can monitor your progress and stick to it.

DON’T MISS: 2024 MBAS ABROAD: UNITED KINGDOM