Studying at Falmouth as an international student

When BA(Hons) Illustration graduate Lim Jun Hui made the 8,000 mile trip to Falmouth from her hometown of Penang, Malaysia, it’s fair to say she didn’t know quite what to expect.

The three years that ensued had an enormous impact on Lim; her course sharpened her illustration skills, she formed friendships that will last a lifetime and enjoyed hours lounging on the beaches surrounding the Woodlane campus.

We caught up with Lim to hear what life at Falmouth University is like for international students, and whether a degree from an English university has helped to elevate her career prospects.

Tell us a bit about your background and how Falmouth has elevated your career

I studied Illustration at Falmouth University and graduated in 2021. I’m currently preparing for my masters and working as a freelance illustrator.

Falmouth has helped me to build industry connections and become comfortable with professional facilities; I learnt about real market challenges in my industry and gained hands on experience.

Studying at a UK university has definitely elevated my career. It’s given me the opportunity to develop my critical, communication and creative thinking skills. The different styles of teaching from my lecturers - in theatres, tutorials and studio practices - have all allowed me to hone my skills in research, form ideas and acquire the ability to present them clearly.

During the final year, we were taught core business skills in licenses, copyright and tax which are all vital to an illustrator and has helped me as a freelancer.

There’s also an employability service that can be accessed for career support and advice. There’s access to thousands of tools, resources, and e-learning to help and build your career such as taking a practice interview using AI technology, access to weekly career workshops and specialist events. These have all helped me to take steps building a foundation for my freelance work.
 

Why did you choose Falmouth University?

There’s a wide range of facilities at Falmouth and having to access to my own individual studio space is the main reason I choose to apply.

As well as that, Falmouth provide one to one tutorials with assigned tutors, which are easily available for students - I found these really helpful.      

As for the place itself, Cornwall offered a safe and relaxed environment. When I needed to, I was able to take a well-earned break from my studies and make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Compared to the rest of the UK, Cornwall is a reasonably affordable place to live, and this goes down well with a student budget.
 

Do you think there are unique experiences that Falmouth provided that you wouldn't have been able to find at other UK or international universities? 

Falmouth provide the workshop festival, which gives opportunities for students to experience different facilities that they don’t usually have a chance to work with. The University also provide evening language classes, which I think is really interesting. I took part and attended a Spanish class where I met people from other courses while learning a new language!

Also, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved with the Cornish culture, like the Sea Shanty Festival, Oyster Festival and all the amazing food! It is such a great place to live as a student with a mix of nightlife and the calm life of a coastal town.
 

What's the most memorable moment you had at Falmouth?

My most memorable moment would be being able to access the beaches around Falmouth. I spent most of my free time at the beach, doing observational drawing, swimming, and occasionally gathering with friends. All of these have brought joy and relaxation throughout my studies in Falmouth.
 

What was your experience of our on campus facilities?

The printmaking studio, IT room and the library are where I spent most of my time. I loved being in those places - there are always staff available around the printmaking room if help is needed, everything is well equipped and organised, and different types of printmaking are separate in different parts of the studio.

The IT room has different types of printers catering to different courses and students’ needs and there are staff available to help out.
 

Find out more about International Study at Falmouth