09/06/2026
When I first arrived in the UK, I thought my English was pretty good.
I could hold conversations.
Watch movies without subtitles.
Communicate confidently.
Then I received my first assignment feedback.
"Needs more critical analysis."
"Limited evaluation."
"Referencing issues."
I remember reading those comments and thinking...
"What does that even mean?"
Many international students don't struggle because of English.
They struggle because academic writing has its own rules.
Different structure.
Different expectations.
Different way of thinking.
And nobody really explains it.
If you're an international student, what was the biggest surprise you faced when studying in the UK?
I'd love to hear your experience 👇