Indonesian students advised on preparing for UK study

Prospective students aiming to study in the United Kingdom should prioritize securing an official Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from their chosen institution, according to Dewi Nur Aisyah, an alumna of Imperial College London.

Dewi explained that the LoA is crucial for scholarship providers, demonstrating that applicants meet the necessary academic and documentation requirements. "Because it proves that we have met the requirements in terms of documents and qualifications to study at that institution," she stated at the Study UK Pre-Departure Briefing in Jakarta.

Beyond official documents, Dewi stressed the importance of mental readiness. She advised aspiring students to cultivate a mentality for independent, open, and critical learning. The UK's educational system, she noted, actively encourages students to go beyond simply receiving knowledge, urging them to question, analyze, and build their own evidence-based arguments.

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Because it proves that we have met the requirements in terms of documents and qualifications to study at that institution.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed, Dewi recommended conducting initial research into the campus and the local environment. "When we manage our expectations realistically and conduct preliminary research, it means we have prepared our minds before pursuing our studies," she said. Dewi, an expert in epidemiology and infectious disease informatics, shared her own experience obtaining a scholarship from DIKTI in 2011 for postgraduate studies in modern epidemiology at Imperial College London, noting that scholarships were less common then compared to the current availability of programs like LPDP and Chevening.

The "Study Pre-Departure Briefing" (PDB) 2026, organized by the British Council, attracted 280 prospective students. The event aims to equip them with practical advice and the latest study information, reflecting the high interest among Indonesian and Southeast Asian youth in pursuing higher education in the UK. The briefing was attended by Agus Mochamad Ramdhan, the Indonesian education and cultural attaché to the UK, and Summer Xia, Country Director of the British Council for Indonesia and Southeast Asia, along with UK university alumni.

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When we manage our expectations realistically and conduct preliminary research, it means we have prepared our minds before pursuing our studies.