I’ve always dreamed of studying abroad, and over time, that dream turned into a plan — and eventually, reality. In this blog, I’ll share how we chose the UK as our destination, how I found a university that aligned with my course and career goals, and the steps I took to secure my student visa — from education fairs to booking my flight ✈️
Looking Back: The First Steps Toward Studying Abroad 💻
Ever since I was younger, I’ve always dreamed of studying abroad. I didn’t know yet exactly where or what I wanted to pursue back then — it was just a quiet dream in the back of my mind. But everything started to make sense when I got into cybersecurity. Being in this field, I’ve always felt the need to keep learning and stay ahead — whether it’s through online courses, certifications, or attending conferences. That mindset made it clear early on that if I were to pursue a master’s degree, it would definitely be in cybersecurity.
After getting married, I wondered, “What now? What’s next?” That question led Stefan and me to sit down and talk through our plans on whether it was the right time to move abroad and try something new.
It was perfect timing, because during our honeymoon in Boracay, we traveled with my Tita Lucy, who’s already settled in the UK. While we were there, she casually mentioned that if we ever wanted to go to the UK, we could stay at their house in Wales. She and her husband travel all the time, so their place is often empty. That offer gave us the push we needed — that if we were going to move to another country, the UK might be our best shot.
Having family in the UK made the idea of relocating feel a lot less daunting. On top of that, knowing we’d have a place to stay took a huge weight off our shoulders since rent would’ve been one of our biggest expenses. That’s when I decided to pursue the UK route and began seriously exploring the student visa pathway.
Exploring Options: Attending IDP Study World 🔍
While researching early on, I came across IDP — an international education organization that helps students find placements in the UK and other countries. At first, I was a bit intimidated to reach out directly, so I just followed them on their social media accounts and kept an eye on their updates. Eventually, they announced an education expo for UK and Ireland happening nearby. I signed up because it felt like the right opportunity to explore the path I wanted to go after.
The expo turned out to be incredibly helpful. It was designed to guide aspiring Filipino students through every stage of their study abroad journey. I got the chance to speak directly with representatives from various UK universities, which helped clarify a lot of my questions. There were also one-on-one consultations with IDP counselors who offer detailed advice on academic programs, visa applications, and even possible scholarships. The best part was the event was free and open to anyone genuinely interested in studying abroad. Attending the expo gave me the confidence and clarity I needed to move forward with my plans.
Making the Big Decision: Choosing My University 🏢
Looking for a university that fit my situation probably took the most time during my preparations. Aside from checking if they offer cybersecurity, I had to make sure the degree was a Master’s in Research. Because of recent changes in immigration laws while I was preparing my student visa, taking a normal taught Master’s wouldn’t allow me to bring dependents — so I needed to go for a higher-level research course instead. Good thing the IDP website was really helpful for this part. It has a course search tool with extensive filters, so I could narrow down options based on my specific requirements.
I also looked into universities near my Tita’s place in Wales, since I wasn’t sure yet how schooling logistics would work. IDP also advised me to have backup options just in case my application to my top choice didn’t go as planned, so I ended up with this shortlist:
- University of South Wales, MRes in Cyber Security
- University of Gloucestershire, MSc by Research in Cyber and Technical Computing
- Swansea University, MRes in Computing and Future Interaction Technologies
All three universities had similar requirements, so the application process was pretty seamless. I just had to prepare and submit the following documents:
- Research Project Proposal (since I was applying for a Master’s in Research degree)
- Transcript of Records
- Diploma
- 2 Reference Letters (1 Academic and 1 Professional)
- Updated CV
- IELTS Academic
- Personal Statement / Statement of Purpose
During this stage, my IDP counselor, Jelly, was super helpful. She double-checked all the requirements I had, guided me in writing my Statement of Purpose, and coordinated directly with the universities on my behalf, which made everything much easier to manage.
Next on the list was preparing for the IELTS Academic, which is another key requirement for the student visa and university admission. I didn’t enroll in any formal review classes, I just studied by watching YouTube videos, especially for the listening part since I found that the most tricky. Thankfully, all that self-study paid off. I got an overall score of 8.0, so not bad at all.
After submitting all my documents, I was invited for an interview with my would-be supervisor at the University of Gloucestershire — and it actually went really well. He even thought I was applying for a PhD after reading my proposal, which was kind of funny (and flattering, not gonna lie). I hadn’t submitted my application to University of Swansea yet, and things didn’t go as planned with University of South Wales, so I decided to move forward with University of Gloucestershire. I got an unconditional offer shortly after finalizing all the requirements, and that’s when everything started to feel real.
Visa Process: Navigating Requirements and Application 📑
When it comes to applying for a UK student visa, one of the most important documents for your visa application is the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is issued by your university after you’ve submitted all the required documents and paid your deposit to secure your spot.
After securing your CAS, you just need to prepare the following requirements (from UKVI Student Visa Requirements):
- Valid Passport
- Proof of Funds (bank statement/certificate)
- Proof of Accommodation
- Tuberculosis Test Results
- UKVI Application Form
- Biometric Appointment (via VFS Global)
For the proof of funds, you need to show that you have enough money to cover both your tuition fees and living expenses. The total amount must be held in your bank account for at least 90 consecutive days before you apply for your visa. Honestly, we couldn’t have done this without our parents’ financial support, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. To make things easier, I also used the International Student Calculator from my university, which helped estimate the exact amount we needed to show. It provided a clear breakdown of tuition, living costs, and other expenses based on my course and location.
If you’re applying from outside the UK, you can submit your student visa application up to six months before your course begins. I received my CAS on October 1st, but even before that, we were already preparing the other requirements like the TB Test to avoid any delays. As soon as the CAS came through, we initiated the visa application right away, booked our biometric appointments, and got notified for passport collection after around 2 weeks.
The Last Stretch: Travel Plans and Farewells 🥺
I remember feeling both overwhelmed and excited when we finally got our visa near the end of October. With my course starting in the first week of February, that left just a few short months to sort everything out — from booking flights and packing essentials to squeezing in time with friends and family before saying goodbye. It felt like the clock was ticking faster than usual, and every day was a mix of to-do lists, last-minute errands, and emotional goodbyes. It was a whirlwind, but also the moment when the reality of the move fully sank in.
December 2024 was a blur — fully booked with meetups, goodbyes, and a whole lot of sorting. I spent most of it catching up with friends, selling or giving away things, and figuring out what to pack and what to leave behind. My room in my parents’ house basically became my temporary storage unit while I tried to make peace with parting ways with half my stuff. It was chaotic, but also grounding — a way to close one chapter before starting the next. 🥹
Before the flight, we squeezed in a final family outing at Cala Laiya. It was our first time there — a great spot for one last beach trip. We spent two days doing simple things together: swimming, sharing meals, enjoying the beach, and even trying archery. It was a much-needed pause from packing and a chance to really spend time together. It might’ve also been Morty’s last beach trip in the Philippines.
Saying goodbye to my parents was hands down the hardest part. We had lunch together before my flight, trying to keep things light, but once we got to the airport, my mom was in tears and could barely let go when it was time to say goodbye. It was emotional, surreal, and one of those moments that really hit me — this was it, I was actually leaving.
After that emotional send-off at the airport, I had to brace myself for the next big thing: flying alone. Stefan and I didn’t leave at the same time because we were still waiting for Morty’s quarantine to finish — he had to fly with him, and honestly, that’s a whole separate blog post because bringing Morty to the UK was its own adventure. It was my first long-haul flight on my own, and traveling solo made me quite anxious. That’s why I chose a layover at Hong Kong International Airport since I was already familiar with it and felt more comfortable navigating there.
And as luck would have it, I got upgraded to premium economy — in a window seat, with no seatmate. The flight turned out to be surprisingly smooth, and I even managed to sleep for more than five hours straight.
Touchdown: Here, Finally 🇬🇧
Landing in the UK felt like a quiet shift. After months of preparation, paperwork, and goodbyes, I was finally here. The hardest part was over, and now it was time to figure out the next steps while taking it one day at a time.
Stepping into campus felt surreal. I’d waited a long time for this, and now that I was here, I knew I had to make the most of it — not just for the younger me who hoped for it, but for the present-day me who made it real. 💖
