My experience studying A level at Ashbourne? Well, it might sound a bit cliche if i tell you it is the best experience I’ve ever had, so I will show you why.
As an international student traveling from Penang (an island in Malaysia) to the heart of London, the 13 hour flight felt like a spaceship bringing me to a parallel universe… I mean, everything is different here! Before I tell you more about my college, I have to say, living in London as a student is an exciting experience I wouldn’t have guessed existed. Due to the fact that Ashbourne is located in the heart of Kensington (yes, where the well-known Kensington Palace, Hyde Park , best museums in London etc are located), I live in student accommodation 10 minutes walk away from my college. As it is an independent Sixth Form college, you only go in when you have a class!
My typical daily routine goes like: wake up next to the Royal Albert Hall, walk to High Street Kensington for my first lesson in one of our three campuses (usually 9am, sometimes 11am, or even 2pm!), have lunch in one of the many restaurants, or we can even grab some snacks and go “picnic” in the lovely Hyde Park next to the college.
As a music scholar who practices 4-6 hours on violin and harp daily, I am very glad that Ashbourne offers each student a personalised and flexible timetable. Based on the huge variety of subjects that Ashbourne offers, this allows us to choose our favourite ones with gaps/free time in between lessons, which I have happily made my “practice” time.
If you ask why I chose Ashbourne, I would say, the friendliness of Ashbourne chose me. The positive vibes around the college makes anyone fall in love with this amazingly fun city even more. Besides the fact that Ashbourne is located in the heart of London, surrounded by the most beautiful park and its countless geographical advantages, I am in love with how each individual student is treated and respected around the college. As I was 16 when I first came to Ashbourne (my first time in London as well), living alone with new friends in a house I’d never been to, the supporting atmosphere of Ashbourne made this an easy, yet memorable experience for me to test-live the life of a university student. In other words, Ashbourne prepares us so well for our approaching adulthood due to the generous independence and freedom we are given!
