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Extra Credit

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Every month, Study International invites you to a conversation with an international student, graduate or professor about the beauty, boldness and benefits of studying abroad.2023 Study International 教育 旅行記・解説 社会科学
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  • Ever wanted to study in Europe’s most underrated country? This Indonesian has the inside scoop on life in Romania.

    Ever wanted to study in Europe’s most underrated country? This Indonesian has the inside scoop on life in Romania.
    2026/10/05
    Maryam: Hey guys, welcome back to the Extra Credit podcast. To all new listeners, this is a series where we bring you extraordinary stories and compelling conversations about the beauty and benefits of studying abroad with fellow international students, graduates, and professionals in the field.I'm Maryam, your host. Today, we're exploring what it means to walk the road less traveled, or in this case, ditch popular study destinations like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia for more underrated countries, like Romania, for example.A country widely known for stunning natural landscapes, medieval castles, and of course, how can we forget, the legend of Count Dracula? It's not often the first place most international students would think of to pursue their degree. But today's guest, Melza Nur Zafitri, a plucky environmental engineering student from Indonesia, is here to share her story and set the record straight on what to expect if you're planning to study in Romania too.Welcome Melza, we're excited to have you here with us today. How are you?Melza Zafitri: Hi Maryam, thank you so much for inviting me. I'm super excited to join this programme. I hope you're doing great too. How about you?Maryam: I'm doing great too and it's lovely to hear that you're doing awesome. Okay, so let's go back to the beginning. Ever since you graduated from high school, you've always had a passion for education and promoting its importance to fellow youth.Since 2021, you've worked as a chief of education development and an English public speaking instructor in various schools. You even became a reading ambassador for Bekasi Regency in Indonesia. Tell me, what sparked your interest in this field?Melza Zafitri: Okay, I think I would like to answer this question on a bit of a personal level. Actually, I grew up in the environment where education, especially for women, was not always seen as a priority. In my homeland, gender hierarchy and limited access to education still exist as unwritten traditions. So, when I was a kid, I did not question this reality. It only became deeply personal for me when I began facing difficult moments in my own life shaped by these norms. So, I witnessed my mother who had always dreamed of becoming a public prosecutor, being forced to let go of that dream.And I also saw my uncle who never had access to proper schooling, yet carried a lifelong dream of becoming an architect. So, watching them live with their dreams constrained by traditions made me realise how profoundly the absence of education can shape a person's future. And then, at that time, they encouraged me to create meaning in my own life, words I didn't fully understand back then. Only later did I realise that they were entrusting me with something they themselves couldn't pursue. So, as I grew older, this awareness expanded beyond my family. I began to notice how educational inequality continued to appear around me, such as in classrooms with limited resources and communities where literacy was unevenly distributed and in young people who had potential but lacked access or encouragement.And then, this realisation became the foundation of my commitment to education. For me, education is a form of quiet resistance against inherited limitations. It is a way to open doors that were once closed, not only for myself, but for others as well. So, that is why I choose to dedicate myself to [the] education development field.Maryam: Then, amid all this, in both 2024 and 2025, you applied for the Romanian Government Scholarship to pursue your bachelor's degree, right? So, what inspired you to take a step back from promoting education to students to becoming a student again?Melza Zafitri: Um, while my experiences and education have allowed me to contribute in meaningful ways, they have also made me increasingly aware of how much more I still need to learn. So, I believe it is essential to strengthen my academic foundation in the field I am committed to while continuing to grow through active engagement in the right environment. For me, that environment is the academic space. I do not view higher education as a mere formality or credential because for me, entering university is a deliberate phase of learning, one that I conscientiously choose because it offers the depth and structured learning process that probably self-learning and field experiences alone cannot fully provide. Moreover, the academic environment offers something equally essential, such as intellectual discipline.It trains me to think systematically, to engage critically with diverse perspectives, and to articulate ideas with clarity and, of course, responsibility. And then through this opportunity, I also want to encourage those around me, especially young people, to believe in their dreams and to never stop pursuing opportunities to learn. I am affirming that learning is a lifelong process and that investing in education is not a sign of stepping back, but of preparing to move forward ...
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    29 分
  • "Too nice" to pursue an MBA? Surviving business school? Switching careers? This biochem grad tells all

    "Too nice" to pursue an MBA? Surviving business school? Switching careers? This biochem grad tells all
    2026/08/24

    Maryam: Hey guys, welcome back to the Extra Credit Podcast. If you're a first-time listener, this series is where we talk about the benefits and must-knows of studying abroad with international students, graduates, and professors from around the world. I'm Maryam, your host. If you're thinking of studying business abroad, or if you've ever thought about changing your field of study, but you're not sure if doing that would be the right move for you, today's guest can certainly shed a light on what to expect.

    Terrikia Benjamin was actually a biochemistry student at the University of Rochester. But after graduating with her bachelor's degree, she felt the pull of the business world and decided to pursue an MBA for her postgraduate degree. To an outsider, that seems like a pretty huge switch, right?

    So, let's hear it from Terrikia herself. Welcome. We're so excited to have you join us today. How are you?

    Terrikia Benjamin: Hello, thank you so much for having me. I'm doing well, thank you. How are you?

    Maryam: I'm good too. The pleasure is ours. Let's dive straight into the burning questions, right? So, let's go back to where it started, your roots or your origin story, so to say. Back in high school and college in Antigua and Barbuda, did you always have your mind set on pursuing biochemistry or science subjects for your degree? Was a STEM career always on the cards for you?

    Terrikia Benjamin: So, I would say that a STEM career was definitely always on the cards, but while in Antigua, I actually aspired to be a doctor. So, for most of my life from childhood, the goal was always to be a doctor. And I would say where that changed to biochem, it was actually the summer before my last year of high school, I did this STEM camp in Barbados. It was called SPICE or the Student Program for Innovations in Science and Engineering. And this was where I was exposed to other alternative careers in science and biochem, or biochemistry was one thing that really caught my eye.

    Maryam: So, what was it about biochem that attracted you?

    Terrikia Benjamin: So, I will say, I think when I first chose it, it did come from a place of a bit of ignorance. I thought, I like biology, I like chemistry. Biochemistry sounds like a combination. So, that was my first initial reasons, which was in biochemistry. But then as I understood it more, I realised that really the root of a lot of science in the natural world, like, you know, understanding proteins and all of the science processes that go on within the cells, and a lot of these different things, a lot of it is rooted within biochemistry. And so, I really like that it would give me a wide understanding.

    Maryam: Ah, so then what made you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree in biochemistry abroad?

    Terrikia Benjamin: So, the reason I decided to go abroad is because I really felt that it would give me more access to more resources and opportunities within the field. Antigua is a very small country, very small country, population of just over 100,000. And so, I felt like if I really wanted to pursue this type of education, that it would make sense to do so, you know, at a university that had somewhat unlimited resources and more research opportunities, so that was really the first thing that drew me. But there was also a desire for more cultural exposure. So, I had spent my whole life living in the Caribbean and I felt like it was the time for a change. Like Trevor Noah has this quote, “Travel is the antidote to ignorance.”

    ---

    To view the rest of the transcript, head to www.studyinternational.com
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    35 分
  • The biggest mistakes Indonesian students make when applying to UK universities

    The biggest mistakes Indonesian students make when applying to UK universities
    2026/06/18
    Maryam: Hey guys, welcome back to the Extra Credit Podcast. To all first-time listeners tuning in, this is a series where we discuss the beauty, perks, and essential how-tos of studying abroad with fellow international students, graduates, and professors worldwide. I'm Maryam, your host. Today, we'll be focusing on one of history's most popular study destinations, the United Kingdom, home to nearly half of the world's top 10 universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Joining us is someone who's been there, done that, and is now making it her life mission to help aspiring international students achieve their own dreams of studying in this country. Trifty Qurrota Aini began her study abroad journey as a master's student in mass communications management in the UK. This life-changing experience has then led her to many career opportunities like becoming a news producer and presenter for multiple TV stations, a guest speaker on the UK's British Muslim TV, an education influencer, and now the Indonesian country manager for the University of the West of England. That's quite a full circle journey, huh? Trifty, welcome. It's a pleasure to have you here with us today. How are you? Trifty: I'm good. Thanks for having me. Maryam: That's so lovely hear. All right, let's dive right in with some of our burning questions. Okay, you've built such a huge fanbase, especially on Instagram with over 56,000 followers through creating such fun, insightful content about studying abroad, especially in the UK. Tell us, has the UK always been your dream study destination? Trifty: Yeah, so from the very first stage of dreaming to study [in] the UK, our study route, I chose the UK as my, uh, country destination because it doesn't take a very long time to study there. It was only one year to take my master's degree in the UK, and I feel like the UK is a very safe place for international students to study. And I also feel like there's a multicultural environment in the UK, so everyone from any background is welcomed. Maryam: So, I have to say, like, now we all know that for most people, studying abroad is about getting quality education, learning from the world's best teachers, and gaining access to world-class facilities. But we can't ignore, you know, as you said, that a huge draw for students to want to study abroad is also the thought of getting to explore new environments, meet new people from other countries, and yeah, to immerse ourselves in, you know, many different unfamiliar cultures. So, tell us, what was that experience like for you? Were you able to adjust to life in the UK easily? Trifty: Yeah, so when I was living in the UK or studying in the UK, I met so many friends from different cultures, from different backgrounds. And that experience has given me insight [into] how to perceive life in many perspectives. And also from that experience, I gained so [much] knowledge engaging with international people. So that's kind of like [an] interesting experience for me. Maryam: Did you face any challenges while settling in? Trifty: So, the only challenge I felt was about the weather because I come from a tropical country. I come from Indonesia. So, I had to adjust myself to [the] cold weather. And the other big deal was about the food. So, I was used to, you know, like Asian foods. And, um, but, you know, like, however, the UK offers so many Halal shops and Asian shops. I wasn't really struggling to find Halal and Asian shops in the UK. Maryam: I think that also speaks to how diverse the current UK population is and also the current student population is as well. Trifty: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maryam: So, um, while you were at uni doing your master's in mass communications management, did you feel that the resources at UK universities differed from the ones at universities back home in Indonesia? Trifty: Yeah, there is a huge difference between studying [in] the UK and in Indonesia. In the UK, I didn't have exams at all and I feel like the education structure at UK universities is very compact. And my marks were taken from essays, presentations, and dissertations. But of course, it depends on the course you've taken, right? But in my course, I didn't have any exams. And yeah, another thing is obviously, UK universities do not have [a] GPA system, but Indonesian universities offer a GPA system. That's something interesting, between universities in the UK and Indonesia. Maryam: Could you tell us a bit more about you know the teaching styles and classroom environments in the UK? Trifty: So, my classroom consists of around 25 students and half of them are international students and half others are UK students or home students. And we had, like, practical lessons. But in Indonesian universities, you will have more than 25. Like, it's kind of [a] small class, but I had also a big classroom. Yeah. Maryam: Ah, so I'm guessing it's more personal. Trifty: It depends on the course you take, actually. But in my course for [the] master's degree,...
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    21 分
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