Welcome to the China page
Manchester is one of Britain’s most exciting cities and is home to one of the largest China Towns within walking distance of the University. It has an estimated population of 30,000. China Town is centred on the impressive Ming Dynasty Imperial Arch which was dedicated in 1987 the area is home to many shops and restaurants.
Entry Requirements
- Grade B (80-82% overall average) in your Law Degree
- English Language IELTS 7 (7 in writing)
- TOEFL iBT 106 (25 in writing)
Student Profile: Tianzhu Han
Personal Information
Name:
Tianzhu Han (Ph.D Candidate)
Course:
LL.M (International Business Law 2007-2008)
Where are you originally from?
Shandong Province, China
Where did you do your undergraduate degree?
School of Law, Shanghai University, China
Where do you live?
Shanghai, China
About your Studies:
Why did you undertake a postgraduate course?
To study a postgraduate course after my bachelor degree was a good decision I made for myself. Law is a high technical science; further research in a specific area is very important and necessary for further development. I took the International Business Law programme for my postgraduate study to enrich my knowledge in this area as well as prepare myself for a more challenging career in the more and more globalized City, such as Shanghai. Taking a course in the UK was also a significant motivation for me. Not only has my English language greatly improved, as an international student, I have developed a better way to understand certain issues, instead of the very narrow perspective I used to have.
Why did you choose your course and why did you choose to study at The University of Manchester?
As mentioned before, the course (International Business Law) is useful, practical and of personal interest to me. The University of Manchester offers good teaching materials and has a high reputation and a sophisticated research environment for my further development. What’s more, the convenience of city life was also an important reason for choosing the University of Manchester.
What did you enjoy about your course/research?
I enjoyed the rich literature materials in the university library, which is an important element for postgraduate study; brilliant teaching resources which entitled me to get in touch with professors and lecturers who are really contributively in my research area; enthusiastic English language help from professional legal English teachers, who helped me deal with the difficulty of reading and writing, especially at the start of the course. Of course the friendly student environment is also worth a mention.
What new skills did you learn through your postgraduate studies?
I appreciate the critical thinking skills developed through my postgraduate study. Critical thinking is significantly important to a law student. The reading and writing skills I learnt from my LLM course are also very beneficial to me in my PhD study.
How did the course suite your needs? (e.g. structure, contact with lecturers/supervisors etc)
The teaching structure allowed me enough time to read more relevant literatures and discuss with classmates or lecturers. It was easy to build a good relationship with lecturers and supervisors, and they were also really helpful for my research.
How many hours did you study on campus and how many hours self study did you have to do?
I had 6 hours of lectures and an additional 2 hours for seminars per week. However, I spent at least 20 hours collecting and reading relevant books and articles in the library in order to prepare and understand the lectures and seminars. During the exam period, there are no lectures or seminars, but the revision work was intensive for me in order to work out a certain problem.
What are your future plans and how do you think your postgraduate studies helped you achieve them?
My postgraduate study has helped me a lot. With the studying skills I learnt from my LLM course, it was quite easy for me to get along with my doctoral research, especially from the language perspective. I will finish my PhD programme within two years from now and will take an academic job or practice as a lawyer. Either way, my LLM course helped me to settle myself in an English-speaking country and gave me a good opportunity to become an independent researcher. It is of great influence for my future development, and I am so glad that I made that decision three years ago.
Away from your studies:
What do you like about the city?
The city is just the right size, not too big, and not too crowded. However, it is convenient enough for you to live. Food is international, people are friendly, and the public transport is so well connected and easy to follow. The only thing I do not like is the rainy weather; however, it is really amazing in spring and summer. For girls, shopping in Manchester is also another reason to love this city.
What do you do in your spare time?
I did a lot of travel in my LLM year during my spare time. There are a lot of beautiful lands to be discovered in UK. I liked the Home-Stay programme offered by the international society and other similar organizations. Getting to know people in a different country is really a good way to spend spare time. In Manchester, I seldom feel lonely, because there are so many activities to meet new people, and so many places to go with friends.
How affordable is Manchester?
Comparing to other UK universities, the tuition fees in Manchester are average. As for the living costs, Manchester is not expensive at all and you could live your daily life with quite a low cost compared to, e.g. London. What’s more, I love the Chinese restaurants (most of them are very close to uni); you could find all kinds of food no matter where you are originally from.
Finally how would you describe your time at Manchester University to a friend from home?
Life in Manchester is superb and it is far beyond my imagination. As a postgraduate student in Manchester, I am not only enjoying the fantastic studying resources which the University of Manchester offers, I am also benefiting from the convenient city life and the brilliant international environment.
Tianzhu Han
Ph.D Candidate
School of Law
University of Manchester