Isioma Okwechime

My name is Isioma Okwechime, and I am a second-year LLB Law undergraduate student at the University of Leeds. I studied the International Foundation Year programme at Leeds from 2022-2023 before beginning my law degree (so this is my third year at Leeds). Prior to this, I completed my high school education in Nigeria, which is where I am from. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, swimming, shopping, singing in my church choir, and staying active by going to the gym.

I chose to study at the University of Leeds because it offers a unique combination of academic excellence, diverse opportunities, and a vibrant student life. Consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK, Leeds has a strong reputation for high-quality teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines. The law program, in particular, stood out to me for its practical focus and the wealth of resources available to support my professional journey. Additionally, I have the option to work for a year during my course or to take a study abroad year.

I like that I am able to choose courses outside of law as I feel that this makes my academic experience more well-rounded.

I am happy I chose to come to Leeds because the university is so diverse and there is something for everyone. I love that I have been able to meet different people, not just in my course, but also through social activities which the university organises throughout the year, such as the Winter Fest, Global Cafe and Leeds Unite Festival. Additionally, the university has a really great employability team. This can usually be found within your school or faculty as well as the general university Careers team. In my professional journey, this has been really helpful as I have been able to speak to experienced staff about my future career options.

Moreover, the city of Leeds is a dynamic, student-friendly place with a rich cultural scene, offering the perfect balance between a thriving academic environment and an exciting lifestyle. The diverse community, welcoming atmosphere, and countless extracurricular activities make it an ideal place to grow both personally and academically. My favourite part about the city is the Trinity Shopping Centre. It has everything you will need all in one space (and it is only 15 minutes from campus!). I often walk over there with my friends to catch up and have a meal after a long day of classes.

I also really love the Leeds Kirkgate Market as there are lots of African stalls where I can buy Nigerian foodstuffs from.

Currently, I live in one of the university shared houses, which is really convenient as it is right on campus. Living in a shared house means that you have a lot less flatmates, but it works for me as I am now living with three of my closest friends. I like that the university gave me the option to choose to live with my friends, we do lots of grocery shopping and cooking together, it is absolutely amazing. I have previously lived at Lyddon Hall, which was also fun as I got to meet lots of people from different parts of the world.

During my three years at the university, I have made a lot of new friends and tried out so many different things. Although I was initially nervous when I first moved from Nigeria, it has been a really lovely experience and I am grateful that the university is so passionate about helping students have a rewarding experience during their time here. I look forward to learning even more during the rest of my studies at Leeds.

Please feel free to get in touch with me via Unibuddy or email me at isioma-link@leeds.ac.uk.