Hello! I’m Adriana, and as I write this, I’m two months away from finishing my Master’s in Sport Management, Politics and International Development at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. For me, it’s an honour and a privilege to say that I am part of the No.1 University in the world for sport-related subjects, and the journey has been a wonderful experience.

I studied a bachelor’s degree in international relations in Mexico with a minor in Strategic Communications. During my undergraduate studies, I completed a specialization certificate in Sport Management during an exchange semester in Barcelona.

My love of sport started at a young age, practicing gymnastics and football during my early childhood. I remember watching the 2008 Olympic Games on TV for the first time, I loved watching all the athletes and different sports – it’s been a passion of mine ever since.

In my last year of high school, I became interested in activism, human rights and diplomacy, and it wasn’t until I had the chance to study sport in more depth that I realized how connected these worlds are. That’s when I knew I wanted to specialize in this area, even if it’s not always seen as the most obvious link or a typical career path for someone with an International Relations background.

After graduating, I spent a year working at the non-governmental organization I co- founded at the university, dedicated to menstrual rights in Mexico, while also looking for master’s programs that could combine both of my interests, social science and sports. That’s where I found Loughborough, which became the obvious choice due to its high reputation.

At first, I was nervous about applying, unsure if I would be accepted, but I trusted the years of preparation and effort I had invested in. I completed the entire admission process on my own, expressing my passion for this field and highlighting my strengths and experiences. The truth is that the university provided excellent guidance and service. Anything I needed was easy to find online. It felt like they had a webpage for every possible question, and when I couldn’t find something, email communication was clear and felt personalized.

Once I received my offer, uncertainty came, but it was only the beginning of the most exciting journey in my academic life.

Accommodation and Social Life

I decided to live off-campus based on YouTube videos and student blog reviews, and I can confidently say it was a great choice. My accommodation is very close to both the campus and the town centre, and my flat mates, eight people from diverse countries like South Korea, China, India, and England, became not only my first friends here but also an incredible support network.

Everyone is in the same boat at the beginning: we don’t know anyone, many of us are far from home, and for some, it’s their first time in the UK. So, attending induction events, joining social activities, and getting involved in your student community is really helpful to meet new people. I decided to become one of the course representatives, acting as a point of contact between students and faculty to voice feedback and promote improvements. It helped me connect with my academic community and support the programme’s continued excellence. It also helped me build closer relationships with professors. It came with added responsibilities but also great memories like a fun pub night with professors and students that I’ll never forget.

It helped me a lot to FaceTime my friends back home now and then and to stay active in Loughborough, especially through recreational and social sports, the Friday women football matches have been a highlight. I also joined the Latin American and Spanish- speaking students’ society, and we’ve had some really fun times, like the Latin parties that are organized occasionally.

My classmates also come from incredibly diverse backgrounds, making this journey even more enjoyable. One of the things that’s brought us together is food. From time to time, we organize dinners where we each share a little bit of our country’s cuisine. We’ve had Korean Night, Mexican Night, Chinese Night, and many more. Socializing outside the classroom has also been very fun, as we get to exchange perspectives and strengthen our friendships. In fact, that’s one of the most valuable things I’ll take away from this experience. The people I’ve met are incredible; they challenge me every day. Working together on assignments has taught me new working cultures, helped me adapt, and pushed me to grow.

It’s essential to maintain balance between your social life, academics, and sport. The key is planning and organization. At first, the semester may seem light, with just one or two assignments per module, but when deadlines approach, you may regret not starting earlier. I recommend keeping a planner and setting daily priorities to manage your workload better. It’s much easier to dedicate one hour per day to reviewing content and attending classes than to try to catch up on 40 hours of lectures and a 2,500-word paper all in one week.

Advice and tips about the course and department

My top tip is to get to know your course and the university before you arrive so you can take full advantage once you’re here. The university has excellent webpages where you can learn about your professors, the research they’ve conducted, campus services, activities, facilities, and much more. Once you’re here, attend welcome events and check the announcements and LEARN platforms regularly to make the most of everything Loughborough offers.

The professors are very open and helpful when it comes to questions about assessments. Don’t hesitate to approach them, they’ll support you through the process. It may feel overwhelming but take advantage of the incredible support network here at Loughborough. The writing center, the maths centre, and other specialized help services are great resources.

Also, check your emails! Even if it seems tedious, you’ll find interesting activities in the newsletters and it’s better to hear about them in time than to regret missing them. Who knows, maybe your own event or initiative could be featured there too!

The best place to study depends on you. For me, it was always my room, as my accommodation was very comfortable. The library is also a great place, with floors for group work and individual study. I also liked working at the Students’ Union, especially because of the food options – bubble tea was my personal favorite, haha!

Studying sport is a world in itself. There are so many sports, clubs, and opportunities, so my best tip is to keep up with your class readings, including the recommended ones. This area is incredibly broad, and reading will help you discover topics you didn’t even know existed. We all have our favourite topics or sports, but I recommend keeping an open mind to new things and there’s no better place to do that than Loughborough, especially given the world-class sports facilities on campus.

I also encourage you to try a new sport, one you’ve never done before. This pushes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to make the most of your time in Loughborough. For example, during induction week, there’s an event called the “Sports Bazaar,” where all the sports clubs introduce themselves. Thanks to that, I found out that I could become a certified ocean diver during my time here, something I never imagined doing during a master’s. It was a unique experience, and I doubt many other universities offer such opportunities so accessibly. I also returned to gymnastics, a sport I had left when I was very young, and I discovered new ones like netball. I’d never heard of it before coming to the UK, but this year I volunteered at almost every home match for Netball Lightning, and now I’m a fan!

Another amazing opportunity at Loughborough is the Coach & Volunteer Academy (CVA), where you can gain experience and develop skills through incredible sport-related opportunities. Thanks to the CVA, I completed courses in Sport Event Management, Media Marketing and Communications, and earned certifications in First Aid and Safeguarding & Protecting Children, all great additions to my CV. I’ll also apply these skills this summer as part of the Volunteer Zambia project as the Media, Marketing and Communications Officer to document all the hard work of this fantastic initiative with over 20 years of history, where we use our knowledge to support sport development.

The best is yet to come!