I have been passionate about Law since childhood. During my LL.B. in Osmania University, Hyderabad, I decided to complete my student journey with a master’s degree from abroad and the U.K., a nation where many legal principles took shape, was a natural choice for me. I had an honours degree in commerce and hence, decided to further develop my skill sets by specialising in commercial law.
The University of Nottingham was my foremost choice as its School of Law is one of the top-rated law schools in the world and the LL.M. specialisation in International Commercial Law offered by it is one of the highly rated LL.M. programmes in Europe. Receiving the GREAT British Council Scholarship from such a university was a recognition of my achievements which boosted my confidence further.
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The school offers an eclectic mix of modules to choose from which can be tailored according to one’s own area of interest. Teaching is organised in two-hour seminars where students need to come prepared by going through the materials mentioned in the reading list. Lectures are not a one-sided process and professors encourage participation from students to share their own ideas on decided cases and awards. The subjects are taught by immensely experienced professors; some of them have even authored books on their subjects.
Formative assessments take place during the midst of the semester which allow us to introspect our understanding of the topic and also help us perform better during the summative assessments. Every student is assigned a personal tutor with whom he/she can meet and discuss issues relating to studies and beyond.
There are over 200 different student-run literary, cultural, and sports societies to match the interests and hobbies of the students. I have been associated with the Public Speaking Society, the Nottingham Debating Union, and the Muay Thai Boxing Club and this has been a great way to not only work on my secondary passions but also to socialise with students having professional interests in such activities.
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The university has been adjudged as one of the greenest and most environment-friendly in the world. It is picturesque and also huge, but the free hopper buses which navigate across the campus make it fairly convenient for students and staff to travel around.
The most striking part is that students come from all over the world which makes it a truly global experience. Getting to know various cultures has helped me learn about different lifestyles, broadened my understanding and outlook, and developed a unique bond of friendship with students from other countries. Nottingham, which is home to the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, has so many things to offer — from food to night-life to theatre.
Mohammed Sanaullah Farhan is presently pursuing LL.M. in International Commercial Law at the University of Nottingham.