Bryan Samsico
BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing
Graduated, 2019
Indonesia
At UWE I created the weekly schedule that worked for me, alternating between study and my social life, ensuring that I was able to keep up with my school work while still spending time with my clubs.”
As a child, I lived next to an English academy, though I never attended because I was already confident in my English. Instead, I would visit to speak with students and test my abilities. Inside the academy was a small library filled with books about the United Kingdom — stories of dragons, knights, castles, and the Royal Family. Those books sparked my imagination and inspired a fascination with British history and culture.
As I grew older and began thinking about university, I realised I wanted to study in the UK and experience those places for myself. However, my family was middle class, and with a younger brother who might also wish to study abroad one day, I worried about the financial burden. At 16, I spent countless hours researching opportunities online but struggled to find a clear path forward. Frustrated, I prayed for guidance and promised that if I were shown a door, I would run towards it.
A week later, that opportunity appeared unexpectedly. A representative from the University of Plymouth visited my school to promote a foundation programme for Indonesian students. I immediately applied, passed the English and knowledge tests, and earned scholarships through my results. My parents were shocked when I told them I had secured a place and funding, but with careful financial arrangements, I eventually boarded a flight from Jakarta to the UK.
During my foundation year at Plymouth, I met a Malaysian student named Jane, who studied at UWE Bristol. She invited me to visit the university, and I instantly fell in love with both the campus and the city. After returning to Indonesia, I decided that UWE was exactly where I wanted to continue my studies. Through a local college connected to UWE, I transferred there the following year.
At UWE, I faced two major challenges: adapting to a different teaching style and learning financial responsibility. In Indonesia, education was structured and teacher-led, while in the UK students were expected to manage their own learning. At first, the freedom was overwhelming, but over time I developed discipline, balance, and strong time-management skills. Financially, I also learned to budget carefully, track my spending, and become more independent rather than relying on my parents for extra support.
Outside academics, I found community through gaming and board game clubs. My closest friendships came from these groups, where we balanced social life with studying and supported one another. Those friendships taught me the importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage both enjoyment and personal growth.
One of my happiest memories in the UK came during the 2019 Indonesian election. Around 50 Indonesians from Bristol and Bath travelled together to London to vote at the Indonesian embassy. Despite waiting in line for 11 hours, the experience felt joyful and deeply meaningful. Singing, joking, speaking our own language, and celebrating our culture together made me feel unexpectedly at home, even on the other side of the world.
After graduating and returning to Indonesia, I secured a management training role at an insurance company in Jakarta. My UK degree played a major part in that opportunity, and the independence, discipline, and time-management skills I developed at UWE proved invaluable during my career, especially throughout the challenges of Covid-19. In fact, my experience inspired my younger brother to consider studying at UWE himself one day.
