How this Odisha boy turned his first UK experience into a community for 400 students

Nikunj Agarwal created an unofficial WhatsApp group that connected nearly 400 University of Sheffield offer holders before they arrived in the UK. The group helped students navigate the move abroad and turned early uncertainty into lasting friendships.Nikunj Agarwal recently graduated with a BA in International Business Management with Study Abroad from the University of Sheffield, UKFor Nikunj Agarwal, the journey from Rourkela to Sheffield, UK began with a desire to experience life beyond the familiar. Growing up in a business family, he had long been interested in trade, entrepreneurship and the value of global exposure. But before he had even set foot in the UK, Agarwal had already begun building a community of fellow students — a WhatsApp group that would eventually bring together nearly 400 people preparing to begin their own journeys at the University of Sheffield.Agarwal, who studied at The Delhi Public School, was the first in his immediate family to move abroad for higher education. He chose the University of Sheffield for its international environment and the opportunity to experience a different education system. Leaving behind a close-knit family, however, came with its share of uncertainty. Nikunj graduated with a degree in International Business Management with Study Abroad from The University of Sheffield, UK He knew that studying abroad would mean learning to make decisions independently and building a life from scratch. "I wanted to experience a different education system, connect with individuals from all over the world and grow on a deeper personal level, not just academically," he says.FROM A FIRST UK EARNING TO LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMOne of Agarwal's first surprises in Sheffield came inside the classroom. During an early module, students visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park and were asked to come up with ideas to diversify its business and increase visitor engagement. The exercise was followed by a competition, in which Agarwal finished runner-up and received £20. It may have been a modest prize, but it became his first earning in the UK and gave him an early glimpse of the practical approach to learning he would encounter. Nikunj and his friends at Peak District National Park, UK "Although it was a small amount, it became my first earning in the UK and made me realise how rewarding practical learning could be," he recalled. Instead of relying only on lectures and examinations, he found students were expected to think critically, collaborate and apply concepts to real-world situations. Professors provided guidance, but much of the responsibility for learning rested with the students.The transition was not always smooth. During his first semester, Agarwal caught what he described as "freshers flu". Being ill thousands of kilometres from home made him realise how much he missed the everyday care of his family.But the experience also showed him that he was beginning to build a support system of his own. Nikunj with his friends from University of Sheffield during Diwali celebration Friends cooked for him, brought medicines and checked on him despite having their own commitments. "Living independently doesn't have to be the same as living alone," he says.Financial independence was another part of the adjustment. Agarwal had initially expected life in Britain to be significantly more expensive, but found Sheffield relatively manageable with careful budgeting, student discounts and part-time work.The International Undergraduate Scholarship he received from Sheffield in both his first and final years also helped ease the financial pressure. More than reducing tuition costs, he says, it reassured his family that the university recognised his potential. Nikunj also served as a Student Ambassador at the University of Sheffield, helping bridge the experiences of prospective and current international students THE WHATSAPP GROUP THAT BROUGHT 400 STUDENTS TOGETHERThe biggest community Agarwal built began before his arrival in Britain.After accepting his offer, he realised that incoming international students did not have a dedicated space to connect before reaching Sheffield. He created an unofficial WhatsApp group and shared it on the university's offer-holder Facebook page.Within a short time, nearly 400 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD offer holders had joined.Questions ranged from accommodation and visas to flights, bank accounts, affordable shops and what students could expect during their first few weeks. Students already living in the UK also shared practical advice.The group eventually produced one of Agarwal's most memorable university experiences. Eight students who met through it booked the same flight to the UK. They arrived together and began university as a group."Instead of arriving alone in a completely new country, we travelled together and supported one another from the very beginning," Agarwal says. Nikunj also served as the UG fresher's representative for the Indian Society and later as publicity and social media head for the Sheffield Welfare Committee. Three years later, those eight students remain close friends. Others in the group also found flatmates and built friendships.For Agarwal, the group had become something larger than an information-sharing platform. "It helped build a community before any of us had even set foot on campus," he says.His involvement on campus continued through the Indian Society, where he served as Undergraduate Fresher's Representative, and later the Sheffield Welfare Committee, where he became Publicity and Social Media Head.He also represented his community at the university's International Cultural Evening, where his team finished second.Organising a Diwali Social proved particularly important in shaping his understanding of leadership. With limited time, multiple responsibilities and high expectations, the event required everyone to work together."Leadership is not about doing everything yourself; it is about trusting others, communicating effectively and bringing out the best in a team," he said. Nikunj was the first person in his immediate family to go abroad for higher education ONE DEGREE, TWO COUNTRIES AND A BROADER IDEA OF GLOBAL EDUCATIONAgarwal's international education extended beyond Britain. As part of his degree, he spent a study-abroad year at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, where he served as Publicity Head.The two universities offered contrasting but complementary experiences. Sheffield, he says, strengthened his independence, confidence and ability to apply ideas to practical business problems. NTU was more fast-paced and rigorous, pushing him to adapt to a different academic environment while working alongside students from across the world."Together, they gave me a truly international education and prepared me to work in diverse, multicultural environments," he says.The experience has reinforced his interest in global supply chains and international business. It has also changed the way he views skills beyond a degree.For Agarwal, communication is one of the most underestimated abilities among students. Confidence, adaptability, teamwork and the ability to build relationships across cultures, he believes, become especially important when students step outside familiar environments.WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS DO IN THEIR FIRST 30 DAYS ABROAD?After completing his degree, Agarwal believes some of the most useful lessons from his international education have little to do with textbooks.His advice to students preparing to study abroad is practical: meet people, join societies, explore the city and apply for part-time work early. He also recommends learning basic cooking before leaving India.For him, the biggest investment during university was not academic. Before moving to the UK, Agarwal considered himself an introvert who often stayed within his comfort zone. Choosing to meet new people and embrace different cultures gradually changed that.Ironically, he realised Sheffield had become home when he returned to India for his first Christmas break. Instead of only enjoying being back, he found himself missing his accommodation, friends, societies, job and the independence he had built.That was when Sheffield began to feel like a second home.Agarwal recently graduated with a BA in International Business Management with Study Abroad from the University of Sheffield, UK. His journey, he says, ultimately taught him that studying abroad is not just about crossing borders for a degree. It is about learning to build a life, a community and an identity in a new place.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Aug 21, 2026 09:00 IST