King's College London

Julia Soldrzynski, a law student at King’s College London, leveraged the Student Opportunity Fund to support her goal of learning Mandarin, a critical step toward her aspiration of a career in law, diplomacy, and working in China. As someone from a WP background, Julia found the SOF to be instrumental in achieving this goal.

Through the fund, Julia pursued an intensive study abroad language-learning programme to develop foundational Mandarin skills, which are integral to her future plans. She reflected on the immense value of this opportunity:

“It’s not possible to learn a language in 70 hours, but it really did give me a foundational base to then continue language learning on my own to pursue my career goals.”

The programme also provided her with practical tools to advance her self-study efforts:

“Now that I know what sort of the characters look like and the meanings of the characters, I’m able to kind of do a lot of self-taught stuff, you know, via Duolingo or YouTube videos. Now that I know the fundamentals of the tones, I’m able to kind of go off and do that myself.”

Julia’s experience learning Mandarin allowed her to connect more meaningfully with people and foster deeper interpersonal relationships:

“I already, during my experience learning the language, found that people were a lot more open to talking when I could communicate in their language…It just wasn’t really an experience I ever would have gotten [otherwise].”

 

Impact of SOF Funding

The SOF opened doors for Julia to connect Mandarin studies with her career in diplomacy and law. She spoke about the long-term benefits of these language skills for professional growth:

“In law, when I do start my career there, I think it’s going to help me with clients as well. Mandarin is one of the most widely spoken languages…It really opens the door to being able to communicate with clients, with coworkers, to understand their culture.”

Julia emphasized how this programme helped her to better understand different cultures, which will be invaluable as she progresses in her legal career:

“There are some words, for example, in Chinese and some words in English, and another language that just don’t have meanings in English. And some things that you just can’t share with others when you don’t understand where they’re from or their background.”

 

Broader Impact

Julia’s journey highlights the profound impact of SOF in helping students achieve goals beyond traditional academic pathways. It:

• Provided her with a strong foundation in Mandarin, enabling her to continue developing the skill independently.
• Encouraged her to engage in intercultural exchanges, which enhanced her communication skills and personal development.
• Broadened her perspective on how language and culture intersect with her ambitions in law and diplomacy.

Reflecting on the significance of this opportunity, Julia concluded:

“It’s really just given me a foundation to continue [language learning] myself.”

Through initiatives like the SOF, students like Julia can access transformative opportunities that prepare them for meaningful global careers.

 

Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) 

SOF is a transformative initiative that helps students enhance their career and professional goals by funding impactful educational projects and activities. Its focus on widening participation ensures students from underrepresented groups can access opportunities that might otherwise be financially unattainable.

 

Key Features and Impact

Widening Participation Focus:

The SOF awards additional points to applicants from underrepresented and those facing barriers within higher education and beyond, providing targeted support to widen access. Examples of eligible criteria include: students in receipt of the King's Living Bursary, those who live or have lived in care, and individuals whose parents or carers did not attend university.

Designated Funding for Black Students:

To address challenges such as the awarding gap and employment disparities, 20% of the fund is specifically reserved for Black students, including those from Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, and Black Mixed backgrounds.

Support for Inclusive Initiatives:

Students are encouraged to propose projects that promote race equality and inclusion, fostering personal growth while making a social impact.

Personalised Guidance:

The King’s Edge team assists students in aligning their applications with career goals, ensuring a meaningful and accessible process.