Most international postgraduate students enjoy their programme and their time in the UK enormously. They make close personal friendships and strong professional links that last them many years and often for life. Keeping in touch after graduation is important therefore, particularly when friends and contacts may return to their homes around the world. You will certainly want to keep in contact with friends through ways you are very familiar with – e-mail and the internet are invaluable for keeping in touch. Also, many postgraduates enter careers that enable them to be part of international business, professional or academic networks, and it is always delightful to know you have friends around the world whom you can meet as part of those networks.
In addition, every university has its alumni association. This is an organisation that tries to keep in touch with graduates after they have left to provide a network not just for the university to use but also to enable individuals to contact each other. Many universities have international branches of their alumni association in individual countries. These national branches organise events, meetings and social activities. They also provide a support network for current students, and advice for those considering applying to their university. Being part of the alumni association is both a good way of keeping in touch, therefore, and also a way of giving something back to the network that supported you in your planning and in your studies. Your university will certainly give you details about their alumni association when you graduate, and joining is usually free.
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