So I was chatting with this brilliant guy from University of Ibadan the other day – First Class Honours, sharp as anything.

His question? “Why do my international students UK essays keep getting 2:2s when I was top of my class back home?”

Oh boy, where do I even start?

You see, there are basically 3 types of international students UK essays problems happening right now. Which one sounds like you?

First, there’s “The Respectful Scholar” – that’s you if you write like: “It can be argued that perhaps the policy might have some issues, according to various researchers who suggest…” Nigerians would recognize this as “academic politeness.”

Then there’s “The Information Dumper” – you know this one. You present ALL the research, show you’ve read EVERYTHING, build your argument slowly and respectfully. Back home, this got you praise. Here? “Too descriptive.”

And finally, “The Confused Adapter” – you’re trying to sound British but ending up more confused than a Lagos driver in Milton Keynes traffic.

Here’s what nobody tells you when you arrive: international students UK essays don’t want respectful. They want argumentative.

I know, I know. It feels rude, right?

The Culture Shock Nobody Prepared You For

Back home, we learned to show respect for established knowledge. You demonstrate mastery by proving you understand everything thoroughly before daring to offer your own opinion.

UK academic culture? They want you to come in swinging with your argument from paragraph one.

Nigerian student writes: “Smith (2023) conducted extensive research which revealed that housing policy has experienced various challenges that multiple scholars have documented…”

UK lecturer thinks: “Get to the point already!”

UK essay wants: “Housing policy failed because Smith’s (2023) data shows a 40% increase in homelessness.”

See the difference? Same information, completely different energy.

It’s like the difference between Lagos conversation style and London conversation style. We build context, they cut to the chase.

The Writing Style Differences That Are Killing Your Grades

Let me break this down for you:

Your paragraph structure: You build arguments like you’re constructing a house – foundation first, walls, then roof. UK essays want you to put the roof first, then explain how you built it.

Your voice: You’ve been trained to write “Research suggests that…” because humility shows wisdom. UK essays reward confidence: “The evidence proves that…”

Your source game: You let the big professors speak through long quotes to show respect. UK essays want you to use sources like ingredients in jollof rice – blend them into YOUR unique flavor.

Your analysis: You describe everything perfectly, then analyze at the end. UK essays want you analyzing from line one – “what does this mean?” not “what happened?”

Grammar Issues That Seem Small But Aren’t

The article thing – when to say “the research” vs just “research” – this trips up everyone. No shame in that.

Those hedging words like “might,” “could,” “appears to” work differently here. In UK academic writing, they show you’re being intellectually careful, not uncertain.

And please, stop with the “furthermore, moreover, in addition” every other sentence. It’s like adding too much salt to your stew – a little goes a long way.

The Plagiarism Trap Nobody Warns You About

This one’s scary because the rules changed and nobody told you.

Back home, showing you’ve read widely by referencing everything was good scholarship. Here, over-referencing without adding your own analysis looks like you have nothing original to say.

Paraphrasing means completely rewording concepts, not just swapping a few words around. And what counts as “common knowledge” in Nigeria might need citations here.

Group study sessions that were perfectly normal at home? They might cross UK academic integrity lines if you’re not careful.

How to Actually Fix This

Ready for some real talk?

Start with your argument, not your introduction: “This essay argues that Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal will increase inequality” – boom, first sentence. Context comes later.

Own your voice: Replace “It can be suggested” with “This analysis shows.” You earned the right to have opinions – use them.

Make sources work for you: Don’t write “Adebayo (2023) says the economy is struggling.” Write “Economic struggles have worsened (Adebayo, 2023), particularly affecting…”

Analyze everything: Every fact you mention should be followed by “so what?” Don’t just tell me unemployment rose 15% – tell me what that means for your argument.

Where to Get Help (That Actually Works)

Most UK universities have writing centers specifically for international students. Use them. The tutors understand cultural academic differences.

Join peer review groups with both British and international students. You’ll learn by seeing different approaches.

Subject-specific writing guides from your department are goldmines – they show exactly what your field expects.

Building confidence in your authentic background while adapting to UK conventions is totally doable.

Your intelligence didn’t disappear when you got on that plane. The rules changed, that’s all.

Think of it like learning to drive in UK – you’re still a good driver, you just need to figure out which side of the road to use.

Your analytical skills are solid. Your research game is strong. You just need to translate those abilities into UK academic language.

And trust me, once you crack the code, you’ll be writing essays that make your lecturers go “now THAT’S critical thinking.”

Ready to stop getting “too descriptive” feedback and start writing essays that actually showcase your brilliance? Book a consultation to transform your writing from respectful to critically powerful.