My One-Year Academic Visit to University College London

By Hou Zhaoyang, Wenzhou University, China. Hou Zhaoyang arrived at UCL in 2025, funded for a year by the China Scholarship Council, coming to SSEES as an affiliate academic. 

With a passion for Russian literature, I arrived at University College London on January 21, 2025, to study and conduct research under the guidance of Dr Sarah Young. Now, my one-year study tour at UCL has successfully concluded. Reflecting on these 365 days and nights, every period of learning, exchange of ideas, and cultural encounter has left a valuable imprint on my academic journey. Not only have I gained extensive knowledge in my field, but I have also experienced significant growth and breakthroughs in my perspective and way of thinking.

Firstly, I utilized abundant book resources to revise and complete the manuscript titled “A Critical Study of Dostoevsky in the Anglo-American Slavic Academic Community. As a top university in the world, UCL’s extensive library and academic resources provided strong support for my research, allowing me to immerse myself in a vast ocean of knowledge. During my academic visit, I gained a systematic understanding of the overall status and research paradigms of Dostoevsky studies in the English-speaking world through the rich collection of books at the SSEES library. Based on this, I revised and improved the manuscript, focusing on supplementing relevant content regarding Dostoevsky’s poetic criticism. I also organized the research context, core viewpoints, and controversial issues in this field, filling gaps in previous studies. These efforts made the manuscript more substantial and the arguments more rigorous, laying a solid foundation for its publication. Currently, the manuscript has entered the typesetting and printing stage and is expected to be published in February.

Secondly, my deep engagement in coursework and academic activities has broadened my intellectual horizons and enhanced my research skills. To better absorb my supervisor’s academic ideas and expand my research perspective, I audited three core courses taught by my supervisor: “The Person, Love and Utopia in Russian Thought”, “Identities in Nineteenth-Century Russophone Literature”, and “Discourses of Empire and Identity: The Nineteenth-Century Novel in Russian”. In class, I consistently maintain a rigorous and serious attitude toward learning, carefully study all course materials provided by the instructor, meticulously record key content and academic viewpoints, actively participate in discussions, share insights based on my own research experience, and deepen my understanding through communication. Outside of class, I hold myself to high standards in completing every assignment assigned by my supervisor. Through these assignments, I systematically organize my knowledge, reflect on my research weaknesses, and continuously improve my academic proficiency. Additionally, I actively participated in the workshop “Reading Embodied Pain in Dostoevsky, organized by my mentor, Sarah Young. These high-quality studies and exchanges have significantly enhanced my academic skills and given me clearer, more focused plans for my future academic journey.

Thirdly, in addition to classroom and group discussions, receiving guidance through in-depth one-on-one communication with my mentor, Dr Sarah Young, has been the most significant support in my academic growth journey. Dr Young provided me with regular, personalized academic guidance. Before each meeting, I carefully prepared a discussion outline, organizing my research progress and questions. With her profound academic background, keen insight, and open, inclusive attitude, Dr Young has offered highly inspiring advice on adjusting my research topic, refining my research logic, and planning my future academic path. She has helped me clarify the position of my personal research within a broader academic context. What moved me most was that during our last meeting, despite not having fully recovered from the flu, Dr Young answered my questions with a hoarse voice—an unforgettable demonstration of her sense of responsibility and care.

During the visiting period, UCL provided a quiet and comfortable learning environment for visiting scholars, equipped with comprehensive office facilities and high-speed internet. This setting enabled me to concentrate on my research and engage in discussions and collaborations with other scholars at any time. One of the most valuable outcomes of this experience was engaging in cross-cultural communication with partners from various countries and regions, each with distinct cultural backgrounds, academic experiences, and research perspectives. This not only enhances mutual understanding and friendship but also teaches me to approach academic issues from multiple perspectives and to appreciate the nuances of different cultures.

Although my visiting study has concluded, my exploration continues. I will carry this valuable experience forward into my future research endeavors, striving to achieve higher-quality academic outcomes. I sincerely thank University College London for providing these invaluable opportunities, Dr Sarah Young for her thoughtful guidance, and all the teachers and friends I have met. My time at UCL will undoubtedly leave a lasting and meaningful impact on both my life and academic journey.