Home Country: Malaysia
Course: MEng Chemical Engineering
Department: School of Chemical Engineering
"The best point of my course would be how active the department is in terms of industry connections. Very often, we get notifications and postings about opportunities for internships or placements with well-known engineering companies."
Why did you apply to the University of Birmingham?
The University of Birmingham has a Chemical Engineering programme that is placed highly in university rankings. It was a clear choice of university for me as it is a reputable and very well-established university within the UK.
What are the best points of your course?
The best points of my course would be how active the department is in terms of industry connections. Very often, we get notifications and postings about opportunities for internships or placements with well-known engineering companies. Representatives from the companies drop by the university for students to get to know more. Besides that, the course is highly independent which requires students to not only rely on the classes given but also requires students to actively self-study to obtain knowledge and prepare for the future working world.
What’s the best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham?
The best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham would be the environment. It has a beautiful campus, full of greenery and places for students to relax. The university maintains a very rustic feel with its preserved architecture. It also boasts a very well-equipped modern library which is very conducive for studying and is well connected to the city centre of Birmingham.
What’s your highlight of your time at the University?
The highlight of my time so far has been the design project that is part of the Chemical Engineering syllabus. Besides exposing me to the reality of working in this field, it also helped me meet new friends from all around the world.
What advice would you give to other international students?
My advice would be to come with an open mind and to be proactive in exploring your new environment. A lot of the time, international students tend to stick to their local friends and familiar faces but it is important to step out of that comfort zone and meet new people and experience new things to fully enrich your once in a lifetime experience of studying abroad.
What do you like most about the city?
The city is a mere 20 minutes bus ride away from campus and is an all-in-one stop for any shopping I might need to do. I like its convenience the most, as it has a ton of shops located within walking distance of each other, ranging from clothes stores to restaurants. There is even a Chinatown for Asian students who might be feeling a little homesick. A major train station is also located in the city centre, making it extremely convenient for travel around the UK.
How do you feel you have benefitted from the experience of studying in the UK?
I believe that I have benefited the most through learning to be independent. Studying here is a completely different experience from what I have gone through in my home country which I believe prepares me better for the reality of the future working world. Not only study-wise but having to live on my own and study independently is a whole new challenge for me and it is one step closer to learning to become independent. I have also learnt to cook on my own, and that’s always a good skill to learn.