Home Country: India
Course: MSc Materials Science and Engineering
Department: Metallurgy and Materials
"We have a UoB Materials Society which arranges careers fairs for graduate jobs as well as lots of extracurricular activity."
Why did you apply to the University of Birmingham?
I applied to a UK university because the education system is highly esteemed and has incredibly high research standards, as well as meeting modern challenges and providing a creative and international environment for its students; so it was an obvious choice for pursuing a masters degree. The Research Excellence Framework ranked University of Birmingham in the top quartile in the UK for world-leading research and the School of Metallurgy and Materials is widely respected all around the UK and offers a wide range of research activities from atomic scale to components.
What are the best points of your course?
The course has a combination of project work and taught learning. We have many lectures to enhance our knowledge, and a final project to put this knowledge to use. We also have a UoB Materials Society which arranges careers fairs for graduate jobs as well as lots of extracurricular activity.
What’s the best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham?
The campus is really very pretty and it’s nice that everything is in one place rather than going all over the city. There are so many opportunities to engage in with professionals through the Careers Network, guest speakers, and training sessions. The university Sports and Fitness Centre offers many opportunities to get or stay fit. And the University allows a great social life with people from different backgrounds, speaking various languages and diverse cultures.
What's the highlight of your time here so far?
The highlight so far is that I have been engaging with people from across the university in various fields. I have made great friends and it’s so nice to come home at the end of the day and just relax and have fun with my flatmates.
What advice would you give to other international students?
Just go for it! It’s a great course - there are loads of different things you can do after university with a Materials degree and it’s really interesting. And don’t be afraid to try new things, get involved in societies and committees outside of your course because this experience will make university life all the more memorable.
What do you like most about the city?
Birmingham is one of the most diverse cities I have ever seen. The food and bar scene is really good and Friday nights out clubbing really worth it. Birmingham has lots of entertainment venues like the NEC on the outskirts of the cit or in centre itself there is the Symphony Hall.
How do you feel you have benefitted from the experience of studying in the UK?
This experience has shown me different views of the world and gave me a chance to experience great cultural differences. I also had opportunities to interact with researchers in my field giving me a broader view and new perspectives.