JOIN USResearch-intensive & diverse
Priya Siddesh appreciates Newcastle University’s teaching methods and its student-friendly environment
Planning for higher education abroad is a very challenging and a crucial step of one’s life. I was in the final year of a B.E in Instrumentation Technology in Bangalore when I decided to begin a search for reputed universities for higher studies.
Quite naturally, I had lots of unanswered questions on my mind, but at the same time I was eager to explore an experience abroad. There were various questions constantly going through my mind like which country I should choose, how to choose the best course, duration, and the financial requirements for my studies.
While choosing which university to attend, my main focus was to find one that offered a good balance between academic excellence and a high quality of student life. My passion for Electronics encouraged me to choose a Master’s degree in Microelectronics. I wanted to specialise in this particular area of study by getting in-depth education and thereby, enhancing my expertise and skills. A Master’s degree or Ph.D in a reputed, international university gives an edge to a candidate’s profile and Newcastle University, UK was the appropriate choice. My meeting with the international officer and other delegates during an event in Bangalore was of great help. I was impressed with the smooth and hassle-free process of admission. I was fortunate to have £1,500 waived off my tuition fees with the Newcastle University International Postgraduate Scholarship (NUIPS).
About the campus
Newcastle is situated in the north east side of England. Being a member of the Russell group, it is a research-intensive and highly reputed university. The university has been ranked within the top 20 in the UK for its high standard of education and student experience. Newcastle is an incredible place with excellent facilities for studies and big on cultural activities. Living expenses were within my budget as compared to the other study destinations in the country. Newcastle is home to the famous Newcastle United Football Club. The city is compact with good shopping facilities, restaurants and is a cultural hub for all international students. The beautiful countryside and coastal attractions are at a short travelling distance from the university campus. The city is vibrant and is known for its fabulous night life, mainly attributed to its student population.
The university is located in the heart of the city which makes it easy to commute by walk or public transport. The university’s library has been awarded for its excellence five times in a row; complete with a wide variety of resources which can be accessed by students and faculty. The university provides specialised learning services to support both the taught programme and research-degree students. There are learning spaces for students for private study and group study. The old library building or the “research beehive”, supports postgraduate students and it includes meeting rooms, a library and social facilities where staff and students can exchange ideas and discuss the various topics of study.
Newcastle University’s union (NUSU) is a great way to socialise with various international students. There are over 150 clubs and societies with a wide range of interests. The union building has wonderful facilities like 24-hour computer clusters, social learning areas, a dedicated sports society, a ‘volunteering area’ shop selling student essentials and a café to work and relax. The award-winning career service provides students with various services such as finding internships, part-time or full-time jobs, CV correction, career counselling and providing access to online psychometric testing. They also provide support for entrepreneurial skills.
When I landed in Newcastle, there was a welcome team to meet and greet all international students and they also made arrangements to drop us at our university halls. The international student’s week organised by the university was very informative and beneficial. I met new people from various cultural backgrounds. The information sessions, workshops and social activities helped a lot in releasing the stress of starting a new life miles away from home.
In addition to attending lectures, various individual and team projects, I even managed to participate in extracurricular activities and join a few societies even though the course has been intensive and challenging throughout the term. It was a privilege to be selected as the course representative. I was responsible to voice concerns of my fellow students to the staff-student committee and have been actively involved in influencing university decision-making with respect to my department. Being chosen as the student ambassador for Newcastle University is a great honour and I was elated by this decision.
Studying in an international university has helped me to independently self-manage, develop my professional and personal skills. The whole experience has been enjoyable and has exceeded my expectation. It’s an honour to graduate from this prestigious university.
Studying abroad is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so make the best use of it!