Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?
I chose to study at Newcastle University because in my opinion, the course was a lot more modern than at other universities (topics such as Big Data, Cyber Security and Cloud Computing are encouraged at Newcastle University!) and there seems to be more flexibility. I still haven’t completely decided what to specialize in (this is something that I’ll decide by the end of my placement year) and Newcastle University are quite supportive in allowing me to make changes if necessary.
On top of that, I was able to visit the USB prior to beginning my degree and I quite liked the environment. It’s quite a bright, free, and positive environment and I preferred it as opposed to other campuses.
Lastly, I’m local and I quite like Newcastle as a city. There’s lots to do and it’s not too big therefore I felt there was no reason to leave!
Has Newcastle University lived up to your expectations?
Yes, Newcastle University has lived up to my expectations because I feel as though my fundamental Computational Thinking/Logic skills have improved and I use this to develop my technical skills such as Programming and Cloud Computing, in my free time. Prior to joining, I knew that this degree would build up upon my previous experiences of GCSE and A Level Computer Science and I can say that Newcastle University has lived up to this.
Aside from academia, I would still say that Newcastle University has lived up to my expectations. I’ve met loads of great people through a variety of different places (different courses, HASS society, badminton society). Referring to the badminton club, I’ve been able to compete against various universities and gain BUCS points.
What has most impressed you about the University?
The Urban Science’s Building impressed me because of its smart nature and as stated in one of the previous questions, it’s quite a nice environment to work in.
I also quite like how the Career’s Service share a variety of roles, and this is something that I’ve been able to take advantage of and work alongside my studies (during 1st year).
What is your favourite thing about your degree? Do you have any stand-out memories?
So far, my favourite thing must be the CSC2034 HCI Project. This was an area that I had an interest in but had never actually done before. The whole process of creating a Digital Prototype and documenting it was quite satisfying (the progress of going from a set of requirements to a tangible prototype). In fact, I did this project twice because I did it wrong the 1st time however, I was able to learn a lot and I ended up working very hard, enjoying the whole process and ultimately, received a good grade.
How supportive are academic staff on your degree programme?
I have found Academic Staff to be very supportive. Whenever I’ve needed anything, I’ve contacted them through Teams/Email and have always received helpful responses.
What has been your favourite life experience at Newcastle?
Overall, just spending time with my friends, going around the city. This included many different restaurants, The Quayside, The Gate, Jesmond …
If I had to be specific, then I’d also say that the experiences of travelling with the university team and competing in badminton matches was particularly enjoyable.
What advice would you give to students thinking about studying your programme?
- Work hard, put the hours in!
- Be prepared to make mistakes, encounter error messages and face challenges.
- With that being said, have fun and enjoy the process. It’s an interesting course with lots of exciting topics!
- Lastly, where possible, try and manage your time well. There’s enough time for you to manage studies with other activities and really maximize your experience out of university.
What advice would you give to your younger self about university life?
Work hard but don’t overwork and don’t try to do too much.
