ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

Why ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

I've already experienced 3 facilities at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É that are specifically related to my major. I've gone on a cruise on our research vessel, the RV Prince Madog, where I got hands-on experience planning a research trip and collecting data. I also ran experiments in ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É's Hydrolab, where I studied wave dynamics and sediment properties in our wave tank. I've also gotten the chance to complete fieldwork where I mapped out a (very windy) salt marsh's salinity profile with handheld equipment. My professors always tie these hands-on experiences in with current literature on the topic, so we gain both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Teaching Quality

All my professors are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject material, and they love it when you ask questions in class! No one is too busy for you. I love how our interactive sessions lead to deep and memorable understanding of the material. It's so important to me to have professors who love teaching and are actually good at it.

Location

You really can't beat being a 30 minute bus ride from Snowdonia! I usually go out to the mountains once a week to go hill walking, and I love that I can see them every day from ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É as well. Everyone told me that "Wales is wet," so I was prepared for a deluge every day. But honestly, most of the time the weather's pretty nice, and when it's not, sitting in the library with a sweater while it's raining is really aesthetic.

Accommodation

I'm living in private accommodation (IQ on the high street). The housing was easy to find and sign up for, and I really feel like I'm getting my money's worth compared to places I've lived in in the US.

Clubs and Societies

I couldn't believe all the clubs available at Serendipity! Like many other students in my year, I signed up for way more than I could possibly keep up with. All the clubs are free, and there's no pressure to have any prior knowledge (the two clubs I'm most active in are activities I've never done before - trampolining and rock climbing!). These clubs make it so easy to make new friends from all over the UK that you can hang out with at club events or Wednesday socials.

Student Support

No, I haven't really used the free support experiences available to international students at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É. I was lucky enough to have a pretty hassle free experience getting my Visa, bank account, health insurance, etc. set up. I was also very fortunate in winning the Global Wales scholarship, a 10,000 GBP award for international students studying in the UK. This has made it easier for me to focus on my studies instead of being worried about whether I can afford to go out with friends or buy groceries.

Part-time Jobs in ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

Yes, I'm currently working at a pub near the Ocean Sciences school buildings. I really enjoy it and have made loads of friends there! It's great to have the opportunity to meet people who are from the area and have lived here their whole lives; it's definitely a different perspective than English people going to Uni. I found it very easy to get the job - I just applied to a few ads relevant to my previous work experience on Indeed and got an interview for one within a few days.

Career and Employability

Very confident! My professors know a lot of industry professionals and are happy to give you a run-down on skills that will be most useful for whatever you choose as your career. We also have an ocean sciences specific career fair in February; I can't wait to meet and talk with professionals working in the Marine Renewable Energy sector.

Best thing about ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

I think I would definitely say it's the strong sense of community. It's the connection you have with your professors, the ease of forming lifelong connections with people in your classes, the connection with people in clubs who share your interest.

ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É in three words

Community
Inquisitiveness
Exploration