This is an interview by Mrs Jill Molyneux - International student officer at University Of Sheffield. In this interview she discusses about popular courses among Indian students, admission services, funding opportunities and much more...
As the new intake of students from India and all over the world settle into life at the University of Sheffield, they look set to reap the rewards of studying at a university with a global reputation for world-class teaching and ground breaking research. Home to over 4,000 international students from more than 130 countries, the University of Sheffield offers students the chance to study a wide range of subjects across the Faculties of Engineering, Science, Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities.
Indian students play a major role in many of the national, cultural, social and sporting societies at the University of
Sheffield and in turn, the University ensures it offers its international guests a friendly, safe and affordable city to live in, boasting a vibrant social scene.
Afrin Haque, 24, an Indian student studying for a degree in Medicine (MBChB) vouches that a degree from the University of Sheffield is not just about gaining a world-class qualification, but also about developing personal skills and interests, meeting new people and learning more about different cultures and ideas.
“I find ample opportunity to be a part of the rich cultural diversity that Sheffield's vast international students' community brings to the city,” he said.
“The fact that it is one of the safest cities in the UK greatly appealed to me, as well as my family back home. As a student at the University of Sheffield, I am part of the best Student’s Union in the country and have access to some of the best services offering help in the areas of finance, accommodation, visa and travel.”
Indian students like Afrin have the chance to embrace University life even further by joining one of the hundreds of student societies on offer, including the Sheffield Bollywood Society, the Hindu Students Forum and the Indian Society. Formed in 2003 and run by Indian international students, the Indian Society attracts more than 200 members, all of whom are involved in organising major international events at the University, such as the International Food Evening, Global Games, the International Cultural Evening and International Women´s Day, as well as Bollywood nights and cricket tournaments. At the beginning of the academic year the Indian Society also organises a special introduction party in which all new Indian students can meet current Indian students, helping new students feel welcome and stay in touch with their cultural roots.
As for educational value, a degree from Sheffield will give Indian students an edge over the competition in today’s global workplace. By collaborating with companies like Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Messier-Dowty and BAE Systems, students at the University of Sheffield are given the chance to put their knowledge into practice and make history by being at the forefront of discoveries that really make a difference to the world we live in.
The opportunities for students to carry out exciting research during their time at the University of Sheffield are endless and Indian student Sonal Choudhary, 26, is a perfect example of that. As part of her position as a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Sheffield, intrepid Sonal has swapped the hot and sunny climes of her home town of Dhanbad in eastern India to study the impact of acute nitrogen pollution on tundra vegetation in Svalbard, Norway. Her achievement has led her to become the only Indian woman researcher staying at the British research station of Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in Ny-Alesund on the Svalbard archipelago.
Sonal said: “The
University of Sheffield has contributed immensely in grooming me into a researcher. I am very lucky to have access to modern equipment and facilities in the University laboratories that I use for my work. The teachers are always supportive and ready to lend a helping hand to bring the best out of me. Apart from academics, the University organises regular seminars and symposiums that offer vast windows of exposure and contribute to the overall development of students. That simply makes the University of Sheffield a dream destination for prospective international students."
And her sentiment is echoed by other Indian students and graduates whose time at the University paves the way for an exciting career in medicine, engineering, science and technology, to name a few.
To find out more about studying at the University of Sheffield and our wide range of programmes available, visit Prospective International Students page.
Image : colleges.findthebest.com