Course: BEng Bioengineering
Nataionality: Indian
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I
was born in Mumbai and spent the first six years of my life there before moving
to another city in India for a year and then finally, moving to Hong Kong at
the age of seven. When people ask me where I’m from, it’s an odd combination of
India and Hong Kong. After five years in Hong Kong, I moved back to India and
did my IGCSEs and A levels at RIMS International School & Junior College,
Pune. All this travelling has really shaped me as an individual and has led me
to study Bioengineering at the University of Sheffield.
Why did you choose the University of Sheffield to study
your subject?
I
chose the University of Sheffield because it offers Bioengineering as a degree
with the flexibility of choosing a specialization in second year instead of the
first. This gives students a year to explore the different aspects of
Bioengineering and choose one that appeals to them the most. Bioengineering at
Sheffield is extremely interdisciplinary in terms of the number of departments
that contribute to it – seven to be precise! And apart from all this, the
University is ranked 69th in the World Times Higher Education
rankings and is a top institution in the UK.
What’s the most enjoyable thing about studying your
subject at the University of Sheffield?
The
most enjoyable thing about my course would be the diversity of it. I have an
electronics module as well as a human anatomy module. Because so many
departments contribute to my degree, I get the opportunity to meet other
engineering students during class which is always fun. What I
love about my department is that we often have these tutorials where we look at
the ‘big picture’, we discuss how Bioengineering is changing healthcare in the
UK and all over the world, especially in developing countries and how it has
the potential to solve major problems. These talks are motivational and thought
provoking and are exactly what a student needs to hear from time to time as a
reminder of how important the things we’re learning are.
What are the most valuable aspects of your course?
One
of the most valuable aspects of my course is the guest lectures that the
department regularly organises on the different specialisations available to
choose from in second year. Another great thing about the Faculty of Engineering at Sheffield is the fact that they put a large emphasis on careers and
have talks from people working in Industry. Recently, I attended a talk by a
professor in my department organized by the Institute of Engineering and
Technology – which students at the University get to be members of – on the
topic of biomedical engineering research.
How did you find the teaching and study methods at the
University of Sheffield?
One
thing that got me excited in my lectures was the use of ‘clickers’. This is an
app on your smartphone which enables you to answer the question asked by the
professor at that moment in a class of 200 people. The app then records your
answer, collates the data from the rest of the class and prepares a bar graph
of the percentage right and wrong. The professor will then discuss the answer.
I feel this method is effective to keep such a large class engaged and
attentive. It also helps to know where you’re going wrong if you are.
Some
lecturers also put up recordings of actual lectures on MOLE (My Online Learning
Environment) which is an online university portal that you use to access all
your study materials which is very helpful as you can log back in any time to
access anything you need. These methods make information accessible to students
if and when they need it, at their own convenience. And of course, there’s
always the iSheffield app!
What do you see as the benefits of an education from the
University of Sheffield?
The
most important benefit of an education at the University of Sheffield is that
your professors are one of the top academics in their field. They have the
relevant knowledge and experience that you need to do well in your course and
they are always willing to help…you just have to be brave enough to ask for
it! And in fact, that’s what you
eventually learn to do at university – get brave enough to ask for help.
The university offers great careers services to its students and has a student
advice centre for any personal problems. The Students Union is THE place to go
if you need any sort of help – whether it is opening a bank account when you’re
new in Sheffield or grabbing a quick bite to eat between two lectures. An
education at UoS is beneficial for the balance between academics and social
activities you can find here.
What in your opinion is the best thing about life at the
University of Sheffield?
The
best thing about life here is that there is just so much on offer you can
literally never get bored. At the University of Sheffield, there is an
abundance of choice and never boredom, and your only challenge is to choose and
to manage your time well.
What do you hope to achieve after you’ve finished your
course?
After
my course, I would like to either continue studying for a Masters degree or
work for a while and then get back to academia. I see myself working for the
development of rural countries and this is something I would like to get
involved in from the start which is why I have joined the Engineers Without Borders Society.
What advice would you give for prospective students
coming to Sheffield?
I would tell prospective students not to worry about
moving away from home. You might get homesick but take it from my own
experience – you will honestly have no time to be thinking about it once you
start your course. Uni life is fast paced and keeping up with it helps you grow
as a person. It is a challenging time that pushes you outside your comfort zone
and whilst all this is happening, Sheffield as a city provides you a safe and
friendly atmosphere like a home away from home.
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