Meet our International Engineering Ambassador: Adrien Gallet

Name: Adrien Gallet

Nationality: French/German

Department: Civil and Structural Engineering

Course: MEng Civil Engineering with a Year in Industry

Where’re you from?
Probably one of the most difficult questions to answer really, and it generally goes something like this. My mom is French, my father is German, though my great-grandparents came partially from Spain, France, Germany and what is today Poland. I was born in Paris, grew up in Munich, and lived five years in Shanghai. And now I'm in Sheffield! So, I guess I'm from Europe?

Why the University of Sheffield?
I could probably write an essay on this, but I will summarize it for you. To begin with, the university belongs to one of the top 100 in the world, has one of the highest student satisfaction records in the country, and boasts the best student union for eight years running in the UK. We've got the tallest university building as well (the Arts Tower with its paternosters), the university holds a Guinness Book record, we have an amazing campus that is constantly being improved upon and the 81-million pound Diamond. Speaking of which, the Diamond is a fantastic study and learning space altogether: it’s open 24/7, it is filled with silent study rooms and two separate libraries, it has world-class facilities ranging from 3D printers to flight simulators and a cable-stayed bridge. I should probably stop, but you get the idea: it’s an amazing university.

Why Civil and Structural Engineering at Sheffield?
This department is nothing short of excellence. We belong to one of the top 50 Civil and Structural Engineering department in the world (just think about that), we've got fantastic lecturers and tutorial leaders from all over the world (including England, Scotland, Australia, Holland, Germany, France, Iran, the list goes on). The last Research Excellence framework ranked us amongst the best five universities in the UK for civil and structural engineering in 2014, and there are millions of opportunities to engage with engineering at the university (Engineers without borders, Global Engineering Challenge week, Spaghetti Bridge competition, Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience). To top it all off, you also get your own personal tutor in the first year, which is great in case you ever have any kinds of questions.

What’s Sheffield like as a city?
I've been quite a bit around in the world, and I was fortunate enough to get to see a good number of cities. And I can tell you with confidence that Sheffield ranks amongst some of the best cities I got to live in, especially as a student. Sheffield is a great city to live in in terms of living costs, it has plenty of parks (Weston Park is about 78 seconds away from the student union for example), it’s safe, it’s clean, and people are all extremely nice. The only thing one could complain about is perhaps the weather, because it gets windy and rainy just like anywhere else in the UK! But at least that gives you the motivation to study inside =)

Hobbies Sports. Any really, but I play table tennis, touch rugby and fencing, and I love to hike in the Peak District. Also just joining societies is loads of fun; the investment, poetry and chess societies have so far caught my interest. And regardless of who you are, I can tell you with absolute certainty that you will find a society (correction societies!) that will suit your interest.

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Sindoori Muhunthan

Name: Sindoori Muhunthan 

Course: Bioengineering

Nationality: Sri Lanka

A little bit about myself first! I am Sindhoori Muhunthan, currently in my first year of Bioengineering at the University of Sheffield. I have lived my whole life in the tiny town of Kandy, in Sri Lanka where I attended an international school that follows the British education system.

Choosing the correct university for yourself, is one of the most important decisions of your life. I found it to be one of the toughest too. So how did I decide? Since our school followed the British curriculum, we had annual visits and education fairs from some of the best universities in the UK. This was one of the main things that helped me decide which university I want to go to.

Before this though, I had to decide which course was the best for me. I knew I wanted to be a part of the medical environment and contribute to healthcare, however, I did not see myself working in a clinical environment for the rest of my life. This led me to Bioengineering. Bioengineering is a diverse field, though relatively new, which attempts to solve biological problems that have persisted throughout history using engineering principles.

Once I knew which course of study I wanted to pursue, I had to find the best place for it. After a lot of research and tough decision making I decided on the University of Sheffield, and I am happy to say I have not had any second thoughts about my decision after arriving here. The most exciting thing about my course is the diversity of it. One minute you will be sitting in an electronics lecture, and the next you will be examining cadavers in the anatomy lab. We also have talks from guest lecturers who are a part of the bioengineering industry. This is one of the most valuable aspects of my course as it helps us stay in touch with the current trends and progress within the industry. Some of the main things prospective students should think about before picking their major would be to choose a subject they like and can see themselves working on for the rest of their professional career.

I must admit, leaving home and learning to live by myself for the first time scared me! I did not know what to expect since I am from a country with a completely different culture and different traditions. However, after coming here I realized that it wasn’t as scary as I expected and the transition was not too challenging. There is also an active Sri Lankan society here that helps me to stay in touch with my culture and makes me feel at home.

University work can be really challenging at times, but there is an abundance of things you can do here to relax when the work load gets a little bit too much! Joining societies and meeting new people is always a stress- reliever! You can make a trip to the Peak District and do a little bit of hiking and walk along with nature, or watch a movie at the Students’ Union (which is THE place to go to if you want to just grab a quick bite to eat or hang out with your friends) or maybe even engage in some sort of sports. However, you never need to worry too much about not being able to catch up with your studies. The Information Commons, which is a library, is open 24/7 and also, the lecturers here are always willing to help.

I am really happy I chose Sheffield and got accepted here! The city is lovely and safe and also an ideal place to do all your shopping. Living costs are also much lower when compared to other major cities in the UK. Overall, the experience I have had at the University of Sheffield have been amazing so far and I cannot believe I have already completed one semester here! Time sure flies by fast when you’re having fun! Honestly, I cannot think of a better place to live! 

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Vamesh Jajoo

Name: Vamesh Jajoo

Course: MEng Mechanical Engineering

Nationality: India

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and brought up in Indore, India. It's a moderately-sized city not unlike Sheffield which is probably why I feel at home here. I did my IGCSEs and A Levels from The Emerald Heights International School, Indore and being at an international school and studying an international curriculum encouraged me to take a global perspective to things. My favourite subject at school was Mathematics with Physics and Chemistry really close second; this along with increasing interest in manufacturing persuaded me to study Mechanical Engineering.

Why did you choose the University of Sheffield?

I chose the University of Sheffield because it is one of the best places to study Mechanical Engineering (it is ranked 3rd in the UK according to the Times Good University Guide 2014 and ranked 69th overall by the QS World University Rankings) and it has an award winning students union. This ensured that I wouldn’t be compromised academically while also being able to get actively involved in student life giving me a well-rounded university experience.

What is the most enjoyable thing about studying your subject at the University of Sheffield?

The sheer excitement! You have to build a small self-powered car, produce a lab report, work on computer modelling assignments, complete the mathematics quiz online, coordinate with your group members - there's so much to do and it's all relevant and is helping you develop skills for you to solve an industry problem in the future! There are modules ranging from various engineering disciplines but also from project management and business practice which provide you with the skills to do well wherever you go after graduation.

How do you find the teaching and the study methods at the University of Sheffield?

There are three ways in which we are taught: lectures, tutorials and labs. I find the lectures engaging and interesting which is partly because of the brilliant lecturers who are experts in their own fields and partly because of the content which is so engrossing! Tutorials are sessions with a department professor who develops understanding on the course by stimulating discussions about the course material and guiding us through any problems that we might encounter. Labs are the spaces for practical work which complement what we have learnt in theory and this adds more to our learning of the topic. There are also workshops which is where we have machines for manufacturing. We just made a vice (a self-adjustable clamp) from scratch at the workshop!

What is your opinion on Sheffield as a city?

I find myself at home at Sheffield and this is something I was really worried about as an international student. It is one of the safest cities in the UK and the greenest in Europe! And the living costs are relatively cheaper than the rest of the UK which is a great advantage to have as a student! The people are also really friendly and helpful. One third of the city lies in the Peak District national park so it is quite hilly but if you don't fancy a walk the public transport is quite efficient.

What are the benefits of studying at the University of Sheffield?

Like I said before, the University of Sheffield offers me the best in academics and the best in student life. You have leading academics as your professors and well-equipped libraries and labs to assist you in studying. Then there's the career service for any help regarding placements or jobs and they are always ready to assist. There are quite a few places to go to if you need any help like the Student Advice Centre and the SSID (Student Support Information Desk). The Students Union organises events for like-minded people to meet up and there's also parties and bands to go to. It is a very well-rounded university experience.

Do you have any plans after the completion of your course?

I would like to work in the manufacturing industry to gain some industrial exposure and commercial awareness. If I then feel the need, I had return to academics and then pursue my dream of running my own business.

What advice would you give to prospective students coming to Sheffield?

I know you will miss home because I did but the best way to counter that is get busy! Work hard at your course, join societies and clubs, volunteer, get involved in the students union: there's loads of stuff to do! You will also meet like-minded people when you get involved and being with friends will also help you adapt to the new atmosphere. University life is a challenging time and it will push you out of your comfort zone but that's where the magic happens and you will find yourself stronger, more independent and a much more capable individual.

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Anna Santagostino Barbone

Name: Anna Santagostino Barbone

Course: Meng Bioengineering

Nationality: Italian

My background

Although I was born and raised in Italy and I have always attended non-international schools near Milan, I can fairly say that I’ve been a cosmopolitan person all of my life. I have been travelling for many years with my parents, who had friends all around Europe and with my friends visiting people I met during my high school semester in Wales at Morriston Comprehensive School. All of this has taught me that being cosmopolitan is a mind-set, no matter if you have lived all of your life in the same country. I found that at the University of Sheffield this is considered as a value and how could this not be? There are more than 160 countries represented in this University!

Why I chose the University of Sheffield.

Before choosing the University I wanted to attend, I did a lot of browsing through websites and I found that UoS website was a really useful resource. I would advise you to have a look at it because it answers a lot of questions you may ask yourself. I read about all of the modules I would have to take if I enrolled on the Bioengineering course and I found it was ideal for someone like me who was always interested in both maths but also in more scientific subjects. I was really confused when I had to choose between Engineering and Medicine but here was the answer for me: Bioengineering. There are other universities offering a similar course but I found that their perspective was more focussed on engineering.

What convinced me to choose the UoS was not solely based on what I had read on the website or on its high ranking. At high school I attended an Open Day at the Polytechnic of Milan which has the best engineering facilities in Italy. I asked a lecturer and the Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering, which would be the best University to study Bioengineering in the UK and they both agreed that the University of Sheffield would have been my best choice.

What I enjoy about my subject at the University of Sheffield

As I said, I don’t think you can find another course like this one because it is split among so many other departments. This way, you get the best of everything that the University of Sheffield can offer you. It is hard to get bored of Bioengineering at the UoS because every module is quite different from the others but at the same time they were chosen in a way that makes them intertwine. I am becoming more aware of this as my first semester is coming to an end and I can see the links between the different subjects I have been taught in the previous months.

Why Sheffield – The Steel City?

I have to say that knowing I would be living in Sheffield helped me decide to attend UoS because Sheffield is a really nice city to live in. This is because you can get the best of both city and country since Sheffield is the third largest metropolitan district in England. It can offer you anything you may be looking for – a lot of international food for example, which I personally adore! It has a very active music scene with lots of gigs on, which makes Sheffield the perfect city to live in if you love music. At the same time, Sheffield lies partially within the Peak District and it is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Whenever you want to get out of the city you can do it very easily, enjoying the wonderful landscapes that the countryside of South Yorkshire has to offer. There is also the possibility of doing  many different outdoor sports that  bring you in close contact with nature, so don’t forget to take your training shoes with you!

The perks of being part of the University of Sheffield

Apart from the academic point of view, UoS has so many opportunities to offer a student. The Students Union has been ranked first in the UK and it does deserve that place because it’s always organising so may events. What strikes me about the UoS is the variety that you can find here. The University organises nights our and clubbing for you and at the same time great sport and volunteering activities, so that if you can manage your own time you could be involved in something 24/7. The word boredom doesn’t exist in Sheffield’s vocabulary.

What I want to do after my degree

There are many things I would like to do after my degree but the main three are: working in the developing world maybe with some kind of organisation like ‘Engineers Without Borders’ or ‘Engineering World Health’; working in a hospital such as the big Royal Hallamshire Hospital here in Sheffield; going back to my home country and starting a bioengineering company in order to develop a field that is not yet represented in Italy. I am aware that these things are very different from one another but I am sure that studying at UoS will give me the inspiration to make the right choice, freely and lead me to the path I wish to follow.

My advice

I’d like to quote from Mark Twain with one of my favourite quotes first: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

I think the final three words clearly represent what you can find in Sheffield and as an international student one should never be afraid to leave home in fear of finding a storm because from what I am experiencing, Sheffield is a great harbour to dock.