What appealed to you about Northumbria University?
Northumbria University was initially introduced by the talk we had in INTI College, Malaysia which my friends and I then discussed further. I didn’t really look up much information about Newcastle, believing that it would be a nice place and indeed it is.
What was it about the course / subject area that particularly appealed?
I found that the practical assignments were very different from what I did in my first year in Malaysia. It was a new thing to me but eventually I was able to catch up. Career opportunities are also one of the reasons which appealed to me about the course. It would be great to join the work force anywhere in the UK.
What qualifications did you have?
I had completed STPM (Malaysia Higher School Certificate) in Malaysia and had SPM (Malaysian Certificate of Education) before that.
What do you like most about the course?
I like the lecturers who are very helpful, friendly and easy to communicate with. The facilities are fully equipped and the subjects are interesting. I had to encounter new approaches which were amazing and I’m looking forward to exploring more in the future.
What do you do when you’re not studying?
Normally my friends and I go to the market and sometimes we go shopping in town. Otherwise we just walk around and enjoy ourselves, especially when the weather is sunny. I have also just got a job doing bar work in the Students’ Union - I am glad to be contributing to my University via this job of mine!
What’s your accommodation like?
I’m living in Lovaine Flats and I love it. It might not be a new building but I do like the facilities, internet access and the fact that it’s situated five minutes from town! It’s really convenient for me which is exactly what I had expected.
What do you like/dislike about Newcastle?
I like it as it is a big city with lots of services, conveniences and nice people plus it’s a peaceful place. There are a lot of wonderful events, happenings and interesting clubs here which I find amazing.
What would you like to do when you graduate?
I might pursue further studies in Forensic Science as I found out that there are a lot of job opportunities and this was my first reason for doing Biomedical Science. I’ve been interested in Forensic Science for quite some time and hopefully my plans will work.
Do you have any advice for anyone applying for your course, or for university in general?
Look through every detail of each university that you are attracted to, ignoring rankings and any fear of how people would treat you because of race, colour and where you come from. Do lots of research on the universities that you have less interest in and maybe that will change your mind. I wish I had known the percentage of people coming over to UK or Northumbria University for studies especially Malaysians.
