What appealed to you about Northumbria University / studying in Newcastle?
I am from Hong Kong. Newcastle is a very convenient city, similar to Hong Kong. People here are warm and friendly. Everywhere is within walking distance. The student services and international office are very helpful.
What was it about the course / subject area that particularly appealed?
Food is a major issue in many countries since people everywhere have to eat. Due to new technology and chemical additives, food has become either dangerous or healthier than ever. So there is a wide range of prospects in this field, such as new product development.
What qualifications did you have?
I applied for this course by direct entry application to the university with the help of my course leader in Hong Kong. It is very convenient. I have a higher diploma in Food Technology and am an Environmental graduate of Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education.
How did you feel during your first week at Northumbria?
Relaxed and excited. The environment was very calm but also exciting. There are a lot of sightseeing places and museums around.
What do you like most about the course?
Very good course materials are provided. There are also very good collections of books and journals in the library we can search for.
What do you like most about Newcastle and the surrounding area?
Good transport system, everywhere is within walking distance, and there are maps everywhere so I don’t get lost in the city.
Can you give an example of a piece of work you’ve been involved with recently and what it involves?
Final year projects. Mainly searching through the University library and also searching through the website for the electronic journals. The IT facility is also fabulous e.g. NU ‘Simply Web’ and NU ‘Desktop Anywhere’. It helped me a lot during study at home since some of the journals can be searched only by the university web system.
Do you have the opportunity for any work placements during your course?
No, since I’m a final year student.
What do you do when you’re not studying?
Try to cook something new, discover the European food that I haven’t tried before. Have a little walk around the town and sightseeing.
What’s your accommodation like?
It is very compact but is a convenient place to live. Although, it is quite an old building, the furniture and room are still maintained very well. It is very close to the city centre and located just next to the campus of applied science. The library is only 2 minutes walks from my accommodation.
What would you like to do when you graduate?
I would like to try to apply for a job within the UK. It will be a very different experience for me to know the country with all kinds of standards and procedures within the working environment.
How do you get on with your tutors?
They are very friendly and helpful to us. We can reach them by email or meet them directly in the office for any questions we have.
Have you used Student Services during your course?
Yes, they helped me a lot with the police station registration, and also gave some advice about careers in the UK.
Do you have any advice for anyone applying for your course, or for university in general?
Try to choose University Accommodation as it will help a lot in minimising expenses on bills and live together with some friends so you can share a lot of kitchen utensils and household items. Bring more winter clothes and also water proof jackets.
What three words would you use to describe your time at Northumbria?
Meaningful, joyful and exciting.
