Why I came back to study at Sheffield
In this blog post Grace talks about her experiences of starting her undergraduate degree as a second year direct entrant and also why she chose to come back and study her MSc with us despite there being a global pandemic.
When it comes to choosing a University, there is more to it than just academics. Sheffield is one of the Russell Group Universities, meaning that you can be sure that the education provided is of high quality. Not only does Sheffield focus on academics, they also prioritise extracurricular activities by hosting various events and allowing students to express their interest with like-minded peers through the many clubs and societies available. A good balance between the two is crucial for personal development.
Known for being the greenest city in the UK, Sheffield has the perfect balance between nature and city life. Sheffield has numerous parks, such as the Botanical Gardens which has the most adorable squirrels, the historic Weston Park, and of course, having the Peak District so close by is also a shout. However, this doesn’t mean that Sheffield is all nature and nothing else! There are a wide range of sport activities and social events in the city and in the Student Union. The Student Union has been No.1 in the country for years too!
After graduating BSc in Artificial intelligence and Computer Science, I returned to Malaysia to work in Kuala Lumpur. During my time there, I realised the importance of having a masters in the industry. Having previously studied in University of Sheffield and after comparing the measures taken by other Universities amidst COVID-19, I chose to return to Sheffield as not only does Sheffield continue to provide quality education, they also take measures to give as much of a normal university life to students as possible. In the financial aspect, tuition fees have always been a concern for many International Student, myself included. Hence, I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to apply for multiple scholarships offered by the university as well. These aspects made me decide to come back to do my masters as I know that I will continue to benefit from the education here despite COVID-19. Most importantly, Sheffield is one of the few Universities that offer both Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence as the same course, which is what I wanted to pursue for my masters, and hopefully build a career in this field in the future.
Having decided to transfer to Sheffield in my second year, I realised that being worried is inevitable as I chose to leave my comfort zone. I was worried about not fitting in, culture shock, and not being able to catch up with the students who started here from Day 1. When I arrived, I decided to attend introduction sessions held by the Department of Computer Science, hoping to find someone in a similar situation. During the first few weeks, I joined events held by the Student Union and managed to find like-minded peers. One of the first events held by Malaysian and Singaporean Society (MASSOC) was where I got to know some of my closest friends now. I also became an Ambassador for the Department of Computer Science, Global Campus, and became a student mentor, so that I can share my experience and help others feel at ease about coming to university, be it as a fresher or as a transferred student.