One of the biggest learning points for me was the style of teaching at University
What drew you to apply and accept a place on the Foundation Year (FY)?
Being able to go on to study Computer Science at a Russel Group university despite having chosen subjects in sixth form that did not fit the university’s requirements to go straight into the first year.
Along with this, having studied these subjects earlier in my education I felt it would be good to study these subjects again except this time being more centred around giving me the basic understanding I needed to succeed in first-year instead of being unsure as to whether this would be related to the degree I wanted to do.
It also gave me the option to get experience with the university and give me an insight into my desired degree before making the decision to study it, so I felt as though by doing the Foundation Year I would be able to use the experience I would have to make the right decision.
What was your educational background before and what were the main concerns you had before embarking on the course?
Before the Foundation Year I did the International Baccalaureate. As I did Standard Level Maths instead of Higher Level Maths I was not eligible to go straight into the first year.
Because of this, I was worried that the Maths taught throughout the year would be at a much higher level than I was used to.
The Maths taught in the Foundation Year was at a higher level than the Maths I was previously taught, however, due to the high standard of teaching, I found myself excelling in areas of Maths that previously I had trouble with.
It did not take me long to come to the realisation that my concerns were not going to be a problem throughout the year. I was also concerned about the Physics I would be learning throughout the course.
As Physics was not an area which particularly interested me, I was unsure as to whether I would have the motivation to keep up a good work ethic throughout the year.
The physics module was taught in such a way that it was evident that the lecturer was passionate about the subject and I realised that because of the enthusiasm in the teaching throughout the year, it gave me the extra motivation that I needed to enjoy and understand a subject that previously I lacked the motivation to study.
I felt as though it would help me when starting Year 1 study as I would be able to focus more on the subject I wanted to study rather than having to also focus on getting used to university life at the same time
Michael Gardiner
MComp Computer Science
How did FY help to prepare you for Year 1 study and beyond?
The Foundation Year helped to bring my knowledge up to a standard that made me feel confident going into Year 1 study. I felt as though there would not be anything that would require me to go back and relearn anything I had previously learnt as the teaching throughout the entire year was phenomenal.
I was able to get used to university life and adjust to the new challenges that came from moving away from home and learning in a different way that I had been used to.
I felt as though it would help me when starting Year 1 study as I would be able to focus more on the subject I wanted to study rather than having to also focus on getting used to university life at the same time.
It also helped a lot when it came to exams as I had already been through the exam periods I knew what to expect next time and again, it would help me focus on my studies.
What were the big learning points for you during your FY?
One of the biggest learning points for me was the style of teaching at university. Previously, all of my learning has been centred around exams and making sure that everything is taught purely to pass the final exam.
In my time at the University of Sheffield it has become clear to me that the lecturers do not teach just to get us to pass a final exam, the lecturers are passionate about their fields and want to share their knowledge of it with people who have a deep interest in their field.
Another of my learning points was that having a genuine interest in a subject really helps when it comes to learning and understanding new things.
The Foundation Year has taught me that spending a little bit of free time reading into certain areas can really give an extra boost to your knowledge that can help to maintain good grades.
The group work that is done within the engineering module was also a learning point for me, it was different to the group work I had done previously as it required a lot more communication and organisation.
However, the freedom in doing the work outside of university allowed me to form friendships with the people I had worked with - something that I would not have expected based upon previous experiences with group work.
What do you enjoy most about your current degree programme?
Out of everything I am learning on my current degree programme I am enjoying the coding and the artificial intelligence-related module the most. I have always enjoyed coding but I only got the chance to learn one language before coming to university.
Now, I have learnt the basics of many more languages and I am hoping to learn these more in-depth as well as new ones throughout my degree.
Artificial Intelligence is an area I have found myself fascinated by for a very long time, in this module I have been able to have first-hand experience with learning how it actually works and even getting to code parts of it myself.
I usually do not enjoy the theory parts of subjects as much as the practical aspects but this module keeps me very interested and wanting to know more. I have enjoyed my degree a lot so far and I am very glad I made the decision to take the extra year to do the Foundation Year.
All of the student support services I have visited in my time at university have been very helpful
Michael Gardiner
MComp Computer Science
What are your favourite things about studying in Sheffield?
Since I first visited the University of Sheffield on one of the open days I knew that Sheffield would be an amazing place to spend my time in while doing my degree. The university itself is located in the city centre where there are countless shops, bars and clubs to visit throughout your time here.
One of the things I love about Sheffield is that despite the university being in the city centre, with the Peak District only a short journey away the greenery is always present.
The student accommodation is a great example of this as despite being only just outside of the city centre, it is surrounded by nature.
Sheffield also has many good transport links making it easy to spend the day in the Peak District where you can get a lot of peace and quiet despite being so close to Sheffield.
What has the wider University offered you in terms of support and student community?
The students union has a wide range of student support services as well as places to eat, shop, get a pint and even a nightclub!
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the students union when I first arrived in Sheffield but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to go in there and speak to someone about any issues I have been having.
All of the student support services I have visited in my time at university have been very helpful and I would highly recommend that if at any point you need any support to seek help from the university.
The student community is a very friendly one, there are hundreds of student-led societies that anyone from any degree programme can join, so if you find yourself wondering about another subject outside of your degree I can guarantee there will be a society specialising in it.
How have you overcome challenges so far and what would be your advice to a prospective Foundation Year student?
One of the challenges I faced was getting through the transition of changing to a different style of learning, it relies on a lot of work outside of lecture theatres - which is something that I was not used to from previous education.
Once I had gotten over the initial hurdle of transitioning to this style of learning I actually found it a much easier way to learn than I originally thought.
Along with the new style of teaching, it was my first experience of living by myself.
At first it was a very big adjustment to make but as the year went on and I became more independent, I started to enjoy living by myself, which I feel helped me not only in my studies but also in my social life.
My advice to someone who is considering the Foundation Year is to do it. I was very unsure at first as to whether I would be worth it in the end but after doing I can honestly say that it was completely worth it and it would have been the wrong decision for me to have done anything else.
What are your career aspirations after your degree?
I have not got any specific career aspirations aside from wanting to be within the field of computer science. At the moment I am enjoying my time at university.
I also know that between now and my graduation I will be studying many new things I have not yet encountered in education and one of these things could be what I decide to focus my career around.
There are many options after finishing a computer science degree and I do not want to miss out on any of them so I will continue to go through the course with an open mind and a passion for the subject.