Sheffield's tutors are internationally recognised experts in the field, which gave me confidence in the quality of teaching I would receive.

What made you choose to study at the University of Sheffield and your chosen course?

I chose to study Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Sheffield because the course aligned directly with my long-term goal of improving access to education in Nigeria through technology. Sheffield's tutors are internationally recognised experts in the field, and many are actively involved in research that tackles real global problems, which gave me confidence in the quality of teaching I would receive. The course also has a strong hands-on focus, backed by close industrial partnerships, and the option to do a year in industry stood out to me as a chance to gain real-world engineering experience. Sheffield's accreditation and reputation also give graduates a real edge when it comes to finding jobs afterwards, which made it an easy decision.

I first heard about the NCUK Merit Scholarship through the University of Sheffield’s website.

How did you research the University and find out more about studying in Sheffield?

I did a lot of research before applying. I spent time on the University's official website and read many articles about the course and student experience. I also watched YouTube videos, both from the University itself and from content creators who had studied there, to get a more honest, first-hand perspective. Beyond that, I reached out directly to students currently at Sheffield who had come through my International Foundation Year programme, which gave me really valuable insight into what day-to-day life and studying there is actually like.

How do you hope your time at Sheffield will help you achieve your long-term career goals?

My ambition is to help close the education gap in Nigeria and across Africa through engineering. Millions of children still lack access to digitised, quality education, largely due to unreliable internet, expensive data, and outdated resources. Studying Computer Systems Engineering at Sheffield will give me the skills to design low-bandwidth, resilient systems that can run on low-power or refurbished devices, so I can help build offline and low-cost learning platforms that actually reach rural communities. I hope to eventually partner with education-focused tech startups to bring these solutions to life across the country.

What are you most looking forward to experiencing in the city of Sheffield outside of your studies?

I am really looking forward to experiencing match days with Sheffield United and, more generally, getting a feel for what student life is like in a calmer, more peaceful city than the one I am used to.

 What advice would you give to other international students considering applying for a scholarship at the University of Sheffield?

Be yourself, and let your personal story come through in your application rather than trying to guess what you think they want to hear. Get involved in extracurricular activities that genuinely mean something to you, since those experiences often make for the most authentic and memorable answers. And most importantly, take the time to actually read and understand each question properly, and answer what is being asked rather than assuming you already know.