I did my schooling at Mount Carmel High School in Ahmedabad, and chose Liberal Studies from Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University for my Bachelors. I majored in International Relations, with Public Administration as my minor subject.
The reason I chose international relations was simple — I have always been interested in world politics. It was while pursuing my bachelor’s that I realised that international affairs extended way beyond what we perceive from newspapers, and decided to pursue my master’s in the subject.
I had applied and was accepted by a number of top universities, but the University of Sheffield was without doubt the most obvious choice.
Building contactsIt wasn’t just the reputation that made me choose the University of Sheffield. I look forward to working with a government or non-government think tank that would provide me with the opportunity to work in the area of developing conflict resolution strategies and peace-building in post-conflict societies. I was spoilt for choices while selecting my modules, which was a big plus because I got an opportunity to tailor my course to suit my career goals.
Moreover, as a top research university in the U.K., Sheffield also excels in combining the theoretical aspect of education with the hands-on, practical know-how delivered through workshops and relevant industry interaction. I recently submitted a dissertation proposal on the Israel-Palestine conflict that outlines a viable option to both the parties.
My experience at the university so far has been awesome! The campus is big, and being a little lazy, I was initially hesitant to walk around so much and got lost a lot. But people are friendly and help you with the directions; they’re probably used to new students walking around like lost sheep!
The faculty members are learned and friendly. Every student has a personal tutor assigned to them to help out with every aspect of university life — from coursework, finances and writing essays, to understanding the new culture. I find this personalised attention a big plus.
CampusAnother thing I like about the University of Sheffield is the environment in and around the campus.
There are many international students here, and every year more students enrol for the university’s varied courses. The people and faculty at Sheffield are quite warm and welcoming to all students, and there are lots of Indian restaurants in the locality for the Indian students who join Sheffield every year.
The cost of living is not too high and Sheffield’s Student Union does its best to assist students in finding lodging and part-time jobs. The union is also responsible for organising a host of activities and events to allow students from different cultures and nationalities to come together and share their experiences.
I am part of a weekly event called the One World Cafe, which is organised by the Union to promote multicultural harmony.
I love my life in Sheffield, and wish to extend my stay in the U.K. by being empanelled for crisis resolution in the Middle East. I have already shortlisted several possible employers, and would approach them with the Support of the Careers Service here at the university.
