James, Computer Science with Industrial Placement BSc
James, a British student, tells us about the strong connections he's made, the benefits of a placement year, and the convenience of life in a walkable city.
I had a fantastic time in the theatre society, dodgeball club, and computing society.
Why I chose Newcastle
I chose Newcastle University because it has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, growing up in Northumberland. They supported and provided local school trips to see their facilities and inspire a new generation.
When I was 11, I participated in a study where I was able to get a diagnosis for my colour blindness. I was set on attending a Russell Group institution, and everything lined up perfectly in Newcastle.
Course highlights
My favourite thing about my course was meeting like-minded people who had the same academic interests as me, alongside social and sport interests. These bonds have helped me to form lifelong friends and professional connections.
Placement year
I did a placement year, which was the definition of good employability, but within my course, we had group projects that demonstrated how to effectively work with others and how to possibly deal with people that you don’t see eye to eye with.
I plan to complete a placement year/study abroad/summer internship. I expect to gain lots of valuable experience, such as knowing what I want more in my life or what I’d like to specialise in.
Extra-curricular activities
I had a fantastic time in the theatre society, dodgeball club, and computing society. It’s easy to get involved in societies, as I was social secretary for computer science at one point with a unanimous vote (only I ran). These extra-curriculars have underlying lessons in organisation management.
Support and resources
I received the full opportunity scholarship every year, which allowed me to support myself completely independently. It helped to cover a good majority of my rent, which meant I didn’t have to work as much part-time work on top of studying and could just focus on academia without the stress of money.
I also received the Go Global scholarship and completed a 3-week project management internship in Peru with a charity called EcoSwell. This internship developed my career standing alongside my cultural awareness.
The only pastoral support I used was the careers service.
Advice for new students
To a prospective student who wants to study computing, I would advise staying in halls! Everyone is becoming independent at once and it’s a fun way to learn how to be an adult with people who are in the same boat as you. The only conversation you’ll have in Freshers' Week is "Where are you from?" or "What halls are you in?"
