Ryan Civil Engineering MEng
Course dates: 2010 - 2014
Choosing Newcastle
I am a local student and as such visited the University many times through a range of different school, group and personal trips. Over the years, I began to feel more and more at home on the campus so when I found the University had a strong, interesting and accredited degree program, Newcastle naturally became my chosen university to continue my studies.
Studying at Newcastle
The course is great but challenging. The range of different modules covered means you progressively develop more and more knowledge of the discipline, all the while knowing that your learning is up to date and relevant due to the research nature of the University and the department in particular.
As part of the course there are a number of different group projects going on throughout the year, with several field trips to accompany these. Projects such as looking at the development of a new sustainable community, mean that you have to consider and learn about all the little intricacies that you otherwise might not think of. On top of that, the field trips to active construction sites allow you to see how the knowledge you are learning in class is being used in practice.
I was surprised at how easy it would be to get involved with almost anything within the University. Everything is open in some way shape or form for students to get involved with and anybody who is currently involved will happily get you up to speed and into the swing of things.
Facilities at Newcastle
The facilities in the school are what make the course what it is. The range of different labs means that what is learnt in theory can be seen happening in practice and the schools own computing lab means that you can nearly always access a computer when you need one - something which can't be guaranteed across campus. The other great thing is the common room, quite possibly the biggest on campus - meaning there's always somewhere to go for a break or to get a bit of work done!
Living in Newcastle
Newcastle is a vibrant place with a strong, friendly atmosphere. Anything you could want can be found in the city or around the surrounding area and the strong sense of identity you develop for both the University and the city is second to none. For students in particular, the relatively cheap price of living in the area means you can get more than standard student shopping list, with a bit left over for things such as going to the cinema, watching the regions sports teams or even enjoying the city's world famous night life...
I live in Heaton - the area has a large proportion of students giving it a friendly vibe. However, the fact that it is cheaper than some of the other student areas means that you get a bigger house for your money with a bit left over at the end. It is slightly further out than some of the other areas, but when a bus can get you into the centre in about 5mins and you can bike in about 10, you still feel as though you're in the heart of the city.
Socialising at Newcastle
I fill my spare time doing coursework! Any other spare time I get, I'll do a range of different things from attending society meetings/events, going to the cinema, enjoying the night life and generally spending time with my friends - the more of which you seem to make every day.
Best thing about Newcastle
The University itself. The more you're on campus, the more you become a part of the whole community that comprises of being a student at Newcastle. You quickly develop a sense of pride for the University, the course you're doing and the people you're studying with which I struggle to believe can be matched. If you're looking for a strong student atmosphere from a world leading University in a great city, you aren't going to find much better than Newcastle.
