Ugandan siblings give us an insight into life as postgraduate real estate students at NTU

International scholarship winners Duncan David Kayondo and his sister Naome Kayondo Bagenda chose NTU for its reputation in their field of study, and high ranking for international students’ satisfaction.

Duncan and Naome

During their time at NTU, MSc Real Estate students Duncan and Naome were able to explore more of the UK, embark on an international class field trip to Budapest, immerse themselves in the social and sporty culture at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), and creatively develop their Masters project.

Naome revealed her favourite pastime at NTU: “Playing club cricket – I was part of the NTU cricket club and played in the BUCS league. l made a number of friends in the team and it was interesting seeing the NTU women's cricket team grow because there was not a team last year.”

Postgraduate Property Managment and Development students at Liberty Square in Budapest

The rich history and heritage of the UK is an exciting prospect for many international students.

Duncan agreed: “The UK has numerous historical sites and is filled with beautiful ancient architecture. I like the fact that Nottingham is generally a student city and relatively cheaper compared to most UK cities. The city also has a number of heritage sites.”

Settling into life in Nottingham and at NTU was easy for the two students, considering the vast differences in lifestyle and culture between their home country and the UK. Naome told us: “The UK is a more developed country so the technology, information and transport systems are way more advanced, which makes life easier. Settling in was not that hard either because my brother was around too.”

Both were keen to express their gratitude towards the course staff, who had a big part to play in their learning. Duncan remarked: “Lecturers are always willing to help when it comes to both academic matters and professional advice and they go the extra mile to address student concerns when contacted. The course administrator is very welcoming and continues to be very helpful in many aspects. This has greatly benefitted the international students.”

Exhibition in Budapest

Naome added: “I enjoyed the great mix of teaching methods including practical tasks, field trips, and lectures. A postgraduate qualification will give me an edge over other professionals in the sense that it will grant me more chances of getting a better and higher-paying job globally.”

NTU is ranked second in the UK for Building, Town and Country Planning (Guardian University Guide 2019), with an extensive network of alumni within the property profession.