Adele
Werner

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I chose to study at NTU because I loved the campus and how it’s so close to everything in the centre of Nottingham. I chose my course because of its great reputation and that it’s very practical with lots of site visits and trips.

What do you think about the course staff? How do they support your learning and university experience?

The course staff are passionate about property, and this is very evident in lectures and seminars. The real estate course is vocational, so we are all working towards the same career path. I have found the staff to be very helpful in navigating what steps we need to take to become a surveyor, and they have made themselves very available for any questions throughout all 4 years.

Have you been involved in any live projects of briefs on your course and if so, can you talk a bit about one you really enjoyed?

During my second year we were given a project which was based at the Island Site in Nottingham, which is currently a vacant piece of brownfield land. In groups, we had to decide how to develop the land, what types of buildings/housing we would include, and then calculate the building costs. I really enjoyed this project because we were essentially given a blank slate of land that we could be creative with, but also use what we had learned in lectures and seminars to create spaces that would be useful for the community.

Could you please explain more about your recent placement, and what you did during this time?

My placement year was spent at Savills in London working in the Worldwide Occupier Services department. I helped international clients with office relocations, refurbishments, lease renewals and much more.

What is your favourite project that you’ve worked on during your placement and why?

My favourite project that I worked on during my placement year was helping a client in Beijing consolidate two of their offices into one. I had to contact local agents in Beijing so they could help us find suitable office spaces. Then I helped coordinate their office visits and assisted with the fit-out process to make the new office space their own. I really enjoyed this project because I got to work with people from Beijing, and there were lots of small tasks within the overall project, so I was able to learn a lot throughout the process.

What skills have you gained by completing this placement?

From this placement, I learned how to work on multiple tasks at once, how to communicate with professionals in the workplace, and to not be afraid to ask questions.

What advice would you give to an NTU student about to begin a placement?

Try and get involved in every project that you can to get the most out of your work experience. Go up to people and introduce yourself; this is a great way to build your own network before heading back to your final year at university. And ask lots of questions!

Why did you want to study in the UK?

I first became interested in studying in the UK because a family friend had recommended the Real Estate course at NTU. I flew out to visit the university and really liked the campus and that Nottingham has easy access to London, as well as other cities around the UK. I wanted to do something different and experience a new culture, and that is what ultimately helped me make the decision to study here.

How is NTU for international students?

NTU offers a lot of support for international students. There is an entire Global Lounge, which is a friendly space for international students to hang out and meet other people. There are also multiple events throughout the year for international students which are really fun, including Global Week.

What’s next for you after NTU?

In September I will be heading to New York City to work at Savills.