Raksha
Mistry

Why NTU…

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I chose NTU because it was a city campus site and well known for being a ‘student city’. I also went to an open day and had such a good experience and vibe speaking to some of the students, walking around the campus and having a look around the studios and getting to know more about the course. I chose AT because it was very interactive and practical, it was also recommended for myself after sharing my portfolio of work.

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

The course staff where great. They are really supportive when we felt we were struggling and equally encouraged us to go that next step further to get the best design forward during our projects. Help was always available when we needed it and we always had regular informal talks which made everyone very approachable.

What was your favourite aspect of the course?

Meeting my course friends and study trips! We were a small group in comparison to other courses such as Business or Psychology which gave us the opportunity to really get to know each other and work really well as a team.

As a design course we were very lucky that we had the opportunity to travel and have study trips to see different perspectives of Architecture and Design outside of the UK.

Having the placement year and being able to work in industry in Year 3 was also a massive asset to the course and it really helped during my final year project. It gave me the opportunity to get a real insight of what it was like to put Architectural Technology into practise and what my potential future career path would look like.

Tell us a little bit about your career since leaving NTU.

I’ve worked within a few sectors since leaving NTU including commercial, offices and residential spaces and so far residential has got to be my favourite! I’m really passionate about working with spaces that make a positive impact to humans and am fortunate to have worked on some really rewarding projects to achieve this.

Every project I have completed always give me a big sense of achievement especially when I’ve seen it live in action, its honestly the best feeling!

How would you promote NTU to potential students in 10 words or fewer?

Amazing, Rewarding, Challenging, Party Central, Life Changing  Ambitious, Independence  Opportunity, Fun, Successful

What has been your career highlight so far? How did what you learnt at NTU help you get there?

My career highlight would be gaining my Architectural Technology Chartership MCIAT. It was something we were always encouraged to work towards when we started our course. Some of the Architectural Technology modules were set up to gear us towards the understanding of fulfilling this achievement.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to come back to NTU and help AT students with their portfolio work and career preparation after university which has equally been rewarding to be able to help students fulfil their full potential.

What is your biggest piece of advice to current students and those graduating this year?

To enjoy every moment of your NTU experience because it will give you the best memories for life!

Enjoy your summer after graduating you have earned it! Be enthusiastic about learning new aspects of the design and construction industry. Employers are not expecting you know everything, its more about the willingness to put the work and effort in to gain experience and learn new skills.

Focus on your passions and ambitions outside of work as that is what employers are looking out for when you are job searching.