Charles
Stevenson

Why did you choose NTU?

I selected NTU as my university choice because the potential developments in my subject area meant I had access to the best facilities. With an emphasis placed on investing in resources, I knew NTU was the best choice.

How have you found your experience at NTU?

My experience at NTU has been incredibly positive. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and highly approachable; they're always willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to my personal projects or challenges I face. Overall, I find that the staff here make studying at NTU an enjoyable experience.

Have you done a placement? How did you find it?

No, I have not had the opportunity to gain practical work experience yet, but I am looking into completing a placement prior to the completion of my third year of study.

What do you think to the facilities at NTU?

The facilities at NTU are excellent! The library's got its own levels, so you can adjust the noise levels depending on what type of studying you need. Plus, the engineering department is top quality; it's clear that they prioritize student learning experience above all.

Did you live on campus in first year? What was your experience?

In my first year of university, I chose to live off campus in a shared flat with my partner. While I appreciated the added freedom that this gave us compared to campus accommodation, I did wish at times that we had been able access on-campus housing and enjoy the enhanced social opportunities provided there. Unfortunately, all of the campus rooms had already been booked when we enrolled via clearing.

What are you hoping to do once you graduate?

After I complete my undergraduate studies, my goal is to pursue a master's degree, followed by a Ph.D. In the long term, I am interested in either entering or staying close to the academic field and working towards furthering my career in that direction.

Did you join any societies/clubs to help you settle into life at NTU?

I did not join any of the societies provided by NTU as I didn’t feel particularly drawn to any of them, however moving into second year I am now involved in the start-up of a Music Tech society, being run off the back of a research project I was involved in over summer, looking into characterising the tone of electric guitar pickups.

When I first arrived at NTU, I decided not to join any of the available societies or clubs. In my second year, however, I over the summer I was part of a research project that subsequently led to the creation of a Music Tech society. This project studied the variety of tones created by electric guitar pickups. Taking part in this project was an engaging and rewarding experience for me!

What advice would you give to others?

When beginning university, it is important to be aware of individual goals and expectations. For example, I initially enrolled in an Astrophysics degree only to realize that the course was not a good fit for me. This outcome was both costly and emotionally distressing; had I taken some time to really think about my interests beforehand, I would have been able to save myself from such a situation. Consider your objectives carefully before committing to any major or course of study.