Manka'a
Fa'anwi Ngongalah

Manka'a Ngongalah, is an international graduate from Cameroon, Africa. She studied BEng (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering at NTU and chose the university due to the scholarship opportunities that eased her living expenses. Despite initial difficulties making friends, she has found a close circle of friends and has engaged in extracurricular activities at NTU, such as being a Course Representative and a Student Mentor. She gave us a glimpse into what it's like to be an international student:

Manka'a: When I was applying to university, I didn’t know much about the education system in the UK or the different universities. Applying through UCAS, my choices were based on tuition fees and the possibilities of getting a scholarship. To my greatest surprise, I was fortunate enough to receive an undergraduate scholarship from NTU which is one of the things that drew me in. Looking back, I am glad I chose to come to NTU rather than any other university.

Being an international student needing a visa to pursue studies in the UK, Manka'a encountered the complexities of the application process:

Manka'a: I received a scholarship offer from the university before receiving an offer of study. I think the most challenging part was having to follow-up until I received the offer, especially doing so from outside of the UK. This was challenging because I needed the CAS number from the university to apply for my visa and the course start time was drawing closer. Although the process was quite challenging, in terms of getting in contact with the university I was promptly and adequately supported throughout the application process. Whether I wanted support with how to go about getting the offer of study, the visa application process and what to do next after completing my registration and enrolment, I had received a lot of support prior to my arrival in the UK.

Despite initial difficulties making friends due to long commute and introverted nature, Manka'a has found a close friendship circle by engaging in extracurricular activities at NTU:

Manka'a: I found it a little bit challenging to make friends initially when I came to NTU, mainly because I arrived at NTU late from another country and only started attending lectures in November. I was quite introverted at the time which made it hard to speak to people I didn’t know and make friends. Coupled with the fact that I was commuting two hours daily to and from the campus, I never engaged in a lot of activities and outings with my course mates, making making friend even more difficult. But thankfully, there were a few people who approached me and who have come to be my closest friends throughout my course. I also believe participating in the #ME wellbeing course helped me come out of my comfort zone as well.

Reflecting on her academic journey at NTU, Manka'a shares insights into the ever-evolving nature of her studies in Biomedical Engineering:

Manka'a: My course has been quite a learning curve, with each year being different from the year before. I came to find out that there is always more to learn and know, especially in the field of biomedical engineering. I enjoyed the learning and the opportunities where we had to apply the knowledge we've gained either through the projects, assessments or exams. Although, the switch from online exams in my first year to in person exams in my second and final years was a bit of a challenge. I found some of the assessment periods were quite intense especially in my second year with back-to-back deadlines including group and individual projects.

She has particularly enjoyed her final year project on designing sport bras, which has expanded her understanding of the intricacies of product development in Biomedical Engineering:

Manka'a: My final year project was on designing a highly adjustable sports bra. Initially, I was curious as to how much I could do in the project considering they were just sports bras. However, as I dived deeper into the project, I found it so fascinating how much research and work really goes into developing this. It was a learning curve for sure: finding out about the different types of sports bras and how their performance is affected by different features and the way they are all combined was fascinating.

Our students actively engage in various extracurricular activities beyond lectures to develop new skills. Manka'a became her course representative and a Student Mentor and learnt couple of valuable skills:

Manka'a: I had the opportunity to be a Course Representative in my second year and a Student Mentor in my second and third year. At first, it was a bit intimidating because both roles required a certain amount of interaction with both my peers and academic staff. But over time, I was able to come out of my comfort zone and become more confident in both roles with support from my fellow course mates and colleagues. I have gained several skills, from personal to professional and technical skills which were both related to my course but also developed from taking part in several extracurricular activities during my time at NTU. If I had to point out any specific skills, they would be leadership, communication, and teamwork. I believe these three, which I did not possess prior to coming to NTU, have really been honed throughout my time at university. I am convinced that being equipped with these skills; I am more confident in taking my next steps after graduation.

Reflecting on support at NTU, Manka'a appreciates the readily available support from tutors and staff for both academic and personal matters:

Manka'a: I feel I was well supported throughout the duration of my course at NTU, both for academic and personal issues or challenges that I faced. I was especially satisfied with the fact that all the support I needed was usually one email or phone call away, or just a walk-in to student services, employability or the library. Although there were times when I wasn’t aware of some of the support available until I came into my final year.

We asked Manka'a what does she like doing in her free time:

Manka'a: In my spare time, I love to read, write and knit. I’m also into content writing and graphic design. As for hobbies related to my studies, 3D computer aided designing in fusion is also one of my interests.

You can follow Manka'a journey beyond her studies on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn: Manka'a Ngongalah