Month: April 2015

Dominique’s top tips for your first year

DominiqueBy Dominique Von Oppell

  • Set 2 alarms for those 9am starts

You will most likely have a 9am tutorial or lecture at some point during your degree. It is difficult to get out of bed at that time in the morning, particularly if it is a Monday. Setting 2 alarms allows you to have a backup just in case you oversleep the first one.

  • Be prepared….

..for tutorials. Doing the work beforehand allows you to gain the maximum benefit out of the tutorial. If you don’t come prepared, you are too busy trying to understand; what the reading you had to do was about, the questions you were supposed to have done and copying down the answers. You then don’t engage with the academics conversation that he/she is having with the rest of the class and miss out on vital information that the academic is sharing.

  • Don’t underestimate the hills

There is no such thing as flat in Sheffield-just a lot of steep hills. This means you will most likely underestimate how long it will take you to get to your classes. The bright side is that you do become quite fit with all the hill walking (or in cases where you are late) running. Talking about things that take a lot longer than expected…

  • Completing assignments

Actually take a lot longer than you expect. Finding academic sources to evidence your arguments (this takes even longer as a fresher as you have no idea where to look!), referencing your sources to the Harvard method and making sure you are under the word limit all take time. So don’t leave assignments till the last minute.

  • Actually, 1st Year does count

In order to go abroad for your second year, you need to get a 2.1 or higher overall in 1st year. This is so you are able to cope academically when you go abroad for your second year. Also, when you are applying for graduate jobs in your 3rd year, they look at your 1st year results.

  • Have regular meetings with your Personal Tutor

That way, your personal tutor will know if you have any problems and can help you. Your personal tutor also writes your reference in 3rd year when you are applying for jobs – so it really helps if they know you!

  • Second hand and online Books are cheaper

It’s not a mystery that students have a low budget. Buying second hand or online books are cheaper than buying new and save you a lot of money. Older students also sell books usually via Facebook pages at a good price, so keep a look out for that.

  • Check your University e-mail daily

The University e-mail address is the way in which departments and tutors communicate with you, so make sure you check it daily. You can install the app on your phone so you are able to get notified when you receive an e-mail.

  • Feedback on assignments

All assignments come with feedback. If you are still unsure of why you got the grade you received, visit the lecturer during their office hours. Feedback is important so that you can learn from your mistakes and perform better next time.

  • Are you ready to go abroad!

Going abroad is the opportunity of a life time. You get to live in a new country, meet new people, and experience new cultures- it will enrich and broaden your view of the world. Make sure you have done your research on places you want to visit and events you want to experience before you go, so when you are out there, you can have the most fantastic time!

 

Why study International Business Management at Sheffield?

_MG_8878By Udara Cumaratunga

Sheffield University is a great university to study International Business Management. The study abroad component of the course I believe has been extremely insightful for me, as it gave me the opportunity to explore and understand the business operations of another culture. I was able to choose from a wide variety of well-recognised partner universities from around the world to undertake my year, adding value to my education.

I greatly appreciated having being assigned to a personal tutor and as well as a study abroad tutor during the course. It gave me the opportunity to attain advice of the both tutors during my university selection and modules selection process. They also assisted in any challenges I faced while studying abroad and most importantly during the application process. The structure of the application process was invaluable to me as it gave me the experience and prepared me to face the application processes of Internships and Graduate positions that are structured very similar.

_MG_8315Having to achieve an average grade of 60% to be eligible to participate in the study abroad year has really highlighted my commitment to program, which impressed my Internship employer and resulted in potential employers being interested in my skills. This goal also ensure that I was well suited to undertake the modules that were offered by the foreign university and was able to maintain a high academic performance during the year.
I have now been given the opportunity to share my experiences whilst studying abroad through open day events, writing blog posts and interacting with potential study abroad students. It has not only enhanced my understanding of international businesses and their operations but also developed my soft skills and made me more confident.

Top 10 tips for studying abroad

_MG_8878By Udara Cumaratunga

1. It is an absolute must that you research about the country you want to undertake your study abroad year in, as much as you research on the university and the programme offered. It is important to make sure that you would feel comfortable in this new environment and culture, to gain the maximum benefit of the study abroad year.
2. It is advisable that you select your modules for the year before you leave Sheffield. As it would give you the opportunity to consult your tutors and be prepared for a smooth transition into the foreign university.
3. Having a list of what is required of you to complete in order to settle in might be useful (eg: opening up a bank account, registering at the university and health services etc.) , as you can rely on it to plan out your activities and get them out of the way and start enjoying the wonderful opportunity as soon as possible.
4. Frequent communication with your tutors at Sheffield is very important as they will assist in adapting to the new teaching styles and also with module changes.
5. Living on campus especially in your 1st semester abroad can be very useful. You are likely to meet a lot of international students who are sharing the same experiences as you and may help with moving into your new home and settling in.
6. Don’t be shy! Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity, make sure you make the best of it. It can be a little daunting when you first arrive and meet loads of new faces. You should take the initiative to interact with people and make new friends. You will be surprised at the great new things you learn about your new friends and their cultures.
7. Be open minded to taking up new challenges, may it be an outdoor activity, a new module or even tasting new cuisines. You never know if you will like it until you try it.
8. Things can be different to your home country and you must be alert. (eg: different bank accounts) It is always good to speak to a student who has already been to your country of choice, so you are better prepared in such situations. The university offers a great opportunity for you to meet previous study abroad students during orientations meetings and so on.
9. Making sure you have appropriate clothing to suite the weather conditions is very important. You DO NOT want to fall sick in the first couple of weeks of you arriving in your new home.
10. Take loads of pictures. Start a blog. Great way to share your experiences and record your most memorable moments.