Oliver Garrett-Jones

Home University: University of Wollongong
Home University Degree Title: Bachelor of Commerce

Why did you choose Sheffield?

I chose Sheffield because it looked like a pretty, nice city. The size of Sheffield is good, not too big but definitely not too small. In many ways it is similar to my home town which was nice, and made the transition to overseas study easier than it might have been.

Where did you live?

I lived in Stephenson Hall of Residence.

What did you do for fun/ at weekends?

Lots of different things. Sometimes I would just relax in the nearby botanical gardens, or take a day trip to the Peak District or a nearby city like York. On a few occasions I took weekend trips to places like Berlin, Florence and Amsterdam.

Which department(s) did you study in?

I studied at the School of Management. It was a nice building, and the thing that sticks in my mind most was how friendly and helpful the staff were.

How does the workload/classes/teaching styles vary to back at home?

The workload was a lot less, I had about half the amount of assessments that I normally do. The teaching hours were the same, though. I found that the teaching style was more focused on the student taking his or her own initiave to learn, which at first I found a bit challenging, because I was used to my teachers spelling everything out for me.

Describe Sheffield in a short paragraph

Sheffield is a great city, and has everything a student could need. Good nightlife, lots of nice, green parks, and it´s easy to get to other cities and airports using the public transport. All in all a great place.

If you could give advice to a prospective student thinking of choosing Sheffield, what would you say?

Go there! It won´t disappoint. You´ll never run out of things to see and do, and the university is excellent as well.

Could you give any advice or tips to a student preparing to come to Sheffield or tell them anything you wished you knew in advance.

If you want to do something, make sure you go and do it. Don´t let your time at Sheffield just slip away, be active and see what Sheffield and Yorkshire have to offer!