Ciprian - Full Interview

Name: Ciprian
From: Timisoara, Romania
Degree: BSc Computer Science

I completed my Baccalaureate and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English at the Grigore Moisil High School of Informatics in Romania and decided to study for a Computer Sciences degree abroad. It´s very important to me that my degree is from a respected University so I´m pleased that the University of Sheffield is highly rated both within the UK and across the world and I trust the quality of the degree I´m getting.

What do I think of Sheffield? Well the first thing that struck me was how friendly everyone is – not just the staff and other students, but also the locals. I find the milder UK climate suits me and something I like about Sheffield in particular is that everywhere is very green. The city and University have lots of green spaces and trees with parks nearby which makes for very tranquil surroundings. I find it a very pleasant place to be.

My accommodation requirements weren't straightforward because my fiancé was coming to live with me in Sheffield. I therefore made an appointment to see a University accommodation officer in the summer before my course started. She advised me as to several housing options that would be suitable for a couple or family and I was happy with the first flat I saw. My accommodation is part of a self catered block of flats on Oakholme Road, which is about 20 minutes walk from the University and very close Endcliffe Park and the Botanical Gardens. An internet connection is included in the price of my accommodation so I´m able to work at home when I choose.

I'm studying for a BSc degree in Computer Science and I´m really enjoying my course. The topics are very interesting and I enjoy the way that they are taught. The skills you require as a computer scientist can´t just be learnt in theoretical lectures. Assignments and computer lab classes allow you to put what you´ve learnt into practice and you also need to read around the subject to get a deeper understanding. There are differences in the methods of studying here – it´s a very practical, hands-on approach. You learn the theory then put it into practice. That´s exactly how it should be as it´s the best preparation for future jobs. Employers look for practical experience and modules like Software Hut are a great example of this.

I found functional programming extremely interesting because it´s based around algorithms and recursions – subjects I was fascinated by even before I started computing. When you start programming you first learn in Java, then progress to functional programming in Haskell in the second year, as well as logic programming in Prolog as part of the symbolic reasoning module. System analyses and design was another interesting module. We had to role play customer and developer to learn to ask a client the right questions. You have to learn how to adapt your language to get the information you need - its not just about having the right technical or specialist skills. This is going to be even more interesting when we try this out on real clients next semester in Software Hut.

In my free time I have been getting to know Sheffield and the UK. I enjoy walking so have been exploring the city and surrounding countryside and I´ve also visited London.