Laura Paluanova.

Graduate in MSc Education Policy and Practice.

I am a graduate student of the Sheffield University. I did my master´s degree in Education Policy and Practice. I chose to study at the University of Sheffield for a number of reasons. The university of Sheffield is renowned for being an international leader in teaching and research and being one of the premier universities in the sphere of education. As my aim was to get an education based on quality and excellence I chose to study at the University of Sheffield.

Moreover, I found out that it was the second largest city by its population, which meant that I could find a lot of friends from all over the world. Sheffield people are very friendly and kind so you are assured of a warm welcome.

Finally, it is one of the cheapest cities to live and the city feels safe which is very important for an international student like me.
As it was my first traveling time abroad I was excited and worried as well. However it was much easier to get accustomed to a new place and the people than I expected. I remember my first day at the university. I met the course director, whose kind welcome made me feel at home.

The course was very content-rich and comprehensive. Owing to this system I learnt to work independently and to do research in education. It helped me develop my understanding of the challenges facing the education world of the 21st century. Now owing to this experience I work at the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) as the coordinator of educational programs and have chance to implement all my knowledge in practice.

The University life is very interesting and exciting. What I especially liked was the cheap day trips the Sheffield Union organise to various places in the UK including Stonehenge, Bristol, Bath, and Chatsworth. The University also offers many different extra class activities, including dancing, knitting, bike riding and sailing, so you always have something to do!

I would like to say that the University of Sheffield is the very place for those who want to get excellent education and have a wonderful life as a student, full of hard work and excitement!