Chenglu Li

BSc Hon Economics Mathematics

Before studying at the University of Sheffield I was raised in China, and educated in Singapore; I came from a multi-cultural background. While studying in Singapore - a vibrant island where east meets west, I had a taste of British education and was looking forward to a higher education experience in the United Kingdom.

I chose the University of Sheffield to study my subject because it is ranked amongst the top Universities in the UK. The University of Sheffield has a good reputation in academic performance, research and student life. I chose to study the dual degree economics and mathematics here because of the good design of syllabus in both subjects as well as the freedom in module choices from second year onwards.

The most enjoyable thing about studying at Sheffield is that although the education style in University of Sheffield is very independent, resources are available at fingertips. Apart from the electrical copies of journals and papers, library books can be easily searched and reserved online. The fully integrated learning environment – the information commons is my favorite learning spot. Such user-friendly facility provides me with a very conducive environment for self-study, which is a crucial part in my course.

The most valuable aspect of my course is indeed our highly professional and knowledgeable lecturers and tutors. They are dedicated to teaching and giving consultations and feedback. The small tutorial groups as well as consultation time slots are extremely beneficial to consolidate the new materials learnt.

The teaching and study methods at the University of Sheffield consists of a good balance of lectures, workshops and tutorials. A variety of learning styles allows effective absorption of new materials and encourages independent exploration in a guided manner. The lecturers and tutors are very approachable and they generously give focused attention if requested.

The education experience at the University of Sheffield has a wide spectrum. Our University is not an institution that only transmits knowledge. There are unparalleled opportunities everywhere for students to explore. Just to name a few, the study abroad programme allows students from all degree disciplines to spend a year studying in a foreign country; the USE (University of Sheffield Enterprise) supports students and graduates to start their own businesses and develop skills to enhance future employability. All these services provided are free. Therefore, what you can expect from an education experience in the University of Sheffield is absolutely well rounded.

The life at the University of Sheffield can never be boring. We have the best Students’ Union in the UK, offering representation, support, entertainment, services and activities for students studying at the University. We can choose to join any of our 47 sports clubs and over 250 societies to develop interests and meet people from diverse backgrounds. There are also volunteering opportunities and work experiences available to enrich our student experience. The activity I love the most in Students’ Union is the “Give it a go” programme, this is where I can go for short distance tours and try things I have never done before - Indian massage and archery for instance.

Once I finish my course I hope to establish a solid foundation for both economics and mathematics so as to prepare myself for further studies. My future work aspiration is to enter financial industry with special focus on alternative assets investment.

I would advise students considering Sheffield to be mentally prepared for a much more independent style of learning. Students are expected to take the ownership of learning and are supposed to take initiatives for any problems encountered in the learning process. However, do not feel intimidated, there are always helps and resources around, just feel free to ask.