"I was only too happy to find many international students in Sheffield"
A PhD usually means three to four years of intense research on a question so specialised that, by the end of it, not more than ten people in the world will understand in detail the specifics of the topic.
But research is not enough. There are a number of extra skills a student needs to have some hands-on experience in, to be best prepared upon entering solo the increasingly competitive world of academia.
The School of Mathematics and Statistics offered me exactly this: a robust research environment, where students work under the supervision of renowned specialists from diverse research areas (ranging from solar physics to algebraic Geometry), along with a broad range of supporting activities, set to strengthen students in the following skills.
I have lived in Sheffield for over three years now, and as a city, I find it a very friendly and comfortable one.
Magdalini Flari
PhD student
Delivering talks: the importance of giving a good talk, be that a casual one at the friendly atmosphere of a departmental seminar, or a formal one at a prestigious international conference, cannot be emphasised enough. And the School provided me with numerous such occasions upon which I could practice again and again.
I gained some experience in teaching by assisting in undergraduate tutorials, and in homework marking, a fun and very rewarding activity.
Furthermore, the School runs a number of outreach events, and this gave me the opportunity of talking about mathematics with Year 12 and Year 13 students. Finally, graduate students can take courses outside the department - I studied Russian for a year!
I have lived in Sheffield for over three years now, and as a city, I find it a very friendly and comfortable one.
Having completed my BSc and MSc studies in Greece, I was initially worried about the change of environment, but I was only too happy to find many international students in Sheffield, and that both the people from the department, and the local people of Sheffield, were happy to get to know me.
And the additional bonus during my stay in Sheffield were its two beautiful theatres, the Lyceum and the Crucible, where great shows frequently stop by!