Naiqian Wang, China

BA Business Management (top-up) and MA International Business Management

The facilities at Sheffield Hallam University are great, there are many advantages to studying here. In two years my English language has improved a lot and I now have no barriers to communicating.

The tutors have been really helpful. I have classes alongside British students which has been fantastic for my English language skills.

I have had the chance to meet people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. I have friends here from India, Pakistan, Australia, France, Greece and Germany. It is a really international experience and I think this will be really helpful to me as I want to work within international business.

It's important not to be shy, the different accents in the UK can be difficult at first but there are many, many opportunities to practise with other students, tutors and local people. People in Sheffield are friendly and always seem happy to help. I think Sheffield feels really safe compared to other cities in the UK.

Shen Tong, China

MA English Language Teaching

Whilst at Sheffield Hallam University I have developed my reading and writing skills. I have found the advanced teaching methods to be very interactive and interesting and my researching skills have improved too. This helped me gain the confidence to become a teacher.

The presentations, peer communication, evaluation and group work in a multicultural environment and the help from the patient teachers gave me a very positive experience.

Whilst at university, I have become a more responsible and independent person in cooking, researching, writing essays and finding a part-time job.

Zheng Zheng, China

MA Cultural Policy and Management

I studied BA level art in China, and wanted to pursue a career in this area. There is a lot of support at Sheffield Hallam to improve your English language skills. In my first three months I took the pre-sessional English course. I also took the free English classes at the TESOL Centre where they have many different types of classes, for example, writing, grammar and a British culture class.

During the course, I was sure that I had made the right choice. It has knowledgeable and professional teachers, relevant modules and academic projects. We did some work with the local art institutions which gave me the confidence to apply for my current job as an Arts promoter at the Baiyauxuan Art Institute in Beijing.

Yuan Meng, China

MSc Sport Business Management

Sheffield is one of the biggest cities in England and is located in the centre of the country, so it is very convenient for travelling to other parts of the UK. It's also a good place to study because it is very peaceful and quiet. At the same time, Sheffield will not let you down if you like colourful nightlife.

The University has a brilliant International Student Support Team who can help you with everything. One of the activities is called 'local friends' in which you can visit a local family's house - I was invited to spend Christmas Day with a local family, which was a very precious experience for me.

Cecelia Wan, Hong Kong

BSc (Hons) Forensic and Analytical Science

The best thing about Sheffield is the city centre - it's convenient and easy to find your way, even if you don't have a map. The University is right in the city centre, so we've always got something to do during lecture breaks and don't have to worry about finding somewhere to have lunch.

I share a University partnership shared flat with three other Hallam students - we have huge rooms and a nice kitchen. The majority of my friends are UK students because I'm the only Chinese/overseas student in my year. They are all very nice and helpful and we get on really well!

Constance Li, Hong Kong

BA (Hons) Childhood Studies

"Universities in the UK are very different to Hong Kong. The atmosphere at Sheffield Hallam is not just on academic achievement but studying alongside a full and eventful life. I would tell other international students thinking of studying here that it is a very unforgettable experience. I really love my life here. It's really good to get a chance to work in a nursery. It's a good way of understanding what job suits you and it really shows that in any jobs working with young children, you have to be very devoted. I am thinking about possibly doing a PGCE in the future."

Thomas Lee Kwan Shing, Hong Kong

BSc Sport Business Management (top-up) and MSc Sport Business Management

I think doing the top-up degree in Hong Kong changed my learning style entirely as the course emphasises critical thinking and independent learning.

I decided to do my postgraduate study in the UK as I wanted to improve my English (speaking and writing in particular). Furthermore, I always wanted to experience the life in foreign country as an international student.

Living in Sheffield as a university student is fun. I have made plenty of friends including local and international students, people are nice and friendly. I also joined the local and university water polo team and competed over the year.

I would say the most significant key skill I have gained over the year is my way of thinking. For instance, how to link up my own ideas with previous research and how to compare and judge different arguments.

I think the teaching facilities are really good at Sheffield Hallam, the Blackboard site is a very powerful tool which contains loads of resources for referencing. I found most of the information and reading material through the site when I worked on my assignment and dissertation.

Terry Su, Taiwan

MSc International Marketing

Studying at Sheffield Hallam was a totally different experience for me. The lecturers inspired and encouraged us to think, share our opinions and discuss them together.

On this course I learnt how to cope with different situations, how to be a good leader, a good team member and get along with other students from different countries. Studying at Sheffield Hallam definitely turned me into a more competitive and adaptable person.

Sheffield is famous for being a student-friendly city and this was the reason I chose to study here, everything is within walking distance. I now work for TDK, which is a Japanese multinational technology company, as account manager in charge of Foxconn, one of the biggest manufacturers. My role includes communicating with different people at different levels and my experiences on the course and in the UK help me to do this

Edward Liu, Taiwan

MSc Managing Global Business

The consultancy project was very helpful. By contacting real companies, it gave me a real life experience about conducting business. In addition, I also learnt how to form and structure a formal business report.

The seminars were very challenging for me, the lecturers encouraged me to think and consider different possibilities in some cases. For me, it was very exciting.

I took the pre-sessional English language classes at Sheffield Hallam. From these, I learnt not only English, but also about the British culture which helped me to fit into the environment much quicker.

Sheffield is a really nice place for students, everything is within walking distance. Sheffield Hallam has good facilities, in the library you can find cosy chairs and a coffee shop for meeting for group discussions. There are also plenty of computers for students and meeting rooms that you can book

Chiu Mei-Ling, Taiwan

MSc International Human Resource Management

The best and most challenging aspect of the course is the interaction in class. The tutors frequently ask questions about HR in your own country and ask you to express your opinions.

The course is very practical, the tutors frequently use current issues in IHRM to support the content of the classes and share their own HR experiences to assist us in understanding the issues. We covered a broad range of subjects, such as financial analysis, information systems, contemporary issues concerning IHRM, organisational learning and development, performance and reward management and leadership as well as a practical residential to prepare you for employment in the field of IHRM.

There is lots of support at Sheffield Hallam, such as the international student support team and the career and employment services which help you to develop your employability and career management skills. I have also taken English language classes which were very helpful in improving my English language skills, especially my written English.

Debbie Chiang, Taiwan

MA Media Studies

I chose Sheffield Hallam because Sheffield was the fourth largest city in England, because living expenses would be cheaper and because the tutors were willing to help me and answer my questions when I contacted them by e-mail.

My first impression was that people in Sheffield are extremely nice and friendly. The University campus is very beautiful, surrounded by trees and flowers. The University is modern and the location convenient. The staff are enthusiastic and generous to international students.

I joined the University English Scheme and I learned a lot - the student advisers in particular were very helpful, they helped me if I had grammatical problems with my essays and assignments.