March 7, 2018, by International students

International Student Ambassador: Daniel from Mexico

Our International Student Ambassadors provide campus tours, telephone calls and social media for international students preparing to study at Nottingham. Daniel is from Mexico and is studying MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering. Here are his thoughts on life at Nottingham.

Why did you choose the University of Nottingham?

I come from a big city called Monterrey, which is one of the 3 most popular cities in Mexico. So, I am totally a city boy who is accustomed to living in a big, noisy and very populated urban area. However, for my Masters, I was looking to study in a place that could give me a break from urban life, while maintaining some aspects of it. The city would also need to have a university with a very good reputation and one that would challenge me to do my best.

I applied to 3 different universities in the UK and all 3 accepted me, one of them was the University of Nottingham. I then researched a little more about my options and mainly about the cities where these universities were located, the University of Nottingham just hit the nail on the head.

What is your favourite thing about the University of Nottingham?

Since day one, UoN has offered me a real international experience! This was also one of the requisites I was looking for in a place to study a master’s degree. At UoN, every day I have the opportunity to meet with lots of new people, not just from across the UK or Europe but from all over the world.

Additionally, the UoN campuses are awesome! I spend most of my time at University park, which is a very huge place and everything looks so green. However, Jubilee campus has this futuristic look that makes me want to spend some time exploring it.

What is the best thing about your course?

The MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering course has totally exceeded my expectations. The course gives me the flexibility of choosing modules that best suit my career goals while also providing me with a solid ground in the core modules. For example, there are certain lectures that allow me to discuss and analyse current trends regarding renewable energy, either in the UK or globally and we are not just looking at old numbers or statistics, but real up to date data.

If you won a scholarship, what scholarship was this?

I am currently being sponsored by the Mexican government through the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT). Every student sponsored by CONACyT receives the UoN/CONACyT scholarship. To be honest, I did not even know of the existence of this scholarship. I applied for sponsorship in my country and after receiving it, I was notified by the university that I would also get this scholarship. Which was really good news!

What do you do with your spare time, and what are your hobbies?

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, watching a movie or series on Netflix or being adventurous and daring to cook some Mexican recipes. I also like conquering new worlds and tackling challenges while playing videogames, going on long walks around places like Wollaton and playing some Latin rhythms and dancing salsa but most of all, I like trying new things every time I have the opportunity to do so.

What societies have you got involved with?

The Mexican society.

What do you like about Nottingham as a city?

The city of Nottingham perfectly combines what I was looking for. The university has a good reputation, being in the top-100 ranked universities globally, whilst the city is a place that sometimes reminds me of my hometown. Also, the architecture of the buildings in the city centre is beautiful.

What would be your top tips for a new international student starting at the University of Nottingham in their first year?

Do not isolate yourself! Go out and talk to someone you don’t know. Explore the university and the city and make the most of this experience. Try to travel and visit places, get to know new people and connect with them. Forge friendships that last for the future and that go beyond geographical borders.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on LinkedIn