Jacelyne reflects on her first year as an International Student

by | Nov 3, 2022 | Undergraduate | 0 comments

University of manchester Library shelvesI accidentally found the Information Technology Management for Business (ITMB) course while browsing the internet. Back in high school, I didn’t know what to study for university.

I somewhat knew that I wanted to study Business, but I don’t want to study just Business. I was trying to find some help from Google, and the ITMB course stood out. After reading the course details and modules, I was immediately intrigued. The course is a combination of business and technology. It is not too technical, not a lot of coding, which was something I was looking for. However, the one thing that made me 100% sure that this course was for me, was that the course worked together with many top employers, and we would be working with real business case studies and a presentation in front of representatives from many employers at the end of each semester. Fast forward to 3 years later, that accidental finding has led to one of the most amazing educational and personal development journeys in my life.

I was so excited to study the ITMB course. However, I was quite disappointed that I would be doing the first semester of my first year online as I was an international student and there were still travel restrictions in place. Nevertheless, my first-year experience was even better than I had imagined. The Integrative Team Project module was my favourite module. In this module, our case study was created by Credit Suisse, and we were divided into groups to develop a mobile application and solve the case study. At the end of each semester, we present our solution in the ITMB showcase, attended by representatives from leading companies, such as Bank of America, KPMG, Deloitte, and Ford. I had the best of time learning new things from project management, database and mobile application development, while building up very important soft skills, such as teamwork, and leadership. I also get to meet with a lot of new people and expand my network.

Backdrop of Manchester streetAs much as I was buzzing with excitement, I was also filled with worried. As an international student, moving 7,700 miles away from home could be very scary. Questions filled my head: How will I find new friends? What if I get lost? What if I get too alone? Turns out, all my worries were for nothing. Manchester is a great place for students. It isn’t as big, crowded, and expensive as London. However, it is still large enough with something always going on around the corner, so you’ll never get bored. It is filled with many diverse stores, shops, and – the most important thing for international students – restaurants. Additionally, with Manchester Academy just right next to the Student Union, gigs and concerts are always very accessible.

One piece of advice I would offer is don’t hesitate to ask for help and don’t be afraid to ask questions. In the first year, there were some coding modules, and as I was not a fan of coding, I struggled at times. However, the lecturers were always there just an email away to help you. The university also offered great support, such as your academic advisors, and the wellbeing office.

In conclusion, I found that my first year studying ITMB in Manchester was everything I had hoped and imagined, and more. All the modules taught are very interesting and students were given opportunities to apply what they have learned in real case studies. My first year has helped me narrow my career choice for the future, and as I am heading into my second year, I am looking forward to further developing myself personally and professionally.

Written by Jacelyne Nursalim, a second year ITMB student

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