Ayo Fadahunsi

Some students come to Swansea University because it ranks especially high on the league table for Student satisfaction. Here is my brief explanation of why I think it is best university ever in two parts.

Before attending Swansea:
After visiting Swansea University for an Open Day after my A levels I thought it was the right choice for me for two reasons.

The experience I had speaking to general staff around my campus throughout the day especially the fact that I was handled directly by my future lecturers. I was given a personal tour of the Physics department by a future lecturer after which I spent an hour or so speaking to a group of physics lecturers who were so ‘normal’ I was shocked and attracted – I thought immediately this place must be for me? And I need not speak of the beauty of Swansea, you can see this yourself.

This combined with the fact that my course was offered with a year abroad among other options to study abroad sealed the deal for me (I’m writing this from the University of Vienna library where I am studying and living for a year as an exchange student).

Currently:
Cliche to say this as a current student but Swansea University has exceeded my expectation from a university. I will mention some non-academic activities I have recently taken part in which were ARRANGED AND FULLY OR PARTIALLY FUNDED by Swansea University because they have been especially flamboyant.
Let me demonstrate:

• I am currently studying for one year in Vienna, Austria as a part of my degree – arranged and funded by the university.
• I spent the summer of 2023 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam where I interned for a structural engineering company - arranged and partially funded by the university. During this period, I got a chance to visit many other south Asian countries including China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
• Offered a postgraduate role in my host company in Vietnam when I finish my degree due to my internship there in 2023.
• Visited CERN, Switzerland/France in April 2023 – arranged by the Physics Society + Physics department and partially funded.
• I work for the university as an ambassador, representing the university in events such as open days to give the same experience I was given when I visited, calling campaigns to help handle clearing and many more opportunity all which I am paid for!
• For four semesters, I have been a part of the Physics mentoring scheme where I go into a secondary school in Wales about once a week during the school term to help mentor year 10 students – arranged by the university Physics department.
• In the process of setting up a summer 2024 volunteering opportunity in Nepal.

These are examples of opportunities I have taken part in over the last two years. All these opportunities have essentially been provided to me by Swansea University and I am eternally grateful.

My ‘Swansea experience’ has simply been ‘garnering life experience’. I have now travelled far and wide, made lifelong friends amongst staff, lecturers, classmates, housemates, locals at home and abroad in my adventures. I am no longer the person I was before starting my degree at Swansea University.

Do you participate in a Swansea University sports team/club?
Yes, I am a competitive Olympic Weightlifter - normally competing nationally for team England and for Swansea University during BUCS and club level competitions but I currently competing for Austria for the next six months while I live here.