It is a really big university with a lot of international students from all over the world. Therefore, the diversity you find is huge not only in people's nationalities but also in their interests and skills. Furthermore, They have great support departments such as the Academic skills hub and Careers hub where they help students with the student and professional challenges they face. I personally have used both departments' services and I am very satisfied with the results I got from that. They have a lot of resources in the library as well which are really helpful to study, learn new things and write assignments. In addition, there are many internships and volunteering opportunities to get involved and contribute to the university, student community, or Southampton city while earning some money and/or valuable work experience. I think the university can improve its communication with the student community. At the beginning of my studies, I felt extremely overwhelmed by the amount of information I was receiving. There are many things to know about the university, student life, rules, procedures, etc. It would be good to have all that information presented in an easier way and accessible at all times. Also, the grading system for MSc programs is not clear, and no one explains to you from the beginning how it works. There is still a lot to do to make the grading process more transparent because not all professors provide a detailed grade descriptor of the exams and assignments and antidiscrimination measures are good for off-line exams but the online exams do not have the same measures as off-line. In conclusion, my experience as a postgraduate student at the University of Southampton has been great. I have grown professionally and personally. However, there are still some improvements to be done in the communication of the university with the students and the grading system.

Many of the courses need to be more interactive. There are lectures of 2 hrs or more where the professor only stands and talks, so it is hard to pay attention for all that time. In lectures, the professor usually would give only the basic theory of the topic and move on fast. However, I was expecting to get more information with examples of the lecturer's experience or case studies. In addition, I thought that in business school modules l would have more opportunities to discuss, brainstorm ideas, and present arguments in public with my peers and professors. But I feel that I got little of that, the only opportunities I had was through group assignments (report writing) and professor's office hours while I almost got no chance to do some in-class presentations or participate in seminars.

Public transport in the city is quite bad. There is no underground, only buses which end their services at 12 am and start around 5 or 6 am. If you go out at night be prepared to wait for a long time for the bus to come or not find any. There are many employment opportunities, part and full time but they are very competitive.

The halls building is really old, it smells bad and you have to share two bathrooms and a kitchen with 21 people which is very messy. The location is good if you want to be close to the university but if you want to be close to the city centre it is very bad.

I love the support uni provides with 24/7 student hub service and the events by the well-being team. The number and variety of events, including both educational and fun activities by the student union makes me feel included and welcomed in the university, and I love the facilities provided by the university specially the study areas in the university in Hartley library and even in the building 100 however I do feel that it would be more convenient if we had more group study areas in the building 100.

The modules in Semester 1 are primarily centered around operational research, whereas the core modules relevant to data analysis and data science are largely offered as optional courses in Semester 2. Based on feedback from alumni, some of these Semester 2 modules, like Machine Learning and Flexible Regression, are known to be particularly challenging. It seems that a stronger focus on foundational data science topics in Semester 1 could better equip students to grasp the more advanced concepts in Semester 2, which past students have noted can feel demanding.

While Mayflower Hall is located in the city center, making it a bit farther from the university, the Unilink bus service offers convenient and easy commuting options. The included Unilink bus pass, free laundry services, and gym membership also provide excellent value for money. Regarding room allocation, it was communicated that each flat would have a mix of people from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of inclusivity. However, I’ve noticed that I am the only one in my flat from a different background, while all of my flatmates share the same origin. This has created a bit of a language barrier and occasionally makes it challenging to fully engage in conversations and activities with them.