It’s super close to bristol centre, lots of student support and facilities too

The comp labs are fantastic and lectures and practical leaders are helpful and very insightful

No

First of all, pursuing a postgraduate degree course in a foreign country was not an easy decision for an international student. However, I would NOT regret taking this decision as the UK education gives me a 180-degree completely different education experience in which it is about inspiring & encouraging people to do what they are interested in and enthusiastic about, rather than asking students to memorize things that they could hardly use in their lifetime. Postgraduate study at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol is so amazing that not only did I have the chance to acquire new knowledge about Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry in the UK but also a very precious opportunity to make reflections on myself, including my character and future career. Besides studying for my MSc degree in BIM in Design Construction and Operations, I am also a student ambassador for the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) programme at UWE Bristol. Through participating in this meaningful programme, not only I have the chance of contributing to society using the knowledge that I had learnt from my engineering background but also re-discovering myself such that I am now having innovative ideas about my future career. In addition, I am much appreciated that UWE Bristol has invested much in assisting students not only in supporting students’ academic studies and future careers but also in providing a wide range of part-time job opportunities such that students can develop new skills and explore new experiences. For instance, the UWE library support is so heart-warming and comprehensive that in addition to the 24/7 online live chat with a librarian and a variety of study skills workshops, the library also offers one-to-one support for students having difficulties in their academic studies including but not limited to study skills and English support. Furthermore, the UWE Career Centre also offers a variety of activities in helping students secure a job after graduating, such as the innovative “UWE Handshake” which is an online job-searching platform for candidates to interact with their potential employers. Hence, UWE Bristol is extraordinarily strong in supporting students’ academic studies and providing career advice. On the other hand, UWE Bristol is also looking after students’ health and well-being. The UWE Sports Department is offering a wide range of sports activities, such as climbing, cycling, swimming, yoga, and so on for students to choose from. Moreover, the UWE Wellbeing service provides students with a safe place to talk about their problems related to well-being. Therefore, UWE Bristol is a wonderful place to study because it is providing a safe environment for students to seek help with different types of problems and issues. Nevertheless, I have experienced an issue where the university was hard to help with, and it was about students’ accommodation. As an international student, I was very worried that I was staying in a hotel (which is awfully expensive!) before I could rent a house in the southern part of Bristol. Honestly, it was quite frustrating that I needed to spend time looking for private accommodations in the city of Bristol and unfortunately, it has also affected my progress in studies in my previous term. Because of this, it is highly recommended for the Bristol City Council or the UWE Estates to consider building more students’ accommodations and allocating them to international students with higher priority. Conclusively, I still think UWE Bristol is an amazing place to study, not only because it is offering students a safe place to study and think independently but it is providing a space for students to chase their passion and dreams. Therefore, I would definitely recommend students who are considering pursuing a postgraduate study to explore on oneself to consider the various programmes at UWE Bristol.

The MSc Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Design Construction and Operations is one of the most innovative courses at UWE Bristol, as it offers any professionals who are interested in the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry to explore the possibilities of digitalization for the processes within the AEC industry. The course is well structured and provides many opportunities for students to work with other students on different BIM projects within its curriculum. The various BIM modules in the course give us the chance to interact and meet with other students from diverse backgrounds in the AEC industry. Another precious learning experience is the module called “BIM in Business & Practice” where students are placed in a real company in the UK where students are required to work with the company for a specific project. It is delighted that I have a distinction in this module as my project was about the research of 'BIM with Field Reporting Software'. My research focus was on the potential use of IT software with BIM for improving existing business functions in the placement company. It was a promising and challenging project as the tender exercise was completed with a tenderer was awarded during my presence in the placement and it gives me confidence in working for a construction company in the UK. Nonetheless, the limitations of attending the course in online mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic could NOT be avoided as I can see the differences between attending online and in-person. It is much easier to absorb the knowledge if we could attend the modules in person at the UWE Frenchay campus. Although my MSc course started online in Jan 2021, it was still a fruitful experience for an engineer who has had work experience in the AEC industry (although most are from a foreign city) to grasp the latest knowledge about digitalization for the AEC industry. Therefore, I would recommend this MSc course to all applicants who are interested in learning more about the digitalization of Design Construction and Operations within the AEC industry.

It's better if I can live closer to the UWE Frenchay campus, as it was very hard to rent a property near to the UWE Frenchay area. Nowadays, I need to take two consecutive bus trips to go to the UWE Frenchay Campus for atteding lectures and tutorials.

No