Diparati shares her experience of pursuing an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) from the University of Bath

Q. Tell us your name, which city you are based and what are you currently doing?

A: My name is Diparati and I am pursuing an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) from the University of Bath, UK.

Q. Tell us what led you to opt for pursuing Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)?

Diparati: I did my bachelor’s in Kolkata, India in Computer Science and Engineering. After I completed my bachelor’s, I worked at Cisco for more than five years as a software engineer. In the process, I realised I’m more inclined towards design than development. That is when I began my search for the degree that would help me switch my career from software engineering to user experience design. 

Q. What made you decide to study abroad?

Diparati: I found Human-Computer Interaction to be the perfect degree for my requirements, but unfortunately, I could not find universities in India that offered this degree. This made me shift my search outside India and the UK was always at the top of my list for several reasons.

Q. What according to you sets the UK apart from other popular studies abroad destinations?

Diparati: The best part about pursuing a master’s in the UK is that recent graduates are given the opportunity to apply for a Graduate visa or a post-study work visa which gives two years to stay in the UK and work, or look for work after your course ends. This is especially useful if you’re unable to find a job at a company which agrees to sponsor their Tier 2 Skilled Worker visa because then you still have the option to apply for the Graduate visa to extend your stay in the UK and look for work.

The second reason I was inspired to pursue my master’s in the UK is that it is possible to get a degree in one year, giving me the minimum possible break in my career. I preferred the UK especially because studying and living there also meant I did not need to learn another language to live my best life there, which wouldn’t have been the case if it were Germany or France or some other place where the locals spoke a different language.

Q. Once you were sure of going abroad to study, how did you shortlist universities?

Diparati: After I decided to pursue my master’s in HCI in the UK, I started applying to multiple universities like the University of Bath, Loughborough University, Newcastle University, University of York, University of Birmingham, and so on. After I got my offer letters from these universities, I narrowed down my choices to Newcastle University, the University of York, and the University of Bath. While Newcastle and York belong to the Russell Group, I sort of fell in love with the pictures of the city of Bath and decided to finalise it. I am glad I did because it is a triple top 10 university (among the top 10 in 3 lists), and I love the University, the people, and the city, of course.

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Q. Did you apply for a scholarship or financial aid?

Diparati: I received the Global Leaders Scholarship which was a great honour and helped reduce my tuition fees. I was one of the earliest applicants, so I was done with my visa before the August rush began, and as a result, I had my Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) pretty soon too. The Scholarship Reception event held at The Roman Baths was a beautifully arranged event where we got an opportunity to meet other scholarship recipients and get to know them.

Q. Did the University of Bath provide any sort of assistance to international students in view of the COVID 19 pandemic?

Diparati: My admission happened during the COVID-19, and so we were required to quarantine upon reaching the UK, but the University of Bath took care of that beautifully. We were picked up from Heathrow Airport in a coach arranged by the University itself and then dropped at accommodation within the university campus, which was booked for us to quarantine in, free of cost. The University also arranged for complimentary meals during that time since we were not allowed to leave our accommodation to buy groceries. After getting a negative result on TTR (Test to Release) on the fifth day of the quarantine, I left my quarantine accommodation for my long-term accommodation.

Q. Does the University of Bath provide accommodation to international students?

Diparati: I opted for a university-managed postgraduate accommodation called Clevelands which is near the city centre.

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Q. What were the initial challenges you faced while abroad?

Diparati: It was the first time I would travel alone in a new city in a new country with a lot of luggage. However, the process was extremely smooth with First Bus. I downloaded the app, bought a day pass (since I needed to make multiple trips) and got on the bus with my luggage bag. Everyone was super helpful and accommodating and I didn’t feel out of place at all. After settling in, I started checking off the important stuff from my to-do list – registering with a doctor, applying for a National Insurance (NI) number, and applying for part-time jobs.

Q. How was your first week in college?

Diparati: I’m an introvert, so it generally takes time for me to open up and make new friends, however, the University provided several opportunities for me to go out and network with others. The ample number of societies and clubs are wonderful places to meet and hang out with people with similar interests as yours. There were events like wine and cheese tasting during Freshers’ Week which were right up my alley as far as networking events go. I remember having a great time!

Q. How would describe your initial days at the University of Bath?

Diparati: As the regular lectures started, I realised that the style in which education was imparted here was a lot different from what I was used to in India. It’s a lot more driven towards reading a lot of existing literature on the topic at hand and using that knowledge to participate in lectures, work on coursework, and appear for exams. Even though this confused me for a while in the beginning, I received guidance from the University’s Academic Support team which helped me navigate this.

Before long, I found my rhythm and learned to manage my time well between my academic work, my part-time work and other voluntary commitments. I always say this – the University of Bath provides us with so many opportunities, one year is too little time to take complete advantage of them. However, I tried my best to try out new things which pushed me out of my comfort zone and apart from the role of Postgraduate Student Ambassador, I took up voluntary roles like that of an Academic Rep and a Hall Rep.  My efforts throughout the year bore fruit because I got awarded the Postgraduate Taught Academic Rep of the Year 2022 in the Education Awards at the end of the year.

Q. Any takeaways from your experience?

Diparati: Some of the best things about living and studying in Bath is that it is a very student-friendly city. Most major stores offer a student discount, and other tourist attractions like The Roman Baths and the American Museum offer subsidised rates for students. To say Bath is a beautiful city to live in is an understatement. Every tiny little lane, nook and corner of the city is picturesque and I’m not exaggerating. It is truly a treat to live in this city and explore its beauty day after day.

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