Postgraduate Student Profiles

Shaden Mar’I, MSc Computer Science  

"I come from Jordan, which is a developing country in need of many drastic changes to minimise the gap between Jordan and the developed countries like the United Kingdom.
 
After obtaining my BSc in Computer Information Systems from the University of Jordan my aim was to obtain a postgraduate qualification in the area of Computer Science to help enhance my career prospects and to enable me to participate in the technological developing process my country is undertaking. I could not find a better place than the UK due to its multicultural nature, welcoming people from different backgrounds to an extent which I found truly amazing.
 
My degree at Essex was quite demanding having lots of assignments and reading to do, but at the end it all paid off as I learned so many new technologies in a number of Computer Science fields introduced through the rich modules in the course.
 
Now whenever I think of Essex I remember the long nights I spent at the library or in the labs working on assignments or studying for an exam. I also remember the wonderful academic and administrative staff and the beautiful campus landscape.
 
Looking back, I realise that the year I spent at Essex was one of the best years of my life."

Alex Louca, MSc Advanced Web Application Programming

Having just finished an Advanced Web Application Programming MSc, I can  definitely say that this course offered me so much more academically  in one year, than any other qualification I have achieved.

The materials and classes were exactly what I needed to enhance my web programming skills and further my career, and I feel I have acquired an extensive base of relevant knowledge and expertise in all the major areas of Web Development, thanks to the quality of the course syllabus. I found work as a web programmer within just a few weeks of graduation.

I found the lectures and seminars to be first class without exception;  everything contained material relevant to my field of work. Both the teaching and administrative staff were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and I  cannot recommend them enough. I immensely enjoyed my time at Essex and will always look back on it as the best of all my academic years.

Sam Adams, MSc E-Commerce Technology

"I started my university life at the University Of Essex doing a Bachelor degree in Computer Science (E-Commerce). After I finished my undergraduate studies, I decided to stay on and do a Masters, continuing the theme with the MSc in E-Commerce Technology. Postgraduate study allowed me to expand on what I'd learned by means of a more focussed and productive approach. I found that by doing a Masters you gain so much more in-depth understanding of the subject matter.

Although the course is demanding and the workload is higher than in undergraduate studies, it is very rewarding and you gain a much better knowledge and understanding of all aspects of computer science which is excellent preparation for working in industry. The project dissertation was especially enjoyable and gave me a chance to explore a particular interest of mine in great depth.

The MSc qualification seems to be sought after by employers as I was offered a number of jobs soon after I completed the course. I decided to stay in Colchester and now work as an Enterprise Java Developer for an automotive consultancy which is demanding but also very rewarding and enjoyable."

Elina Andrikou, MSc Computer Science

I chose to study at Essex because the course structure covered in detail my interests in Computer Science and I was also impressed by the wide range of topics that were offered within computing. This allowed me to study a diverse master degree and gave me numerous options for my career. Another factor was the Colchester Campus with its friendly environment and everything you could possible want in one place, bars, clubs, art gallery and theatre. I can say it was one of the best decisions I ever made from both an educational and career point of view.

I found the courses stimulating, interesting and yes, requiring effort, but definitely worth it. Looking back I am amazed at just how much I learned this year, not just languages and concepts but whole new ways of thinking.   The computing modules really showed me that it wasn’t just “text-book stuff” and gave a greater emphasis on retrieving information for ourselves; meaning more time spent in the library. All the knowledge I acquired studying for my master’s degree are proving to be invaluable.    The lecturers were so approachable and the quality of teaching was one of the highest. They took a great interest in my progress, providing excellent feedback on my course work and continual advice.  Classes and seminars weren’t too large and we were always encouraged to participate without having doubts to express our opinion. The warm and friendly attitude of the staff in the administration, deserve particular praise for their care and attentiveness towards the students, their help is certainly invaluable.  

The School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering offered a vast range of interesting modules. All the courses I took gave me essential skills and confidence. They also helped me to look at things from a different perspective. Every day, I greatly appreciate the knowledge gained throughout my master degree.  

Essex has a compact and very international campus with a great community atmosphere. I had no problems settling into academic life at Essex.  Socially it was really fun with International Nights being one of my favourites. Moreover clubs and societies were on offer for every interest imaginable.   My favourite place on campus was the Blues Cafe. A warm cafe in the winter and a relaxed place to make a quick revision before lectures as it was not too noisy.

University of Essex holds some really strong moments for me, while sitting by the lakes, relaxing and enjoying the sunshine with the company of hundreds of students during the lazy summer days.   Our great Sport Centre allowed me to keep fit, have fun and make some very close friends.  

My fondest memory was the first week. It was both scary and exciting, every effort was made to make new students feel welcome, especially during the Fresher’s Week which was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, join clubs and societies and get involved in the University activities. If I could do it all again I have to admit I wouldn’t change anything about my time at Essex. It is truly a perfect stepping stone to start life and build a career. If you want a challenge, quality education, interesting topics and a great time, Essex is the place for you as it was for me and many others!  

Peter Mead, MSc Advance Web Application Programming

Having completed my undergraduate degree here at Essex I felt this was the perfect place to further my studies as a postgraduate student. The University of Essex has a growing reputation for excellence that is well deserved. The campus is small enough to walk from one end to the other in a matter of minutes, but it's busy enough so that you bump into ten people you know on the way!

Before my Masters, I studied BSc Computing and Mathematics in the Mathematical Sciences department. Over the three years of that degree I discovered that maths is perhaps not my thing, but I do like a challenge. From there on in I decided to focus more on Computer Science as my main area of interest.

Societies have played a big part in my social life. I remember my first Freshers' Fair where I joined RockSoc on a whim, and one year later I was the President of that society. I held the position for two years, organising rock nights and gatherings for all those who enjoy the genre. Clubs and societies are a great way to meet like minded people.

Above all, this university helped me attain two degrees and also helped me identify the specific career plan I wish to follow. I feel that it has helped me prepare for a long enjoyable career and has provided me with memories which will be hard to forget.

Simon Bell - MSc Distributed Systems

"I am a member of the Royal Air Force and was lucky enough to be chosen to undertake an MSc to further my career. The RAF selected Essex University for its excellent choice of modules in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering and the reputation for research. I undertook the MSc in Distributed Systems.

The course of study in the Masters degree allowed for a diversity of different areas to study, my particular area of interest was the application layer. Having a first degree in Information Technology, I found it quite hard to program, but with the expert advice and guidance from the tutors I found the programming the assignments not too difficult.

The Masters degree also allowed you to explore outside the normal boundaries set in an undergraduate degree which helped keep your “grey matter” ticking over!! (Considering I was a mature student) I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Essex it was over in a blink of an eye. Staff within the University were always helpful and the services provided second to none.

I am currently working in a consultant type role dealing with Enterprise Architecture and SOA within the military."

Liu Shuzhe, MSc Embedded Systems

it's been a great pleasure to study at the University, and lakeside library which is situated in the beautiful campus is a quiet place to study.

The campus has a friendly international atmosphere, and you can meet, study and work with people from different countries. The group project was a great academic experience, where I worked with 6 people from across the world.  The group always received useful resources and helpful support from the School.

 

Fei Peng - MSc E-Commerce Technology

"I was studying the MSc in E-Commerce at the University of Essex. The courses involve many important aspects of making a sophisticated e-commerce website: from fundamental theories to practical experiences, from the most widely adopted technologies to the newest ideas in the related areas. As a student, I have had the chance to learn all the valuable knowledge towards becoming a successful web application developer. Besides, when studying at the University, I met many students who also interested in computer technologies. They would be working in the same arena with me in the future. Now we often communicate with each other to exchange invaluable ideas.

The seasoned staff there are very friendly and always happy to give me a hand on my research. For example, Mr Dick Williams, among other professors and lecturers, was one of the best teachers I have ever met. As an outstanding researcher in this area, he helped me a lot with his valued experiences both on the 'web programming' course and on my final dissertation. Actually, everyone working in this School is just as excellent as him.

I received my Master degree successfully in November 2005. Shortly, I was very happy to get a job at the GFM holdings limited who is the largest commercial partner of the Royal Mail. I worked there as an Assistant Technician then a Web Engineer for about one year. As everybody knows, finding the first job after graduation could be challenging. With what I have learnt in the University, there was not too much difficulties in getting that job. What I could do was just what they were asking for.

I returned to China at the beginning of 2007. Since I hold a Master degree from the University of Essex, together with the one year-working experience, I received many job offers from world class companies. After a carefully comparison, I became a Senior Lecturer of the APTECH China as my second job after graduation. My job was to give trainings to other lecturers of the company, i.e. a lecturer of lecturers. I received some 100k RMB as my annual salary, which is among the highest in the profession of Information Technology.

In September 2007, I was invited by the University of Fribourg as a academic visitor. I am here to give them a help in launching a wiki-based website (www.dadipedia.com). The website is expected to be put online in November 2007."

Lu Linfa - Msc in E-commerce Technology

"I studied the newest E-commerce technology through taking this course such as Ruby on Rails, Ajax and ASP.NET. They are really useful when I tried to job-hunt in the E-commerce field.

I enjoyed my time at Essex, the Professors taught me well, and the course was easy to understand.
Because there are so many students who came from different countries such as Greece, Japan, Germany, Portugal, it gave me the opportunity to communicate with others from different cultures, especially with the group project, where we needed to cooperate with each other.

I found the Professors and teachers are friendly and they really taught me a lot.  Life in Essex is quite comfortable, especially in the Quays accommodation. It is a wonderful place to learn and practice my English.

I always took part in local activities, this taught me about the local community and British customs and the way of their thinking.  This also gave me the opportunity to taste a lot of good food from many different countries.

Living in Essex, it is quite easy to travel to Europe. Flying from England to European countries is quite easy and cheap.

I would like to say it was one of the most enjoyable years in my life when I studied at Essex."

Darren Nye, MSc Computer and Information Networks

"My decision to study my MSc course at Essex was based upon two factors. Firstly I had studied for my BSc in Computer Science here and had been impressed overall by the way things were handled, and secondly it's relatively close to my home in Hornchurch. The fact that Essex is a campus environment is also something that I personally found very appealing.

The MSc course is tough, requiring around 7 hours of work per day (including lectures) in the Autumn term and slightly less in the Spring term. The assignments, while difficult, are well structured and weighted and there's plenty of time to complete them if you start early. The course is far more intensive than a standard degree but equally the rewards are much more substantial; I feel like I am now a lot more technically competent, confident and capable.

Non-academically, Essex has a large variety of places to go to eat, for entertainment or to relax, however you simply won't have a great deal of time for socializing because the course is very intensive. That said, I did meet a number of people on my course whom I wouldn't mind seeing again.

My dissertation was based around a mobile phone route planner, designed around the J2ME framework implementing a distributed system model to offload computationally expensive operations. I was fortunate enough to get an interview which led to a job offer a mere hour after I submitted my CV to an employment agency, and that was on a Sunday! As a result I'm now working for a company called Marvellous, a media agency who exclusively develop solutions for mobile phones, as a Java developer."

Mario Siller - MSc Telecommunications and Information Systems, PhD Electronic Systems Engineering

After finishing his PhD in April 2006 Mario returned to Mexico and joined CINVESTAV (Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados) in Guadalajara. This is a leading research centre in the area of Technology in Latin America. He is working as a Research Officer and Lecturer.

"I decided to study at Essex because of its well-regarded Postgraduate degrees in the area of Telecommunications and Electronic Systems Engineering and I can now say that it was a very good choice.

I found the research and teaching staff at the School friendly and helpful. They were always open to share both knowledge and experience. In this sense, Dr John Woods, not only had the time and patience to supervise my thesis, but also supported and guided me throughout my research. This was certainly a key factor for the success of my studies.

Being at Essex has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Essex gave me the opportunity to study at a University with an outstanding reputation, surrounded by a multicultural atmosphere with excellent social life. I met many interesting people and I made life-long friends. Most importantly, I met my beautiful wife who was herself a PhD student at the Department of Government.

Furthermore, whilst at Essex I got to learn about the people, culture, history, traditions and institutions that make the UK an excellent place to study. I miss the University and the UK."

David Bull - MSc Embedded Systems and Robotics

"I joined the University of Essex four years ago as an undergraduate studying Robotics and Intelligent Machines. The most interesting modules for me where the robotics modules (especially Lego Mindstorms) and the PIC microprocessor module. After completing my degree I decided to stay at Essex and do an MSc in Embedded Systems and Robotics.

I chose to study the Pervasive Computing theme which included modules on ambient intelligent and distributed systems. The course was demanding but I enjoyed it and was motivated to work hard. The assignments allowed you to put into practice what had been learned during the lectures. Unlike the assignments in the undergraduate course, the MSc assignments also required you to read around and find papers expanding your knowledge beyond purely what had been taught in the lectures.

The lecturers, teaching assistants and other staff are all extremely helpful. The services offered by the library and, careers service, and also the facilities provided by the sports centre are extremely good.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my four years at Essex and would definitely recommend it to anyone else thinking of coming here. The course is interesting and challenging, the staff are very helpful and the other services and facilities provided by the university are very good.

I am currently working undertaking a student placement with BT working on a distributed sensor networks project and am applying for a place on their graduate scheme."

Ayubu Jacob -  MSc Computer Science

"I joined the University of Essex in 2004 as a postgraduate student (MSc Computer Science).

There are so many exciting things about the University of Essex and School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering in particular.

When I was applying for the Course online I was much encouraged by the responses which I received from the graduate office and I was kept updated for the whole process of my application. The application process was friendly (if I compare it with other Universities to which I tried to apply).

I was motivated by the teaching styles and committed staff. Lectures and assignments were designed to give full assistance and guidance to students. Learning facilities, library, computer labs, software programs and other facilities are always available in term time. It was excellent.

There was the opportunity to meet many students from different parts of the world and hence, students can share knowledge and learning techniques. People are so friendly that you can even feel at home and enjoy your studies.

Moreover I was also motivated with the sports and social facilities in that they are well organized and always available.

I would like to encourage many students to come from all over the world to experience the rich knowledge from the University of Essex."

Priya Bhargava - MSc Embedded Systems and Robotics

Previous degree and place of study: Bachelor of Information Technology, Manipal Academic of Higher Education, New Delhi, India, 2003.

"My name is Priya Bhargava and I am from India. I completed my MSc. in Embedded Systems and Robotics at the University of Essex (2003-04).

The choice for selecting this course and University were quite clear. Considering the status and reputation of the university, it was an obvious choice. Also the course structure and modules fascinated me. The course was demanding as well as interesting and I added considerable information to my knowledge bank. In the beginning, I found it quite difficult to cope up with the course and assignments, but with the help of my professors and my colleagues I was able to overcome all hurdles.

The professors and other staff were very helpful, and I found it easy to interact with each of them. We were given a number of assignments that kept us busy all year round, and most of the time was spent in labs solving problems and trying to finish assignments and projects within the given deadlines. As students, we had the option to express our view in the form of feedback, which was used to rate our professors and the course content, lab facilities, study material etc which were provided, and I am glad to say that the feedback was considered and positive suggestions were implemented promptly.

The most appealing and interesting part of the course was when we were divided into groups and were given an assignment of designing a robot to incorporate cat like behaviours. I had 5 classmates in my team, each belonging to different countries. We all attended regular meetings and worked together as a team to achieve a common goal. Along with work, we initiated the idea of the entire group getting together to go out for dinners and drinks a few times. It did help us a lot and we all became good friends, prior to which we were just colleagues.

Working as part of a team helped me to develop my management and enterprising skills. I learnt how to manage people as well as deal with formidable problems within the stipulated time frame. My creative and logical thinking helped me tackle situations in a better and practical way.

I believe that the skills I have developed through my education and experiences can be applied to any field and have an excellent exposure in the industry.

When I got admission at the University here in the UK, it was the first time I was staying away from home on my own and in an absolutely new country. Initially I was extremely apprehensive about staying alone and managing things on my own, but gradually I adjusted to the weather, people and the culture here. I had to manage my time between managing my household activities, attending classes and doing my assignments. It took me a few days to settle in, but then I was very comfortable doing everything on my own. The environment in the university was homely, and my flatmates and other people around me were amiable. We regularly had parties and get-togethers for the entire flat and neighbourhood, and the occasion was excellent opportunity to meet new people and learn more about different cultures.

Living alone has taught me to be self-reliant and I have developed a wider outlook to life. I am now comfortable working in any environment and with different kind of people. I am glad I decided to come and study here and learn and experience a whole new dimension to life. The experience of staying abroad, opportunities to travel to new places and also learn about different cultures and environments has been enlightening. I have learnt to be more flexible and independent as a result of the endeavour."

Carlos Roberto Jaimez Gonzalez - MSc in E-Commerce Technology

Carlos was awarded the MSc with Distinction in 2004. He is currently doing a PhD in at Essex under the supervision of Dr Simon Lucas. His research is related to distributed object programming and web services.

Previous degree and place of study: BSc in Computer Science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico, 2000.

"I am from Mexico City. I came to United Kingdom in 2003 to study a master degree in E-Commerce Technology. I chose the University of Essex because it is one of the best universities in UK and has the best programme in E-Commerce Technology.

The time I have spent in Essex has been an enjoyable experience. The Master’s degree has a very high quality of education and is very well organized through the academic year, although it is very demanding. It helped me to gain theoretical and practical experience with the current technologies in the E-Commerce field. I must also mention that all the people that I have met at the university are wonderful, and the academic and administrative staff have also been very helpful and friendly.

Most of the facilities in the University of Essex are very good. The computer laboratories are excellent and they are available all the time, so you can work there whenever you need. The library system is very efficient, and its resources are enough. In the sports centre, you can practice any of the most popular sports: squash, tennis, basketball, badminton, soccer, etc.

For your leisure time, there are activities through the year, which are organized mainly by the international societies. The university also has two bars and three more places with events during the weekends. The town of Colchester has just a few interesting places to visit, but it is very close to London, which is just about one hour by train.

I had such a great experience doing my Master’s degree that I decided to stay some more years to do my PhD studies at the School at Essex. This was also possible because I have a scholarship from CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología), which has given me the economic support.

Regarding my life in Mexico, after I finished my BSc in Computer Science at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), I had the opportunity to become a Teaching Assistant at the same university. I liked a lot the academic environment, so that I decided to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer and I was providing training to national and international companies for almost 3 years. Another important role that I also played was the Developer of Applications, in which I developed desktop, distributed and web applications. I am now doing something new for me, which is the research that I like quite a lot.

In summary, I would strongly recommend the University of Essex as a place of study. My Master’s degree was a wonderful experience and I am currently enjoying my PhD."

Sapura Sri-Nammuni - MSc E-Commerce Technology

Sapura graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Computer Science from Essex in 2002. She registered as a postgraduate student in October 2003 and was awarded the MSc in E-Commerce Technology with Distinction. She is now working as an Information Analyst for Electronic Data Systems

"My first visit to the University of Essex was in August 1999 for a BSc Computer Science open day. I had lived in London for some time and was therefore keen to choose a University out of London, which would broaden my horizons and still ensure a balanced study/social life. The University of Essex more than fulfilled these requirements with its very friendly staff, attractive location, dynamic nightlife and up to date technical facilities.

I completed my BSc degree and lectured Computer Applications for a year at the University before deciding to progress to a Masters Degree. I had developed lasting friendships amongst colleagues and staff at Essex and was keen to do an MSc in E-Commerce Technology, as this was my chosen area of expertise. After extensive research, I was unable to find any other institution that met my requirements & matched the standard, & quality of the degree offered by the University of Essex. The MSc covered an extremely wide range of topics and state of the art technologies, and is well recognised.

A crash course in Java was offered prior to the start of the first term and it provided a good basic coverage of Java principles as a starting block. However, as this was over a very short period of time, a lot extra work was required to be able to deal with the weekly assignments. Ideally, I would say that a reasonable knowledge of Java is a pre requisite to do well in the course, unless you have commercial work experience in other programming languages, which would equip you with the ability to learn a new language very fast.

The lectures and lab sessions covered the latest technologies, in demand in the current job market, in an intellectually stimulating manner. The degree course further offered non-technical related subjects such as E-Commerce Law, Economics & Marketing. This provided a desirable break from invariable technical subject matter and enabled me to gain a broader sense of the application, and effects, of E-Commerce in real life situations.

The first couple of months were possibly the most difficult while I adjusted to the fast pace & intensity of the course, but once you adapt to a fixed routine and manage your time competently, you learn to deal with the work load more effectively and efficiently.

It was a very intensive course, especially if, like me, you do not possess much previous practical programming experience. However with continuous hard work, determination and help and support from staff, friends & family, the level of knowledge & expertise gained in such a short space of time is immense and invaluable.

It has been a very rewarding experience that has armed me with the confidence and ability to cope with the challenges faced in a commercial environment, working with real world applications.

I am now working for EDS (Electronic Data Systems), a global IT outsourcing company in Central London and am aspiring for a Project Management role in the future. I am currently undertaking the role of an Information Analyst. This involves progressing through a graduate scheme, covering all the roles in the system lifecycle, to gain the relevant commercial expertise in these areas."