Farya Mubarik

Why I chose Surrey

I chose Surrey over a top London university because of the opportunity for an industry placement and the fact the BSc (Hons) Nutrition course offered a range of optional modules, so I could tailor my degree to my career aspirations.

Surrey has a great reputation in the league tables and for student employment, and after seeing the beautiful campus, I knew I wanted to come here.

My course

My tutors have been very supportive whenever I’ve needed help. All the lecturers are expert in their fields, and I have had one-to-one sessions when I’ve struggled with specific topics.

My placement

For my Professional Training placement, I worked abroad for Danone. When the placement was advertised via email I was instantly attracted to it because Danone is a well-known and highly reputable food manufacturer. The idea of travelling abroad for a placement also sounded really exciting.

I started off at Nutricia Research (a Danone research centre) in Singapore, then went to Nutricia Research in the Netherlands. Spending time in research centres in both Singapore and the Netherlands gave me great experience of working with diverse groups of people in different cultural settings.

"The practical experience of handling projects and the guidance from the scientists in the company helped me to develop research skills."

During the placement, I was involved in many different projects and I enjoyed putting the knowledge I gained during my first two years at university into practice. The practical experience of handling projects and the guidance from the scientists in the company helped me to develop research skills in new and different areas. I also gained valuable life skills, enjoyed travelling to different places and made a lot of friends, too.

My life at Surrey

Surrey’s facilities are fantastic. You name it, and it’s on campus. As a mature foreign student, I’ve found the academic skills workshops and drop-ins very good and the English Language Support Programme incredibly valuable.

My career and development

My placement showed me how much I enjoy working in a research setting, so once I graduate I am interested in pursuing higher study and then aim to have a career in the research industry.

If you want a complete university experience, Surrey is the place to be. I have become more mature professionally, I am a lot more confident about my work and I have grown as person as well.

Find out more about our nutrition course