Patrick Okonji

Why did you choose Northumbria over other UK universities? 

I spent three months on the internet researching which university to go to in the UK. I had decided on the course that I wanted to study, Public Health, but I needed to know what the module make-up of each course was. It seemed to me that the modules included in the Northumbria course were the best and most relevant to my areas of interest and combining this with the cost made it the most appealing option for me. I found the tuition fees to be very competitive compared to other universities.

Has coming here lived up to your expectations?

It is everything I expected and more. The IT facilities and the library here are excellent and this is especially important as I am going to have to spend a fair amount of my time using both! I have found Newcastle to be a very friendly city, and it is quite peaceful compared to Lagos which is so busy. The teaching is very comprehensive and learning here is a very active process. It is totally different to my experience as a Bachelor’s degree student. There is a whole new dimension to the learning process that I have not experienced before.

What do you plan to do when you have graduated from the MPH course?

I plan to stay on at Northumbria University to study for a PhD if possible. This will be my best opportunity to carry on studying in a supportive learning environment. I have made a big leap forward by coming here in the first place so I want to carry on while I have the chance!

What advice would you give international students who are thinking about applying to study at Northumbria University?

I would absolutely recommend Northumbria University – in my experience there is Northumbria and then there are the rest. The cost of living seems to be cheaper than the rest of the UK from what my friends say and it is a great place to meet many different people from all over the world.