Aleksander Napieralski
What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?
I always enjoyed finance, but I could never find myself working in it due to my creativity. I love to be creative and constantly create new things. I am also a gamer who has always dreamed of designing and making games. City, University of London has made this dream possible.
What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?
I was studying for an undergraduate degree in Finance at the Bayes Business School here at City, University of London.
Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree? If so, how did you overcome them?
The main issue with choosing my course is that it is coding specific. I have not done my undergraduate in Computer Science or had any previous background in coding.
This meant I had to work harder in order to catch up on my coding skills in order to accomplish my best. The course however was amazing as it didn't require a background in coding.
We were taught how to code throughout the course along with the modules.
Why did you choose City?
I have been studying at City for the last three years as an undergraduate and I have grown a personal bond with the university. The university was always helpful and I have always received the support I needed throughout my degree.
The most amazing department that the university has is the 'Additional Learning Support team' who have been assisting me with any issues I ever had and helped me deal with my learning disability.
I have always felt respected and felt that most of the departments always give their best to help their students through their academic life. This is why I have chosen this university.
How are you funding your studies – did you secure any financial support?
I applied for a loan from Student Finance England (SFE) in order to support my postgraduate course.
What does a typical week at university look like for you?
Except for university lectures and labs which take place every week, during my MSc, I studied a lot as I wanted to get high grades. I also played a lot of games with my friends and worked on many personal projects in order to improve my skills.
What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?
To be honest my favourite aspect of my university life is to write my own dissertation. Creating my own project and making research allows for creativity with no limits. Being able to create a large project with academic help allows me to feel accomplished.
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?
The course has taken me from the basics of designing games to the adequate level that is required to find a job. I have learned the principles of physics and mathematics required for my career. I have also learned how to code in various languages and use game engines.
What opportunities and experiences has City offered you so far?
I personally was not the one to take part in societies. Although, there is a variety of societies from gaming to sports and book clubs. One can also enjoy time out with friends at the City bar.
What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?
I want to create a business in game development. I also want to become a game developer myself. The university has taught me and helped me to gain skills that are required for me to find a job where I would continue to develop my skills further.
What advice would you give to someone considering a postgraduate degree?
It is a very difficult level of study. It requires a lot of hard work and determination but it is truly worth it. Make new friends as quickly as possible.
When coding, it is easy to get yourself lost in it, but friends are needed especially when you are frustrated and can't figure a way out to fix your problems. It helped me a lot to talk to my friends and just bounce my ideas off of them.