Mohamed Amine Karabadja is a MSc Cyber Security student.
What motivated you to pursue postgraduate study?
I wanted to continue my studies in order to improve my career prospects and get a job where a postgraduate qualification is a requirement.
What were you doing before applying for a postgraduate degree?
I was doing an internship with Swisscom AG in Zurich. In this, I undertook a project involving the configuration and installation of equipment linked to the wire line telecommunication on the contents of the cabinet (router, switch, access point, internet box).
This also included wireless telecommunication (walkie-talkie transmission technology) as well as satellite telecommunication on ultra-high frequency radio (UHT).
Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree? If so, how did you overcome them?
The most common challenge I faced was managing finances. Although a master’s may only last for a year and potentially cost less than a bachelor’s degree, it doesn’t mean it is cheap.
When tuition is combined with additional expenses such as rent, food and course materials, monthly costs can be steep.
Why did you choose City?
I chose City for the strong learning and research environment and for my leadership and personality development. I also saw it as a chance to build a professional network and obtain better job opportunities. Finally, I chose City for the high visa success rate.
How are you finding studying in the UK?
I decided to study in the UK because I knew that I wouldn’t get bored - there is always something to do no matter what one's interests are. The UK is a unique country, filled with many families with roots from around the world. It thus gives the UK a unique mix of different cultures, food, and interests.
What does a typical week at university look like for you?
My day was 9 am - 6 pm on all days bar Wednesday - consisting of a mixture of lectures and tutorials with short breaks. On Wednesdays, I would finish at 1:00 pm for sports. Later in the year, my timetable lightened up a lot and I had more free hours during the day - sometimes only about four hours of scheduled teaching a day.
What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?
My course helped me develop my communication skills in terms of listening, speaking, and writing. It has also developed my analytical and research skills, interpersonal skills, and my ability to make decisions and solve problems.
What are your career plans and how has City prepared you for them?
I am looking forward to taking my Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certificate which will help me a lot in reaching what will be my final destination - a Cyber Security consultant.