Skip to:

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to accessibility
City, University of London
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
Search
Menu
Home
  • Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
        • Undergraduate
        • Information for teachers
        • Postgraduate taught
        • Postgraduate research
          • Preparing your application
            • Preparing your research proposal
        • Short courses
          • The Novel Studio Published Alumni
      • Prospectus
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Short courses
      • Visas
        • Student visas
          • Applying from outside the UK
          • Applying from within the UK
          • Applying for a dependant visa
          • Preparing your application
          • Working in the UK
        • Standard Visitor visas
          • How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa
          • Non-visa nationals
        • ATAS certificates
        • Brexit and European nationals
      • Study abroad programmes
        • Partnership programme
        • Study abroad modules
      • Clearing and Adjustment
        • Applying through Clearing
        • Applying through Adjustment
      • Alternative entry routes
        • Foundation courses
        • Second-year students
        • Work experience
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
        • Payment methods
        • Fee schedules
        • Deposit refunds
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Clearing
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
        • Finding a place to live
        • Accommodation for families
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
        • Undergraduate online events
        • Postgraduate online events
        • Ask a student
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
        • Sport clubs
        • Non-competitive sport
        • Competitive sport
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
        • Mental health counselling
        • Learning support
        • Young, estranged students
        • Care leavers
        • Young adult carers
        • Personal tutoring programme
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Internships and employment opportunities
        • Micro-placements
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
        • Research ethics
          • Principles
          • Approval process
          • Approval outcomes and appeals
          • External ethics approvals
        • Ethics guidance and resources
          • Participant information and consent
          • Recruiting participants from City
          • Records management
          • Research conducted abroad
          • FAQ
        • Research integrity
          • Framework for good practice in research
          • Research misconduct
      • Research data
        • Managing active research data
        • Digital research data and Figshare
      • Researcher development
    • Research centres and groups
  • For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
        • One-to-one startup advice
        • The Good Entrepreneur Festival
        • Startup camp
        • Startup seminars
        • Side hustle
        • CitySpark workshops
      • Launch your startup
        • Start-up visa
        • Launch Lab
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Purchase a company
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
        • Santander employability programme
      • Meet and support our students
        • Become a mentor
        • Employer engagement events
      • Placement partners and trusts
  • Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
        • City Alumni LinkedIn groups
      • Alumni ambassadors
      • Special interest groups
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Arts and Social Sciences
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Employability, placements and internships
            • English for academic purposes (EAP)
          • Research and Enterprise
        • Department of Economics
          • Research
            • Discussion pages
        • Department of English
        • Department of International Politics
          • Examples of research projects
          • Research
        • Department of Journalism
          • Where our graduates work
          • James Cameron Memorial Lecture
            • Lectures
            • Special awards
            • Winners
          • Journalism scholarships
          • Stern Bryan Fellowship
        • Department of Music
          • 40th anniversary
          • Composition at City
          • Department ensembles
          • Ensembles in residence
          • Industry visitors
          • Placement opportunities
          • Research in the Department of Music
            • The Shahnameh Project: Disseminating Iranian musical culture in Britain
            • Middle East and Central Asia Music Forum
            • Staff Research Interests
        • Department of Psychology
          • Research in the Department of Psychology
            • Staff publications
        • Department of Sociology
          • City Q-Step Centre
        • Centre for Language Studies
      • The Business School (formerly Cass)
      • School of Health Sciences
        • About the school
          • Athena SWAN
          • Community Engagement Committee
          • Enterprise
          • Senior Management Team
          • Selection Day
          • City Health bespoke training
          • Courses
            • Undergraduate and pre-registration courses
            • Postgraduate study
            • Continuing Personal and Professional Development
            • Fees and funding
            • Information for placement partners
            • Occupational Health Checks
            • Contact the School of Health Sciences
            • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (formerly CRB)
            • NHS finance and grants
          • Internationalisation
            • SHS International Excellence Scholarship
          • Optical Appliance Testing Service
          • Ready to mentor
          • Reference request
          • Research
            • Doctoral Studentships
            • Research ethics
          • Student life
            • Placement partners and trusts
            • Why choose a career in the health sector
        • Division of Health Services Research and Management
        • Division of Language and Communication Science
        • Division of Midwifery and Radiography
          • Radiography undergraduate learning contract
          • Midwifery at City
          • Radiography at City
        • Division of Nursing
        • Division of Optometry and Visual Sciences
        • Disability and Social Inclusion Seminars
      • School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering
        • About the school
          • Athena SWAN
          • Our London location
          • Placements and internships
            • About Professional Liaison Unit
            • Awards and Prizes
            • Employer information
            • Placement and internship schemes
            • Professional development
          • Preparing your research proposal
          • Aviation Management at City
          • Business and Information Systems
          • Civil Engineering at City
          • Computer Science at City
          • Energy MSc courses at City
          • Library and Information Science at City
          • Maritime Greece
          • Maritime Management at City
          • European Micro Gas Turbine Forum
          • European Global Product Realisation
            • The EGPR course
            • The EGPR history
            • The universities
          • Wind turbine design challenge
        • Department of Civil Engineering
          • Placements and Internships
        • Department of Computer Science
          • Data Science - an emerging discipline
          • Research Ethics
          • Student projects
          • Video gallery
          • Cyber Security MSc courses at City
          • Technical skills for MSc Data Science
          • Placements and Internships
            • Professional Pathway scheme
            • Postgraduate internships
        • Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
          • Chocoholic Safe
          • Control system for central heating
          • Placements and Internships
        • Department of Library and Information Science
          • Definition of Library and Information Science
          • CityLIS Courses
        • Department of Mathematics
          • Potential PhD projects
          • Placements and Internships
        • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics
          • City Racing Team
            • Building the car
            • Joining and competing
            • Meet the team
          • Placements and Internships
      • The City Law School
        • Academic programmes
        • Professional programmes
        • About the School
          • Contact the City Law School
          • How to find us
          • Free Legal Advice Clinic
            • The School Exclusion Project
            • Pro-Bono
            • Start-Ed Commercial Law Clinic
          • Legal careers
          • Careers advice
            • Pupillage Advice Service
            • Training Contract Advisory Service
          • Courses
            • Undergraduate
            • Professional courses
            • Master of Laws (LLM)
            • The Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE)
            • Continuing Professional Development courses
          • International
          • Research
            • Working Paper Series
            • ESRC Project
            • Ethics
            • Global Law@City
            • The Critical Corporation Project
            • Academic Visitor Programme
          • Support
            • Athena SWAN in the Law School
            • Financing your study
      • Doctoral College
        • Funding and scholarships
        • Essential information
        • Meet the Team
        • Research Supervisors
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
        • Better
        • Bigger
        • Partnerships
        • Living the values
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
        • Rankings
        • Education
          • Flexible learning spaces
          • Active and collaborative learning
          • Term dates
        • Student statistics
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
        • Data and objectives
        • Staff networks
      • Sustainable development
        • Energy management
        • Waste management
        • Biodiversity conservation
        • Green travel
        • Education
        • Sustainable food
        • Get involved
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
        • Audit and Risk Committee
        • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
        • Remuneration Committee
        • Strategy, Implementation and Performance Committee
      • Senate
        • Board of Studies
        • Collaborative Provision Committee
        • Educational Quality Committee
        • Research and Enterprise Committee
        • Senate Research Ethics Committee
      • Executive leadership
        • President
          • Mansion House speeches
      • Financial statements
        • Financial Summary
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Coronavirus guidance for research
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
        • Coronavirus accommodation information
        • Visa and Immigration advice during coronavirus
      • Student and staff coronavirus statistics
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
  • Prospective students
    Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
      • Prospectus
      • Visas
      • Study abroad programmes
      • Clearing and Adjustment
      • Alternative entry routes
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Internships and employment opportunities
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    Research
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
      • Research data
      • Researcher development
    • Research centres and groups
  • For businesses
    For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
      • Launch your startup
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Purchase a company
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
      • Placement partners and trusts
  • Alumni and supporters
    Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
      • Alumni ambassadors
      • Special interest groups
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Arts and Social Sciences
      • The Business School (formerly Cass)
      • School of Health Sciences
      • School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering
      • The City Law School
      • Doctoral College
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Vision
      • Strategy
      • Performance
      • Academic excellence
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
      • Sustainable development
      • Civic engagement
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
      • Senate
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Coronavirus guidance for research
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
      • Student and staff coronavirus statistics
Coronavirus, latest information for staff and students.
  1. Home
  2. …
  3. People
  4. Students
  5. Natasha Patel
People
  • Academics
  • Research students
  • Students
  • Honorary graduates
  • Past students
  • Professional Services staff
  • International agents and representatives
  • Senior people
Natasha Patel is a BEng Biomedical Engineering student

Natasha Patel

Biomedical Engineering Student (BEng)

School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Biomedical Engineering

"My favourite thing about City and in particular my course, has to be the personal attention the lecturers provide."

Tell us about the decision to leave your home behind and study in London.

I decided to leave Kenya based on my aspirations to achieve an excellent education – the course I intended studying was far more advanced in the UK, USA and Germany. London offers an immense choice of universities and future career opportunities, both of which would increase my employment prospects to an international scale. I felt studying and living in central London would provide me with interesting experiences and give me exposure to different types of people, activities and much more.

I was mainly attracted to City, University of London because of its prime location as well as their Biomedical Engineering course. I was interested in the physics and engineering aspects of the course as opposed to the biology aspect, and the modules met those requirements. Also, City was rather well positioned on the league tables for the course which was also quite reassuring.

What was the most challenging aspect of moving away?

The most challenging and exciting prospect of moving away was gaining independence. It was overwhelming being away from family and friends and adjusting to London’s culture – Kenya’s economic, working and learning culture is extremely different to that of London. One of the biggest differences between the two places has to be the weather. Kenya offers an equatorial climate and we do not experience harsh winters. In my first year, I was very fascinated by the snow and extreme changes in weather, even though it was difficult to adapt to.

What were your first impressions of London?

My first impressions of London had already been formed when I visited my family during the holidays. I remember thinking that even though I live in a busy capital city back home, this one was vastly different. Everybody was in a rush and seemed to be running somewhere, everyone I met had a different accent, each more interesting than the previous. Overall, I thought it was a very fascinating and enjoyable city.

How did you adapt to a new city and culture?

At first I was worried that I would be unable adapt to the erratic yet interesting London culture but the more time I spent exploring London, the easier it got. Attending events hosted by the University such as freshers’ fair, society Meet and Greet events, as well as several sports-based events like friendly dodgeball and taster sessions for sports (netball, badminton, basketball, hockey and rock climbing), provided a platform to meet new people and learn more about the city and its culture.

What kind of things are you involved in outside your course?

City offers a variety of clubs and societies, however, being a sports lover physical activity is very important to me and helps me take a break from the usual study schedule. I am an active participant of the City Hockey team and the Mountaineering club (CUMC), the captain of the City’s women’s table tennis team, and I also have a membership with City’s gym, CitySport. I am also on the communications committee for the Indian Society and have proudly become a Student Ambassador for the Widening Participation team.

Having London as my campus allows me to explore a lot; from spending time with my friends at the park or pub, to watching movies and taking a quick train ride to a different city – London is full of adventures.

What has been your student experience at City so far?

Ever since I joined City, they have been expanding the university and improving the facilities available to students which has been nice. There is always something interesting happening on campus; from events at the student union (City Bar), the giant chess board in the Tait building, to the table tennis games going on in-between lectures – City generally has a very lively environment.

What has been your favourite thing about studying at City?

My favourite thing about City and in particular my course has to be the personal attention the lecturers provide. My perception of university life was that it would involve a lot of independent study, however, I’ve found the lecturers have always been available to answer my questions and have been extremely helpful throughout the course.

What would you say to other students out there who are thinking of leaving their home to study in London?

For anyone considering moving to London for their studies, I would definitely recommend it as it is an experience I am very thankful for. This city caters to nearly everyone and not only in terms of studies and career opportunities, but also to a number of hobbies and interests.

Date of interview: Tuesday, 30th January 2018

Help us to improve this page

City, University of London

  • Library Services
  • Moodle
  • Email
  • Staff directory
  • Term dates
  • Book a room
  • Schools and departments

Back to top

Contact us

+44 (0)20 7040 5060
Make an enquiry

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Weibo
  • Youku
Social media directory

Find us

City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

Campus map

Our global campuses

  • London
  • Dubai
  • Teaching Excellence Framework: Silver Award
  • Athena SWAN: Bronze Award

Useful links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • City Store
  • Support City
  • Work for City

© 2021 City, University of London

University of London