Htar Yu Nwe

Hi, everyone! I am Htar Yu Nwe from Myanmar.

Leeds quickly became my second home, with its friendly community, vibrant city life, and campus full of opportunities.

I am a final year Biotechnology with Enterprise student at the University of Leeds. My journey here began with the International Year One program at the Leeds International Study Centre, before I joined the university in my second year. Leeds quickly became my second home, with its friendly community, vibrant city life, and campus full of opportunities.

I chose Leeds for its strong academic reputation and focus on hands-on learning. The university is known for its innovative research work and it makes an ideal place for someone like me considering a research-focused learning. Currently, I’m working closely with my professor on a lab-based research project exploring the mechanism of bacteria infection with a focus on a particular strain called Burkholderia.

The University of Leeds is known for publishing groundbreaking research papers, and you can get an opportunity to get involved in publishing through your dissertation, summer research projects, or in-class projects.

University of Leeds also has fantastic careers support, with a career centre in each faculty. They not only help you with exploring career options after your graduation, but also have your CV reviewed, or even set-up mock-interviews for you. Last year, I completed a year long placement in a diagnostic lab, which was an invaluable experience that greatly enhanced my skills. Throughout my job hunting journey, the career service has been a massive help offering me not only practical support but also a lot of encouragement.

Leeds is an amazing place to live and study. It’s such a student-friendly city, with affordable rent, lots of student-friendly cafes, and reasonably priced groceries. It is also very safe to move around the campus area even late at night as the university offers patrol service in the area. The campus is also closely knitted in the compound which makes me feel more homely. The campus also offers a perfect balance between historic and modern architecture, with beautiful green spaces that are lovely all year round. I really appreciate the sense of community on campus and the well-connected layout that makes it easy to get around.

Leeds is an amazing place to live and study. It is also very safe to move around the campus area even late at night as the university offers patrol service in the area.

For those who love studying, University of Leeds provides fantastic resources and support to keep you productive. There is lots of support available for you, from the 24/7 library, and personal tutoring to one-on-one academic skills support sessions and career services which you can engage with to enhance your academic skills. The university also offers numerous on-campus internships, summer research opportunities and exchange programmes. I strongly encourage you to keep an eye out for those opportunities as it is a great way to make the most out of your studies at Leeds. I am currently working as a course representative for my program and as a research assistant as a campus-internship, and both roles have been invaluable for building my CV and employability.

Outside of my studies, I love films, cooking, and playing badminton to unwind. I am involved in the Leeds University Union Bio Society and volunteer with the Teddy Bear Hospital, a charity that introduces young children to basic medical knowledge in a friendly setting. I recently started playing badminton with my flatmates at the Edge Sports Hall, which has been a fantastic way to stay active and connect with friends.

In terms of accommodations, there are on-campus university accommodations which come with perks like free access to the sports hall. I happened to live in a private student accommodation just in front of the university, and it’s been a great experience so far, meeting new friends and connecting with my amazing flatmates. I would definitely recommend shared living if you want to make connections and fully experience student life.

One of my favorite things about Leeds is that it’s one of the UK’s largest cities, offering a vibrant atmosphere and excellent connections to nearby places. For international students who want to explore the UK while studying, it is a great base to span out your explorative journey. From an adventure weekend in Blackpool to a hiking day at Peak District, Leeds is within a few hours from all these amazing locations.

I’m excited to share more about life here and help you explore everything Leeds has to offer. Feel free to reach out to me on Unibuddy or email me at htar-link@leeds.ac.uk if you have any questions.