Michał Nadolski

Hi! I am Michał (or Michael or Mike!) and I am currently on my 3rd year of Mechatronics and Robotics in the School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds. I love cooking, photography, cycling and all outdoor activities. I follow football and motorsports, and I also listen to music a lot.
I was born in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and I have finished the high school there. My mum suggested, that I should come and study in the United Kingdom. At first I didn’t gave it much thought, but as the time went by I grew more keen on the idea, and I started researching the possibility of applying to the foreign university.

"I chose University of Leeds, because it was one of the leading universities in the UK in robotics. I visited the city during university's open days, and I immediately knew that I will be applying."

I love how the university of Leeds gives the sense of a close community, both through the Union, societies and communities. Many pubs, cafes, shops and common spaces give heartbeat to the campus, and after the pandemic it really started to beat with sound and life. It is a place full of energy, that gives you the sense of belonging.

Even though the course is challenging, almost everything you learn is backed with a practical reason to do so, which makes you more skilled in your field. This practical experience is especially valuable for us, engineers, as it gives a significant advantage over other potential employees of the industry. It is nice that the staff is always passionate about the subject they are teaching, so you know that their knowledge is up to date and that they are always happy to share it.

Aside from my course, for the first two years of Uni I have been heavily involved in Leeds Gryphon Racing - a society that focuses on designing and building a race car that competes in a Formula Student championship in an yearly international event in Silverstone Circuit. I've been in a drivetrain team for the first year, and after that I have been promoted to an electronics sub-team leader, which came with opportunities but also a lot of duties. I left the team this year to focus on writing my individual 3rd year dissertation alongside a bit smaller project - hosting a Robot Fighting League with ShockSoc (electrical society).
I am currently looking for a placement opportunities for 2023/24 year. We'll see how the application goes, but one thing you definitely can't complain about is the lack of help from the university.

Leeds is a really beautiful city with plenty to do! My favourite places I would definitely recommend include: Zaap!, which serves the amazing Thai cuisine in a city centre of Leeds, The Library Pub, next to chemical engineering building, which during an off peak days is a really cosy place to grab a drink and the Leeds University Union (LUU) building, which hosts multiple great venues. In there you can find The Old Bar, a legendary students pub, and a Terrace which specializes in cocktails, while in The Refectory you can eat a good lunch at a decent price. I also love that there are many events hosted both inside and outside of the building, with it’s crown jewel, The Leeds Ball being a pride of the university.

I also really enjoy parks that the area has to offer, especially the Woodhouse Moor and St Georges Field, which are both a hub of outdoor solace and sports activities in the fresh air.

I currently live in a students accommodation, but I also lived in a private house on my 2nd year, so I can gladly tell what's it like to live in both! On the first year, I would definitely recommend going to the accommodation if you can – they are great for meeting new friends, especially if you are an international student, and might not know many people yet.

Please message me if you would like to hear more about my experiences – I am sure I can help you to realize why Leeds would be perfect for you! Feel free to message me on Unibuddy or through email michal-link@leeds.ac.uk. Looking forward to hearing from you!