Featured Story – Hear What CEE International Students Say

Vincent Tjuatja
BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering, Year 3

Studying in PolyU has been an unforgettable experience for me. As an international student, I initially had mixed expectations. I was daunted by the thought of wider cultural exposure and a different living environment, but at the same time intrigued by the idea of pursuing education in the subject that I am passionate about. Still, studying in PolyU has never failed to surprise me. 

While I anticipated a wider cultural exposure, I never expected to experience cultural over-exposure. Cultural shock was such a major problem for me. Staying in a foreign place, with no knowledge of the local language, there were countless times that I felt homesick. Lucky for me, I met some classmates from Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, and Korea who are very kind and friendly. Through our conversations, I realized that I was not the only one going through the cultural shock and they are there for me if I need any help.

Studying civil engineering at PolyU was also quite different from my expectation. Before I came, I used to think that civil engineering is a heavy calculation-based subject and expected to spend most of my time studying in a classroom. However, it turned out to be a different experience. The programme covers both theoretical and practical areas, ranging from classroom-based studies to practical training such as laboratory sessions, industrial training, and site visits. I am grateful that CEE places equal emphasis on both study modes which are essential for us to acquire technical knowledge and practical experience. 

Overall, I believe that studying civil engineering in PolyU CEE has been a life-changing experience. While I initially expected to improve academically, it turns out that I have grown personally as well. It is not only about learning civil engineering concepts, but also meeting new friends, developing engineering sense, and exploring new opportunities.