From Pakistan to a career in the UK: In conversation with Danial
We had the privilege of speaking with Danial, a former NCUK international student from Pakistan who is now excelling in his industry in the UK. In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into Danial’s journey with NCUK and how it equipped him with the skills to succeed in his career.
How did you choose to study the NCUK International Foundation Year in Pakistan and why did you decide to progress to the International Year One?
After the completion of my 12th grade / intermediate study or A-levels, I started looking for different university options locally as well as abroad in foreign countries. There I found NCUK via internet search, and looked upon its structure, pathway and basically what the programme is all about. It looked interesting and therefore I explored it a bit more, such that ultimately deciding to pick it up as it aligned with my long term plans for higher studies. My time in IFY foundation year was brilliant, and I think that was the main reason which made me want to stay for another year. Additional to this was to save up some costs and spend a bit of more time closer to home.
You decided to study with NCUK at Riphah International University in Pakistan, what was your experience like during this time and what support did you get?
I decided to study with NCUK delivered by Riphah International University Islamabad campus, and as a whole it was an enriching experience. For the ones who want to secure a UK degree qualification, I think this pathway is very well structured with good amount of support and resources available for anyone who wants to learn and develop themselves before coming to the UK. The support I received from the Riphah University, their teachers, Dean / HODs, mentors, my fellow colleagues and every individual who has been a part of this journey has been thoroughly amazing and I am indebted to all for their efforts. Fair to say whatever I am today, a big part of that comes from Riphah and its fraternity whom I highly respect and regard.
Whilst in Pakistan, you made several university choices with your firm choice being The University of Manchester. What influenced your choice to study there?
Whilst in Pakistan, I made several university choices to study further but the University of Manchester came in as my first and firm choice, mainly because of it being one of the best from the choices we had at the time in terms of its ranking, research, student satisfaction, and surveys from multiple higher education authorities. Also, the vibrant and diverse city of Manchester and its locality made it a more appealing choice for me to study here and live in this brilliant city.
What was your experience like at The University of Manchester?
My experience at The University of Manchester was a really good one for my higher studies. It presented me with multiple opportunities it could offer, abundant resources, study groups, and some good challenges to further enhance one’s learning. In the School of Engineering, our group won the annual Robotic buggy project out of 240+ students, and for which we were presented with the official award at the University conference from the Dean and Head of Department.
I also did one year placement with Network Rail, British Railways as an Assistant Engineer looking after the Lancs. & Cumbrian region for Electrification and Plant discipline. Alongside my studies, throughout my time I participated in a lot of different extra-curricular activities which highly polished my professional communication, interpersonal and networking skills.
You are now working and living in the UK. How would you describe this experience?
I am currently working as an Electrical Electronics Engineer in the UK Rail Engineering Sector, living in Manchester with a lot of travelling up and down the country. Overall, a really good learning experience, feels good to know that whatever work we do impacts positively on the engineering infrastructure assets and ultimately people’s lives and the economy.
Do you have any advice for current NCUK students/students who want to study abroad?
Take all the opportunities that come your way, some may work, and some wouldn’t; but one finds their path within this journey. To all prospective students, work hard and try to develop all attributes of your personality, not just the technical aspects but also communication, presentation, and professional skills – all of these are essential for growth in the professional world. And remember, the journey never stops – keep on learning and keep on developing yourself!
Finally, can you sum up your experience with NCUK?
It’s a great opportunity – all comes down to what you make out of it. It gave me the right support and pathway and presented me with good opportunities which I’ve used to develop myself. Truly a life changing experience, definitely would recommend the NCUK journey to new aspiring students.
Speak to our Ambassadors
Would you like to learn more about what studying abroad is like? Our Student Ambassadors have already completed their NCUK journeys and are now studying at world-ranked Universities abroad. To speak to them directly, click here.