Questions

What do you hope to achieve during your postgraduate study at Birmingham?

I hope to achieve academic excellence and become the best version of myself. I am also dedicated to securing a role in the computer science field in order to stay in the UK and gain valuable work experience in the area. In addition to this, I would like to meet new people, have some fun, and create lasting memories along the way.

What are you looking forward to most on your course?

I am looking forward to becoming the best version of myself while acquiring the necessary skills to enter the technology field. I enjoy being challenged, and I expect this course to demand hard work and focus. In the USA, I dedicated a significant amount of time to volleyball due to my scholarship (sometimes over six hours a day) even though my primary goal was to study. With that experience in mind, I chose this course to shift my focus towards gaining work experience and personal growth, allowing me to develop both professionally and personally.

What have been your first impressions of Birmingham so far?

I am genuinely impressed with Birmingham. To be honest, I didn’t expect to enjoy the city as much as I do. One of the things that amazes me most is the abundance of green spaces on and around campus. In the city I am from, we don’t have nearly as many trees or natural beauty. I find myself going to campus every day, just appreciating the views, the trees, and the surroundings. I’ve even visited Winterbourne House and Garden more than five times in the past three weeks! I’ve also enjoyed exploring the city center and using public transport, which is both safe and efficient.

What was your motivation for postgraduate study?

My program is designed to prepare those who do not hold a computer science degree to enter in the technology field. This perfectly aligns to my goals of working in the field of computer science while holding a sports and exercise science degree. Additionally, the opportunity to graduate from one of the best universities in the world, while gaining valuable international experience in the UK, was an incredible opportunity that I knew I had to pursue.

Tell us about yourself and your journey to postgraduate study.

My name is Gabriel, and I was born in Brazil, but I also hold Portuguese citizenship. I began my university journey in the USA, where I graduated with a 3.95 GPA while working as a Resident Assistant, Academic Tutor, and playing on the Volleyball team, which awarded me a full scholarship for tuition. Having practiced sports from an early age, I always enjoyed being part of a team, leading me to pursue a career in Sports. With this in mind, I studied Sports and Exercise Science with a minor in Exercise Physiology, aiming to become a physical therapist. However, during my last year of university, I discovered that due to healthcare restrictions and bureaucracy, my degree would not be valid in Brazil, the USA, or most of Europe, as each country has its own regulations for physiotherapists.

This realization made me explore different career paths, and I fell in love with computer science. Through computer science, I can enter in the technological world we live in while applying my knowledge of exercise science and physiology to this new field. In fact, many physiotherapists, fitness instructors, and doctors rely heavily on technology to perform their roles.