Kristiana Ivanova

Why I chose Surrey

When I first attended the University of Surrey’s Open Day in 2018, I fell in love with the campus and how friendly students and staff were. The campus is big and offers a lot – a library, various restaurants, study spaces and labs, etc. What I also liked is that the University offers a lot of support in different areas such as helping students find and apply for jobs, academic support, library support services, peer-assisted learning schemes, office hours of the lecturers, and additional support sessions for some of the courses.

Ever since I stepped foot on campus for the first time, Surrey felt like a home to me. With everyone at the university being so friendly and helpful I had no doubt, I’d have an incredible experience by choosing to study here. 

My course

My interest in Computer Science started when I was in high school and began learning how to code. My teacher's passion for the material inspired me and made me want to further my knowledge and explore what the area has to offer. During my undergraduate studies, the importance of cyber security was highlighted and that combined with my previous interest in security made me want to do my master's in the subject. Furthermore, my placement which I did at the cyber security company Sophos gave me some experience with the work done to protect people in cyberspace.

The University was highly ranked for student satisfaction and the BSc Computer Science programme offers a variety of modules to enable students to work in any area of IT. Once I completed my BSc, I knew that I wanted to do my masters in Cyber Security (formerly known as Information Security). Surrey has been recognized for its world-leading innovation in the field of cyber security and was awarded Cyber University of the Year at the National Cyber Awards 2023. This, along with the amazing experience I had during my bachelors degree, made the decision to stay at the University and do my masters here easy.

The academic staff is extremely helpful, always ready to answer any questions we have and explain a concept again in detail if we are having trouble understanding it. Additionally, we are offered extra sessions for some of the modules to help with understanding the material and we are also encouraged to make use of the office hours of the lecturers to have a one-to-one help with anything unclear.

My life here

During my undergraduate studies I was part of the CompSoc. 

I was lucky to have received offers to live in University accommodation throughout my bachelors and masters degrees. In my first year, I lived at Manor Park which was a quick 15-20-minute walk to Stag Hill and a 5-10-minute walk to Tesco. There were regular buses between Manor Park, Stag Hill, and the town centre which I tended to use. During my second and third year of undergraduate studies and during my masters, I was living on Stag Hill campus which is very convenient as I am very close to all of my lectures and labs as well as the library. Additionally, the town centre and train station are also a short walk away.

The best thing about living in University accommodation is that you meet students from different courses and that allows you to make friends outside of just your programme. We learn to consider personal time for rest and self-preparation. We often celebrate holidays, birthdays and go out for meals or drinks together. 

Help with my career 

During my second year of undergraduate studies, I received help with editing my CV and cover letter from the employability and careers team. Furthermore, in the dedicated placement module, the university organized for companies that offered placement positions to give presentations, introduce themselves and let us ask questions.

My years at Surrey have given me a lot of knowledge and experience in each of the modules I studied. My first encounter with employers was during the interviews for my placement year. That's when I realized that the hard work during my studies had paid off. I am very proud to have been offered a placement year in Sophos - a cyber security company. There in real conditions, I applied everything I learned in the various modules of undergraduate study at the University of Surrey.

I found that my time in Surrey greatly improved my employability after graduation. My bachelors degree in Computer Science has provided me with valuable knowledge and experience in many different areas of the IT sector. Many of these technologies are what employers are looking for.

My masters degree will give me the confidence and expertise in cyber security. Additionally, the knowledge and practical skills I am gaining will one day help me when applying for a job in the field of cyber security.

My Surrey experience 

So far I have had many unforgettable moments at Surrey! A couple that I would like to highlight are:

When I applied for a placement year and thanks to everything I learned during my years at the University of Surrey, I performed brilliantly at the interview and got an offer from Sophos!

Another proud moment at Surrey was when I got offered to present during the University’s open days, my final year project on developing a Diagnostic tool for Chiari-like Malformation pain and Syringomyelia, under the guidance of Dr Mariam Cirovic and Prof. Claire Rusbridge from the Veterinary School. This was very exciting and I was proud that my thesis had attracted interest!

My advice for students thinking of postgraduate study 

Is to not hesitate and go ahead boldly. Under the guidance of distinguished lecturers at the University of Surrey, you will get your next degree (whether it is undergraduate or postgraduate). At the university, you will find knowledge, support, and help from lecturers and students.

Looking ahead 

Apart from gaining a lot of knowledge related to computer science and cyber security, I have also grown a lot as a person since my first year. I became more outgoing and more confident in expressing my opinions thanks to the opportunities to meet people from all around the world, the group projects we worked on, and the year in industry I spent during my placement year.

I am still thinking about what comes next after my postgraduate course in Cyber Security. I have several wonderful opportunities - to work as a Software Engineer or Information Security Specialist. Both are exciting and I still haven't decided which one I'll choose, but I know that thanks to the training and knowledge gained at the University of Surrey, I'll do brilliantly!

Being an undergraduate and postgraduate student is the best decision I have ever made for my studies.

Everything has been so exciting that if I were to go back a few years and have to choose again, I would choose Surrey as my university again!

Find out more about our Cyber Security MSc.