{"id":374160,"date":"2026-05-20T02:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=374160"},"modified":"2026-05-20T02:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:38:04","slug":"5-unexpected-features-of-learning-at-imperial-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=374160","title":{"rendered":"5 Unexpected Features of Learning at Imperial"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Authored by Judy, PhD in Civil Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat astonishes me the most about my studies at Imperial is that it encompasses more than solely academics \u2013 it involves the community, the diverse roles you can embrace, the chances to continue learning, and the life you cultivate around the campus.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After finishing my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at Imperial, and now being in my second year of a PhD in Transport, I\u2019ve taken some time to contemplate my journey here. Many elements of studying at Imperial diverged significantly from what I anticipated \u2013 in a very positive manner! Here are five unexpected aspects I discovered about studying at Imperial.<\/p>\n

1. Imperial is more global and welcoming than I expected <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before joining Imperial, I presumed that the student population would primarily comprise UK students, and as an international student, I might feel a bit like an outsider. However, that\u2019s not at all how it has been for me. Imperial boasts an incredibly global community, with students from various cultural and academic backgrounds across the globe.<\/p>\n

The most astonishing aspect was how naturally this diversity integrates into daily life. Being surrounded by individuals with different viewpoints becomes an integral part of your learning journey. It makes Imperial feel not only globally connected but also inclusive and inviting.<\/p>\n

2. PhD life doesn\u2019t signify the end of classroom education <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I once believed that embarking on a PhD journey meant no more classes and solely concentrating on research. I didn\u2019t foresee the numerous opportunities available for structured education.<\/p>\n

If you wish, you can engage in sessions focusing on teaching, research development, presentation skills, and programming. Although I remained within Civil Engineering for my PhD, I specialized further in Transport. This allowed me to take classes alongside Transport Master\u2019s students, enhancing my foundational knowledge. I didn\u2019t expect PhD life to be filled with such abundant learning experiences through coursework and training, which I\u2019ve greatly valued.<\/p>\n

3. You can embrace more roles than merely \u201cstudent\u201d <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was astonished by the range of roles I could undertake alongside my studies. I anticipated that life at Imperial would center around research, deadlines, and academic responsibilities, but in reality, there are countless ways to engage beyond this scope.<\/p>\n

In addition to my PhD, I\u2019ve served as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA), a student content creator, and a student ambassador, with each role presenting a unique perspective on university life at Imperial. Teaching aids my confidence in articulating ideas, while content creation and ambassador work offer chances to engage with broader audiences and contribute to the student community in distinct ways. It made me realize that being an Imperial student isn\u2019t confined to a single identity.<\/p>\n

4. South Kensington is much more than just a campus setting <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I didn\u2019t foresee that being situated at the South Kensington Campus would play such an essential role in my student experience. Initially, I regarded it merely as the place where the university is located, but over time, I recognized that the area enriches daily life at Imperial significantly.<\/p>\n

After classes or meetings, there are plenty of nearby attractions to discover, such as museums, parks, caf\u00e9s, or eateries. It\u2019s easy to take a stroll, socialize with friends, or simply relax after a hectic day. This balance plays a significant role, particularly during busy phases. South Kensington isn\u2019t just my study location \u2013 it\u2019s integral to how I experience student life.<\/p>\n

5. PhD students are more active in societies than I anticipated <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I assumed that societies were mainly for undergraduates and that PhD students would be too preoccupied or distant to engage, but I was surprised to find that this is far from the truth!<\/p>\n

I became a member of the Cheerleading and Chinese Drama Society, and through their events and activities, I encountered other PhD students who were also actively participating in societies. This reshaped my views on postgraduate life. I recognized that even during a PhD, people manage to prioritize hobbies, friendships, and communities beyond their research. This is genuinely invaluable, contributing to a much more rounded student life.<\/p>\n

In reflecting on my time at Imperial, what surprised me the most is that it has never been solely about academics. Certainly, study and research are important, but so are the community, the diverse roles you can assume, the opportunities for perpetual learning, and the life you create around it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Judy, PhD in Civil Engineering \u201cWhat astonishes me the most about my studies at Imperial is that it encompasses more than solely academics \u2013 it involves the community, the diverse roles you can embrace, the chances to continue learning, and the life you cultivate around the campus.\u201d After finishing my undergraduate studies in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":374161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-374160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=374160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374160\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/374161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=374160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=374160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=374160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}