{"id":374197,"date":"2026-05-20T04:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=374197"},"modified":"2026-05-20T04:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T04:08:05","slug":"5-unexpected-features-of-learning-at-imperial-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=374197","title":{"rendered":"5 Unexpected Features of Learning at Imperial"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Authored by Judy, PhD Civil Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat surprises me the most about my time at Imperial is that it\u2019s not only centered on academics \u2013 it\u2019s also about the people, the various roles you can assume, the chances to continue your education, and the life you cultivate around the campus.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Having earned my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Imperial and currently being in my second year of a PhD focused on Transport, I\u2019ve had a moment to contemplate my journey here. To my astonishment, many facets of studying at Imperial were distinct from what I had anticipated \u2013 all in a positive light! Here are five unexpected discoveries I made while studying at Imperial.<\/p>\n

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

Prior to my time at Imperial, I presumed the student demographic would mainly comprise UK students, and as an international student, I might feel a bit like an outsider. However, that hasn’t been my reality at all. Imperial represents a genuinely international community where you encounter students from all over the world with varied cultural and educational paths.<\/p>\n

The most astonishing aspect was how natural this diversity feels in daily life. You are continuously surrounded by individuals with different viewpoints, which integrates into your educational experience. It makes Imperial feel not only international but also inclusive and friendly.<\/p>\n

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

I used to believe that embarking on a PhD journey meant the cessation of classes and a sole concentration on research. I did not foresee so many opportunities to keep learning in a structured format.<\/p>\n

If you wish, you can engage in sessions focused on teaching, research growth, presentation capabilities, and programming. Although I stuck to Civil Engineering for my PhD, I further specialized in the Transport sector. This allowed me to attend classes with Transport Master\u2019s students and broaden my foundational knowledge in the field. I didn’t expect PhD life to maintain so many opportunities for learning through coursework and training, which I have appreciated immensely.<\/p>\n

3. You can take on more roles than just \u201cstudent\u201d <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another revelation was the range of roles I could undertake in addition to my studies. I anticipated my experience at Imperial to predominantly focus on research, deadlines, and academic tasks, but in truth, there are numerous ways to participate beyond this.<\/p>\n

Alongside 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 viewpoint on university life at Imperial. Teaching aids me in gaining confidence in articulating ideas clearly, while content creation and ambassador roles provide avenues to engage with broader audiences and contribute to the student community differently. It demonstrated to me that being an Imperial student is not confined to one singular identity.<\/p>\n

4. South Kensington is more than merely a campus site <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I didn\u2019t anticipate that being located at the South Kensington Campus would become such a core component of my student journey. At first, I viewed it just as the area where the institution resides, but over time, I recognized that the location significantly enriches everyday life at Imperial.<\/p>\n

After classes or meetings, there are countless spots nearby to discover, whether it be museums, parks, caf\u00e9s, or restaurants. It\u2019s easy to take a stroll, socialize with friends, or simply relax after a long day. That balance is crucial, especially during hectic times. South Kensington is not just where I study \u2013 it\u2019s integral to my experience as a student.<\/p>\n

5. PhD students are more engaged in societies than I had thought <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I believed that societies were primarily for undergraduates and that PhD students would be too occupied or distanced to take part, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn this isn\u2019t true!<\/p>\n

I became a member of the Cheerleading and Chinese Drama Society, and through their events and activities, I connected with other PhD students who were also actively participating in societies. This shifted my perception of postgraduate life. I discovered that even while pursuing a PhD, individuals still prioritize hobbies, friendships, and community involvement outside their research. I find this to be particularly valuable, enhancing the overall student experience.<\/p>\n

Looking back, what struck me most about studying at Imperial is that it has never been just focused on academics. Indeed, study<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Judy, PhD Civil Engineering \u201cWhat surprises me the most about my time at Imperial is that it\u2019s not only centered on academics \u2013 it\u2019s also about the people, the various roles you can assume, the chances to continue your education, and the life you cultivate around the campus.\u201d Having earned my undergraduate degree…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":374198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-374197","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\/374197","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=374197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/374198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=374197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=374197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=374197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}