It was in high school that I realised I wanted to study and experience life beyond the city I was born in. I was fascinated by the idea of studying with people who were from different parts of the world. Little did I know that eventually, these people would become my family — my home away from home. In 2013, I joined Manipal University’s ICAS (International Center for Applied Science) programme and studied computer science engineering. Through this, I got the opportunity to transfer to the prestigious Australian National University (ANU).
Curiosity
When I started at Manipal, I took a keen interest in programming and was curious to know about its different aspects. Within no time I grew to be so passionate about programming that I wanted to explore diverse outlooks in computer science while building on the foundations I picked up in Manipal.
My decision to study at ANU was based on a number of factors: firstly it is one of the highest ranked universities, globally, and enjoys a diverse culture with students from all around the world. Moreover, they provide a flexible pathway for transfer of credits from Manipal University. The excitement of living in the picturesque city of Canberra just made it all the more thrilling.
From day one, I knew I had to make the most out of my time here. The Computer Science Students Association organised weekly game nights and occasional barbecues. I lived on campus and I must say, the experience helped me understand Australia and its people better. The large areas of greenery and wide open public spaces on campus lent an old world charm to the university.
We were always encouraged to take up extra-curricular activities. Thanks to the TechLauncher — a programme by ANU that provided opportunities for students to work on industry-sponsored projects — I got my initial experience in enterprise software development. This later helped me secure full-time employment even before I graduated.
Despite being enrolled in a coursework degree, I got to do some research as well. As part of the Logic Summer School in 2015, I got to participate in a programme involving experts from the U.K., France, Germany, and Australia. I picked the topic of my choice (computational logic) and got to do research with one of the experts. I’ve also been a semester-long student researcher. Earlier this year, I built software for second-year students to use in their classes.
I’ve been a student ambassador for my college for the last year and a half. I’ve got the opportunity to visit local schools and expos in Canberra to represent ANU. I’ve also represented ANU at Manipal University’s India and Dubai campuses.
The knowledge gained during my course has helped me seize every opportunity that comes my way. Looking back, I feel lucky to have gained some great exposure and knowledge from ICAS’ international transfer programme.
One piece of advice I would like to give students who are interested in taking up studies in a foreign country is: don’t be afraid of taking risks. There will be plenty of opportunities that come your way — seek them out and don’t be deterred when things don’t go your way. Additionally, in case money is a constraint, opt for international transfer programmes which give you access to internationally affiliated universities.
Shreyas Nagarajappa completed his bachelor’s degree at ANU this year and is currently a student ambassador for the institute.
