German student Jennifer Iker chose to study overseas to pursue her education in human resources and found a new home in Sheffield studying at Sheffield Hallam University. Here, Jennifer talks about life and study in one of England’s largest cities.

My experience has been above expectations.

I have lived in other places in the UK and Sheffield is definitely my favourite. I felt comfortable in this city right from the start; it is very easy to find your way around it and most places are within walking distance from the University. The University offers a lot of support for foreign students. For example, drop-in study sessions and referencing guides give advice on how to write an essay, making it much easier for you to understand what is expected of you.

My course exceeded my expectations. The tutors are very professional and I find the modules very interesting and enjoy learning about the different aspects of human resource management. I have a genuine interest in HR and the course overall feels very stimulating. I especially enjoyed learning about organisational behaviour – it was a real eye-opener. I have learnt a lot about underpinning theories in the field of HR and I think that this will benefit me in my future working life. There is a lot of work to do, but it is certainly manageable.

This year the University arranged a challenging and interesting work placement for me. I am currently recruiting engineering students for a graduate scheme. As part of this I will screen CVs, conduct telephone interviews and help to prepare and run an assessment centre.

In the UK it is very difficult to pursue a career in HR without a CIPD qualification. I therefore decided to choose this course at Sheffield Hallam University because it also leads to a CIPD qualification, which is also recognised in Germany, my home country.