Katarzyna Zukowska

Things I miss about living in student halls

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Although the transition to university wasn’t plain sailing for me, being a fresher was a very exciting time, and a big part of the reason for it being such a fun experience was living in student halls. I lived in Woodward. Although I can appreciate that there are downsides to student halls, I wouldn’t have changed it for living in a privately rented flat, at least not in my first year. Having gone through three different rented flats, I’ve really come to appreciate the perks of living in student accommodation.

Everything in one place

I think what I miss the most is having so many amenities in one place – a quiet study room just a few flights of stairs below, a lively common room with comfy sofas for when I needed to take a break, and a gym next door.

Culture and art in London on a Student Budget

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

London is the place to be if you’re a fan of culture and arts. Theatre, cinema, art galleries, museums, concerts, stand-up shows – you name it! It’s difficult to keep up with London’s vast cultural schedule, yet many students can’t take advantage of living in the capital of theatre, art, and fashion as the ticket prices are out of their budget. Having lived in London for almost four years, I was painfully aware of how many world-class shows I am missing out on, but where there’s a will there’s a way. I’ve learned some hacks that keep my cultural cravings satisfied and allow me to regularly visit memorable shows and unique exhibitions without sacrificing all my savings.

More Than a Student Job – Being a Makerspace Ambassador

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

As a student ambassador, I can apply for a variety of work opportunities, but one of my personal favourites is working at Makerspace. If you’re not familiar with the place, you can check it out here, but think of it as a creative design space combined with a crafting workshop where you can do anything from woodworking to 3D printing and laser cutting to electronics.

Activities that I support at Makerspace

One of the regular events that take place at the Makerspace is the ‘Maker Challenge’ – a programme for Year 10 to Year 13 students during which they can learn a range of skills and work on a project idea of their choice.

Student Representative – how to apply and why you should do it

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Last year, when I first applied for the position of the Year Wellbeing Representative (‘rep’ for short), I only had a vague idea of what it involves, and there was a lot that I had to learn in the process. Yet here I am, having decided to stand and been elected for the second time as a Wellbeing Rep. If running for the Academic or Wellbeing Student Rep is something that has crossed your mind, read on to learn more about my experience as a rep, what kind of skills you can gain, and what you actually do in this role.

The successes and challenges of my work placement

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Having just finished my placement, I have a lot of thoughts on what met my expectations and where I could do better during that time. As part of my Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree, I had an opportunity to do a six-month internship over the last term of my third year and the summer. Now that I’m going into my fourth and final year of study, I can fully recognise just how much it has shaped my career goals.

Let me give you a bit more context before I dive into the details. I did the placement in software engineering, so not quite in the same field as my area of study.

3 practical tips to maintain a healthy balance at university

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Have you ever felt really overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to do at university? Stressing over completing projects, catching up on lectures, and hours-long exam revision can be very taxing and leave little time for anything non-academic. Believe me, we’ve all been there. Any Imperial student will tell you that balancing studying with taking care of your wellbeing is a tricky matter, especially around intense periods like exam sessions.

I used to think that improving my time management skills will solve my problems, but despite developing practical study skills and working out better organisational techniques, my stress levels didn’t significantly drop.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Finding a Flat to Rent

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

If you’re heading towards the end of your first year at Imperial, you’re probably starting to think about your accommodation for the next year. There are several options such as private student accommodation or working as a hall senior in one of the Imperial student halls, but the majority of students will be looking into the private sector.

The advantage of renting a flat in this way is that it gives you more flexibility, however, it’s also the number one obstacle making the flat search a daunting task. You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of every decision and act fast to secure yourself a good flat.

Feeling Bored? 6 Societies You Might Want to Try Out at Imperial

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

It’s likely that the first words that come to your mind when you think about Imperial students are “academic-driven”, “hard-working” and “conscientious”. No wonder, coursework and exams are certainly not a piece of cake and without regular studying and a good deal of effort none of us would have been able to get through. Still, even the most diligent and keen students will agree that there’s so much more to university than studying. One thing that makes it interesting and a lot more fun is the myriad of societies you can participate in. They are so versatile that anyone is bound to find something for themselves, but don’t take my word for it – read on to find out some of the most unique and exciting societies at Imperial.

Learn more about life at Imperial

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