Saanvi Kanodia

Tell us a bit about you  

Hi, I’m Saanvi. I’m originally from New Delhi, and before coming to UCL, I’d spent my whole life there, so moving to London was a completely new experience for me.  

I’m in my second year studying Computer Science MEng with a minor in Modern Applications of Engineering Mathematics. I’m also heading to Georgia Tech this August for study abroad, so London clearly wasn’t far enough for me.  

Outside uni, I love true crime and travelling, especially wildlife trips or anything with an adrenaline kick. 

Why did you choose to study Computer Science at UCL?  

Honestly, choosing UCL came down to two things: the city and the institution itself. 

Growing up in New Delhi, I knew I wanted another big, fast-paced, diverse city, so London felt like a natural fit. It matched the kind of environment I’d always thrived in and also offered incredible access to industry, especially in tech.  

UCL stood out because it combines serious research with real-world projects. I didn’t just want to study Computer Science in a classroom. I wanted to be somewhere ambitious, forward-looking, and genuinely pushing things forward, and UCL felt exactly like that. 

What has been your favourite part of the course so far?  

My favourite part of the course has been that it feels much bigger than just the modules. I’ve really enjoyed the balance between theory and practical learning, especially in Systems Engineering, Algorithms, Financial Mathematics, and Logic. 

Beyond academics, I’ve also valued the opportunities that have come through the department. Being a UCL Computer Science Student Ambassador has been especially rewarding, as it has let me do outreach and interact with hundreds of school students. 

I’ve also enjoyed being a Transition Mentor, helping incoming students settle into university life. The course has given me room to grow in more directions than I expected. 

Can you explain what the IXN is for those who may not know? 

The IXN is UCL Computer Science’s way of making industry collaboration a core part of the degree rather than an optional extra.  

Instead of a generic group project, students work on a real brief with an external industry partner. For me, that is what makes it so valuable.   

It is where the course shifts from learning concepts in lectures to actually building something with real expectations, constraints, and users in mind.  

Through the Systems Engineering modules, it gives students a more honest picture of software development- not just coding, but also teamwork, stakeholder communication, managing scope, and turning ideas into something practical.  

What did you do for your IXN project? 

For my IXN project, I led a team of five in building a multi-agent orchestration platform for Alvarez & Marsal, in partnership with Microsoft.  

The idea was to have multiple specialised agents working together, each handling a different part of a financial operations workflow that currently takes teams hours to get through manually.  

One agent handles invoice processing, another manages dispute resolution, another handles collections, and so on, with a central orchestrator coordinating everything.   

It’s the kind of project I’d have expected to encounter a few years into a job, not in the second year of university. 

What were the main skills you developed through IXN? 

IXN pushed me to develop skills I would not have built through theory modules alone. Working across multiple stakeholders taught me how to translate competing priorities into something clear and actionable, which is harder than it sounds.  

Leading the team taught me that leadership is not about delegating tasks, but about understanding where each person adds the most value and creating the conditions for them to do their best work.  

Honestly, the biggest thing I am taking away is becoming comfortable with ambiguity. Real projects rarely go to plan, and learning to make good decisions anyway is an invaluable skill. 

What was the biggest challenge you faced with IXN and how did you overcome it?  

The biggest challenge was leading a team of peers. There’s no formal authority, so you must earn alignment rather than just assign it. Everyone had different working styles, so early on, there was some friction in how we made decisions and moved forward. 

What helped was putting more structure in place, with clear responsibilities, timelines, and a shared idea of success. I also learned not to lead everyone in the same way.  

On the technical side, multi-agent systems were quite ambiguous, so I broke the problem into smaller parts and kept checking decisions with stakeholders as we went. 

How was it moving from India to the UK?  

Moving from India to the UK was a big change, but also an exciting one. Growing up in a capital city meant I was already used to being around people from very different backgrounds, which made me open to stepping into a new environment.  

The biggest personal shift was going from a joint family household to living independently in London. That took some adjustment, but it also pushed me to grow and create my own sense of home here, or my own chosen family.  

I’d be lying if I said I’m fully used to the rainy weather yet, though. 

What advice do you have for future students worried about building community? 

Community usually is not built at the Freshers’ Fair or big social events. It is built in the mundane moments, like the library at 2 am, the microwave queue, or the person you complain to about a deadline.  

My biggest advice is to lean into those small interactions and be a little more outgoing than feels natural, especially in the first term, when everyone is most open. Join societies that interest you, stay behind after class, and sit in shared spaces.   

Small follow-ups build trust quickly. And don’t overlook your degree cohort; they are often your easiest source of community. 

What’s the most important connection you’ve made since joining UCL?  

This is a tough one, but I’d say a girl I met in Ramsay Hall on move-in day, and fittingly, I’m writing this answer with her.  

She studies Physics, so one evening when I heard that the Northern Lights might be visible from Primrose Hill, I texted her. We didn’t see the lights, but I found a very meaningful friendship. I love our friendship because of how effortless it feels.  

We are always up for a side quest, our wavelengths just match, and I never have to ask her to be there. It just feels like home away from home. 

What does your perfect day around campus look like?   

My perfect day around campus is a mix of productivity and little rituals. On a sunny day, UCL feels vibrant when Gordon Square is full, and you can sit outside and get some vitamin D.  

I’d start with lectures, because even the busiest days feel lighter when you’re doing them with friends. Then lunch at George Farha, followed by a pistachio matcha from Lever & Bloom.  

After that, I’d have a lock-in session at Henry Morley and then go to the CS common room to chill with coursemates. If I still had time, I’d finish the day by wandering around Waterstones. 

What are three things you’d like to do before graduating? 

The first is travel and actually committing to it. I just finalised a beach trip with friends, so that’s a start. But I want the European experience too - seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, hiking in Iceland, and slow days in Portugal.  

The second is exploring every London borough. I don’t want to graduate after four years here, having only known Zone 1.  

The third is graduating with an understanding of different learning environments. Georgia Tech is a big part of that, and I want to return with a broader perspective on how different cultures approach ambition and technology. 

The information on this page is the view of the student and reflects their experience at the time of publication (March 2026)