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Our third Instagrammer in Residence for the 2019/20 academic year is MEng Chemical Engineering student Cem Yirik, who has some great advice for making the most of your time at UCL.
Our third Instagrammer in Residence for the 2019/20 academic year is MEng Chemical Engineering student Cem Yirik, who documents what it’s like studying in London at UCL through his Instagram feed @cemyirik. Cem has some great advice for making the most of your time at UCL which he shares with us here, along with a run-down of which spots to head to around uni.
1. What made you decide to study at UCL?
I knew that choosing to study at UCL would give me the opportunity to study in the Department of Chemical Engineering – it was founded by Sir William Ramsay, who discovered the noble gases. Also, the central location of UCL was an important factor in my decision.
2. What are your three favourite things about studying at UCL?
• The diversity and inclusiveness here
• Being taught by academics who are at top in their area
• Spending each day with my best friend Diana.
3. What is it like living in London?
There is always something going on here – from art to science, whatever area you are interested in, you’ll be sure to find activities that suit your taste. The public transport network is also very developed, making it easy to explore the many tourist attractions and Instagrammable spots around. It can get a bit crowded, moody and expensive sometimes though!
4. What is your most memorable experience at UCL so far?
During one of my lectures, my best friend Diana and I made the spontaneous decision to book tickets to Oslo.
5. What do you love about photography?
Apart from capturing emotions and moments through my lens, I enjoy trying to find different perspectives from others. I’m also really interested in how much you can play with light in photography, and enjoy experimenting with colours and shadows.
6. Best piece of advice for students who just started studying at UCL?
The time we have at UCL is really precious. Three or four years might sound long, but trust me – it isn’t! Get involved in as much as you can, join societies, meet new people and make your time at UCL fabulous. Also, always take care of yourself!! Studying at UCL isn’t always fun and games – it can get stressful, though if you ever find yourself feeling down never be afraid to talk about it because #uclcares.
7. You have a free day to spend at one place in London. Where do you spend it?
Probably, it would be around King’s Cross, Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard. Another area that I really like is Greenwich. Don’t miss Greenwich Market!