Shamsa Al-Touqi

When Shamsa was granted a scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman to study Chemical and Process Engineering, she chose to study at the University of Canterbury because of its strong Engineering Department.

Shamsa commenced her education at the University by enrolling in an English language course, followed by the Foundation Studies programme.  Shamsa joined the Physical Science stream of the programme. “The subjects I studied as part of the course prepared me for undergraduate Engineering study.  I was taught how to research and write assignments and to complete other forms of assessment. I was also able to attend some first year Engineering lectures so I knew what to expect in my first year”.

Shamsa has just completed the first year of her Engineering degree and is enjoying her studies. She particularly likes the friendly atmosphere on campus. “The academic staff and the students here are all really friendly. It is a great place to meet people from different countries and cultures. It has been very easy for me to make friends as everybody is so welcoming”.

Shamsa enjoys the New Zealand lifestyle particularly the outdoor activities on offer. “I went skiing during the winter which was an amazing experience”. She believes she is very lucky to have had the opportunity to experience living abroad and is glad that she chose to come to New Zealand. She says, “The thing that stands out for me is the hospitality and generosity of New Zealanders and the respect they have towards other cultures and ethnicities”.