The 2024/2025 cohort of the MSc HCID course recently began at the end of October. One of our new students, Shamika, has kindly shared some of her experience with choosing to study HCID at City St George's and settling in to a new country and course.

Why did you choose City St George's?

When I decided to apply for a Master's degree in HCID, City St George’s was one of the first universities that came up on my internet search. Despite being established in the 1900s, City continues to keep up with the industry (and the times). As an international student, I found their promise of inclusivity and diversity irresistible. For purely selfish reasons, I reasoned that it meant I would gain diverse perspectives, and I’m pleased to report that it’s true. Throw in the fact that it’s located in London(!) added to its appeal. What better place to study design than in London, a city of overlapping history and advancement! 

Why did you choose HCID?

My experience as a cybersecurity engineer lacked creativity and impact. Pursuing a master’s in HCID seemed like the remedy. City has a strong HCI program that embodies principles and practice. The ‘technology agnostic’ attitude of the course meant that it was accepting of people from different backgrounds (and diverse experiences!). I enquired about the course with alumni as well, and they assured me that there is a strong focus on reasoning out your design decisions. The intentionality of the modules appealed to me. In addition, the Interaction lab sealed my decision to study HCID at City.  

How has it been starting a new degree?

I’ve been working for three years now, and the transition from work to full-time study has been easier than expected. A master's degree is not a phase, it’s a way of life. During my years of work, I set aside time every week to study or learn a new skill. Now, the balance has tipped; I study more and work less but I still find a balance. The experience of being in a classroom again is exciting, and the course is extremely interactive (which I love).  

And moving to a new country?

I’m from India and suffice to say that my first month here was full of culture shocks. Compared to the chaos back home, I found the UK a little too quiet. My first time at the grocery store was overwhelming; I didn’t recognise a single brand. Life as an international student can take some getting used to, but I promise it’s fun if you have an experimental attitude. It has been a joy to discover new places, cook with new ingredients, meet interesting people and attend incredible events. 

What has been your favourite module so far?

Interaction Design is shaping up to be my favourite class. One of my dream passion projects was to design an immersive exhibit for a museum - turns out our coursework is exactly that! I’m glad to be given a lot of room for innovation and play, something that I missed while I was working.  

The Inclusive Design module comes a close second, because it challenges a lot of notions and beliefs I’ve held throughout my life. Part of growth and working as a designer is being okay with being uncomfortable, and inclusive design very kindly pushes me out of my comfort zone.  

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I adore travel and exploration, and the UK has some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. I’m hoping to work my way across the country in search of stories, people, food and experiences. I hope to capture and bring some of those feelings into my work.

As nerdy as this sounds, I’m also looking forward to working on my coursework and sharpening my skills as a researcher. London plays host to tons of design events and conferences which I would love to attend. I look forward to studying hard, playing hard and living a year I can fondly look back on as one of the best in my life.  

Thank you to Shamika for taking the time to answer some of these questions. If you are interested in studying HCID at City St George's, Shamika is happy to answer any questions you might have!

For further information about the programme, you can contact the programme co-directors:

Bélen Parros Bena: belen.barros-pena@city.ac.uk

Tracey Booth: tracey.booth.2@city.ac.uk

or head over to the course page.