My Masters Journey: Nikita Asnani

#3 What do you enjoy most about your subject?

I enjoyed the student devised assessment for the water security module. We chose our own topic under the theme of water security and used different mediums to express our ideas. I did a mixed media journal with a tribal from of art which originates in Maharashtra, India. The artwork told the story of how women in the rural state of Rajasthan, Northern India are water secure and what global cities can learn from them.

There was also another project I did on designing a refugee camp. We chose a refugee crisis that we felt passionately about and designed the camp in a sustainable manner. We were also encouraged to consider the culture of the people we were designing it for, instead of imposing a Western centric view on it. It was interesting to put those ideas into action and think about what it would be like as an urban planner or designer.

#4 What first got you interested in sustainability?

When I was young, we used to do competitions and events in school that focused on re-using waste products. My family were always encouraging me to be creative, so we’d use ice cream sticks to make photo frames and recycled newspapers to make bags. This is what drew me towards sustainability because it was an important message but delivered in an artistic and playful way. I have to give my family credit for planting the seed!

#5 Why did you decide to stay at the University of Warwick for your Masters?

I’d been planning on getting a job after I graduated and having a couple of years work experience under my belt before going back to studying. But it was my dad who encouraged me to pursue my Masters straight away. It was such a leap of faith to be honest. Some people might ask why I didn’t go somewhere different, but something drew me back to Warwick. After doing the last year and a half online, I'm so glad to be back on campus.

#6 What was a typical day in your life as a Masters student?

It was very different from my undergraduate degree because we used to have a few hours of lectures every day, week after week. But for my Masters, it’s more of a week of intensive 9am-5pm days of modules, and then a few weeks break. You'd still have workshops and guest speakers in the other weeks but it's less intense. With the Masters you have the space to reflect on what you’ve learned and work on your assignments.

No two weeks were ever the same either. Every module leader has a different delivery style and content focus. Some weeks we had guest speakers from around the globe, and other weeks would focus on group discussion and case studies.

It was also a much smaller cohort of around 20 to 25 people compared to 300 to 400 at undergraduate level. Because it was a smaller cohort, it was easier to get to know each other. You see the same 20 people every day for almost a year so you can’t help but be friends.

#7 What was it like being part of a smaller cohort?

It can be a little intimidating at the start because you’re in these small discussion groups. You feel like everyone has opinions and you haven’t quite found your voice yet. But there is a positive pressure to engage and be part of the discussion which is great. It helps you find your authentic voice so you’re not saying something because your friends or family have said it, or you’ve heard it in the media. It gives you a space to adapt and consider other points of view. Listening was also a very important part of that. I learned to give myself the time and space to listen before jumping in.

#8 Were there other international students on the programme?

I think it was around half and half, so half home students, half international, and they were from all over the world. Some studied Economics like me, but others had studied Engineering, Politics, Hotel Management, Journalism and Liberal Arts. We all learned so much from one another, but we were also able to find a lot of common ground.

#9 You’ve been involved in a lot of different student roles at the University of Warwick (Design Thinking Coach, Student Voice Representative, Student Ambassador, Student Engagement Officer, Social Media Secretary to name a few). What’s been your favourite?

Being the Design Thinking Coach was definitely my favourite role. I oversaw small teams creating solutions to employability as part of the Warwick Employability Challenge. I like working in a playful and practical way, and challenging people’s biases and blind spots.

I also enjoyed being an ambassador and chatting to people about what drew me to university. It’s a nice feeling to know that someone finds it helpful, whether they come to Warwick or not.

#10 Would you recommend getting involved with ambassador roles at university for Masters students?

I would recommend doing stuff like ambassador roles, just do something you love. Whether it’s design thinking like me or doing a language module, do something you’re passionate about. And if something doesn’t exist…then create it! I never knew about design thinking until my module leader introduced it to me, and now I want to embrace it in my career. Think of all the young people who will thank you for taking the plunge and creating something that they can be passionate about.

#11 What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying a Masters?

Make sure you’re doing something you love and not just doing a Masters degree for the sake of doing it because it seems like the obvious next step after an undergraduate degree. And don’t be hard on yourself if things don’t go the way you expect. Look after your mental health and emotional wellbeing and you’ll be ok.

You can read more about Nikita's story and her experience as an international student in the UK in our study abroad interview. She was the winner of our Masters Student of the Year category.