Adventures at the University of Leeds

Hello! I’m Dana, and I’m currently studying Mechanical Engineering at UTS. During the winter break, I embarked on a journey to England to study at the University of Leeds as part of the Leeds International Summer School (LISS).

I have loved studying engineering at UTS, so I was excited to discover that I could take the engineering subject Fluid Dynamics in Theory and Practice at LISS. It aligned perfectly with my interests and promised to be an extraordinary learning experience. My class was small, but it consisted of many bright minds from various corners of the world. We came from many disciplines of engineering – mechanical, chemical, production, and even hydropower engineering, which made our discussions and collaborations incredibly enriching.

For my two weeks at LISS, my weekdays were filled with classes where we delved into the fascinating world of fluid behaviour and its practical applications. It wasn’t your typical classroom experience, though. We held some classes outside and in labs, conducting experiments and simulations to explore fluid dynamics in an interactive way. I particularly enjoyed an experiment where we investigated how we could produce laminar flow using water-filled balloons. Who would’ve thought we’d be playing with water balloons at university!

The social assistants (students for the University of Leeds that looked after us) were very welcoming and helpful, and organised many social events for us exchange students. This included a photo scavenger hunt around the city of Leeds, which helped me become acquainted with the city I was to live in for the next two weeks. Running around trying to find the landmarks of Leeds was an excellent icebreaker, and I was lucky enough to make great friends with other LISS students during this event.

The program allowed for many opportunities to travel, both with the university and on my own. One of my favourites was a trip to Harewood House – an extraordinary country house and garden, which we had the pleasure of exploring on our own. It was almost as if I’d stepped onto the Bridgerton set. Another highlight was my journey to the historic town of Whitby, famous for its connections to Dracula. There, I was greeted by the captivating ruins of Whitby Abbey and the massive seagulls that circled overhead, wanting to steal your food. Both were very memorable days!

Other activities included a visit to Bolton Abbey, where I took a short hike to the Bolton Abbey Waterfall with a few friends. Later in the day we headed to Ilkley’s Cow and Calf Rocks for picturesque views of the town.

Overall, my short global exchange experience was an adventure filled with fun, excitement, and plenty of discovery. I highly recommend anyone considering undertaking a global exchange to take the leap, because you’ll have a wonderful and unforgettable experience!

Dana Apoderado
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Fluid Dynamics in Theory and Practice at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship Recipient