Hi, my name is Shilpi Bose, I'm from India and I'm doing a Master of Public Health at The University of Queensland. I'm also a UQ International Student Ambassador.
Why did you choose to study in Australia and specifically at UQ?
UQ was a natural choice because of its high reputation. On researching the program more, I found that it also addressed my long-time desire to work with people's knowledge of health on a wider scale.
What are your thoughts on studying in Australia and Brisbane?
I have definitely felt at home since I landed in Australia. People are warm and accepting. There are many parks, bush walks and outdoor barbecues here, which make outside gatherings immensely enjoyable. I have a very comfortable lifestyle here, not just with my family, but also as a student.
In Brisbane, my favourite place is the Nepalese temple at South Bank because of its calm and peaceful ambience. My next favourite is the Queen Street Mall because of its liveliness. Also, I love taking walks in the UQ St Lucia campus.
Why did you choose to study the Master of Public Health?
I come from a background of Indian traditional medicine. Over the years, I have found that people have many misconceptions about health. I always wondered how we can work on these misconceptions on a population level.
When I started considering higher studies, I took the advice of a mentor who had studied the program and talked highly about it. I realised that that this program would allow me to pursue my goal of working with people and their knowledge of health to drive change and make a difference.
What are the best things about your program at UQ?
The best thing is the focused training provided which is applicable to the real world. The lectures and assessments are relevant to real, professional scenarios. The unique quality of my program is the coverage of various aspects of public health, including health promotion, nutrition, addiction and global health.
Ultimately, I want to work as a health promoter. The lecturers at UQ made this path clearer to me. UQ Careers Services also helped me with advice on how to go about looking for jobs and networking.
What advice would you give people from other countries about studying at UQ?
If you come with an open mind and an inquisitive attitude, studying at UQ will be very enjoyable.
