Top tips to survive architecture school

Now that I am in the final semester of 5th year Architecture, I feel qualified to impart some personal experiences for my fellow architecture geeks. Here are top 5 tips to ace architecture school with some Ted Mosby quotes.

1. Get in the groove
Find your motivation. 'Assetize' your talents. Make your incredible hand drawings or your outstanding model making skills your unique selling point to market your ideas effectively to your audience. If you are passionate about photography, use it as a design and representation tool. Always experiment and learn new things.

Conducive work environment. Listening to indie music or working in dim background noise helps me concentrate. The studio is a huge resource of knowledge and inspiration - you learn from peers and tutors. 'You go faster alone, you go further with a team.'



2. Keep time
Every project begins with site study and research. Very often students get too indulged in theoretical research for weeks till design time is greatly compressed and rushed. Set aims, budget and timetable so your project can be delivered by a deadline.

A common mistake is to do everything that comes to your mind or suggested by others. Architecture is an art of curation. An impactful portfolio is precise, cohesive and speaks for itself. A focused 20-page work is more effective than a wishy-washy 50-page work.

3. Use university resources
Get the most of your buck to enhance your student experience. Use the technology workshop, studio space, careers and academic advisers, music room, library and gym.

Quoted from AJ,  your tutors are an invaluable source of wisdom and ideas - use them lots. Ideas don't knock on your door, be active in seeking opinions and critique. Do whatever it takes to make your ideas work. Initiative is a key trait employers look for in a candidate.

4. Build network
Strengthen a strong relationship with your peers and tutors who may be your future business partners or clients. Expand your social circle to non-architects, your connections may lead to work recommendation. An online networking site such as LinkedIn is great to connect with potential employers and latest industry news.



5. Most importantly, be Healthy!
The practice of architecture studies can strain the physical and emotional health - staring at the computer for too long; sniffing glue when making models; chasing the deadline with loads of energy drinks and sleepless nights.

A healthy mind and body generates productive work. Exercise, eat balanced meals, substitute coffee and alcohol with tea, and practice good working habits. Seek emotional support from the university wellbeing services if you are feeling depressed.




Despite how insane architecture drives you, it will be the best journey you will ever take! Rock on!

How to study and work part-time

Hello peeps! I am sure many of you are wondering about working while studying at university. You must have witnessed the on-campus job fair at the JHB building in Week 2.

I have been working part time since my undergraduate studies, in multiple positions, employed by the university. Here are some tips for you to consider a part time job.

Why work ?
The main reason I work is to have a better time management between studies, extra curricular activities and personal life. To concentrate all my time in studies alone is one-dimensional and monotonous. Through work, I find time to relax and unwind from the pressure of studies, and sometimes I get inspiration from the outside world.

The extra income helps cover my food and travel expenditure. And some occasional treat for myself :) This is especially useful to architecture students who need to spend on expensive field trips. This self-earned pocket money helps to relief the financial burden of your parents/guardians/student loan.

You will be more independent, responsible and disciplined in terms of time and money management. You will be more aware of the hard work of earning money and spending wisely. You build transferable (EQ) skills by turning up at work on time and practicing good work ethics with your colleagues.

Special employee privileges - free food, travel and discounts.

Where to work ? 
1.  Oxford Brookes University
Some of the positions offered at the university are : student ambassador, open days student helper, store assistant (Colonnade and Starbucks), academic support worker, research assistant, OBIS assistant, etc. There are weekly careers events in the university. You could find work on the Brookes website and Careers centre in the JHB building. You could also consult your academic advisors.

2. Retail, food and beverage outlets in nearby towns such as Headington, Cowley and city centre. Bicester Village also offers sales assistant jobs.

3. Free lance jobs related to your course : architectural assistant, hospital attachment, lecturer assistant.

Yes, work but ...
strike a balance between your studies and job. Do not get too indulged in earning money till you neglect your studies and health. If you are struggling to cope with studies and job, explain to your manager that you need to trim your working time. University education is the door to your ambition, a part time job helps to ease the financial route.

And save ! This is the time to build your short-term and long-term financial plan. Be responsible in your expenditure and savings, do not rely entirely on your parents and always plan for the rainy days.

University is the transition time from a teenager to an adult. Time to grow up to be an independent and wise person. Yup, bitter, tough and challenging but exciting!

* International students are restricted to 20 hours maximum per week, and a national insurance number is a must!

Good luck in finding a part-time work and enjoy it!

Part 2 - Arriving in the UK


Arriving and moving around a foreign country can be a daunting experience. I was fortunate to have seniors who helped me in my first week. Here are some tips to help ease your arrival in the UK.

1. Arriving at the airport

Most international students will arrive at Heathrow Airport. Upon arrival, people who hold non-EU passports will present a completed landing card (usually handed out in the plane) and passport with the temporary visa at the border control. Fill in this card on the plane to save time later.
Plan your travel wisely to allow at least half an hour wait at the international border control line. During busy times, the wait in the line will take at least an hour.

You can apply to join the Registered Traveller Service if you are a passport holder from:
Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan or the USA. With this privilege, you can use the ePassport gate and the UK/EU entry lanes, and no landing card is needed. For more information, refer here.

The border control queue 

2. Getting from the airport to Oxford

Heathrow airport : Sign up for the meet and greet service so you can be guided by the student helpers at the airport. Get the blue Airline bus from the Central Bus Station bus stand 15 or Terminal 5 bus stand 10. A single ticket costs £23 (only cash payment on board). 

Gatwick airport : Get the Airline bus from stands 1/2 (South Terminal) or stands 4/5 (North Terminal). 

Stansted airport : Get national express bus no. 737. 

An alternative mode of transport is train. 
Student helpers for the meet and greet at the Heathrow airport

3. Arriving in Oxford 

If you are arriving in Oxford during Arrivals Weekend (17-18 September), disembark the Airline bus at the Thornhill Park and Ride stop. There, you can take the free U6 bus to your hall of residence. 

Most hall contracts start on 17th September. You could move in up to a week earlier (starting 11th September) if you submit a request to the accommodation department. If you are arriving at the hall of residence by car, remember to book your parking slot.

4. Moving in to your room

After getting your key from the accommodation office, you should check the room for any problems and report to the office immediately. 

Food and living supplies can be bought from the shops in Cowley, Headington or city centre. With your inclusive BrookesKey (pink bus card), you have unlimited travel on the U1, U1X, U4, U5 and U5X buses. Alternatively, you could get affordable used bicycles on Gumtree or new bicycles from the shops. There is also a free bike doctor service. 
U1 bus serves between Harcourt Hill campus and Wheatley Campus

5. Freshers/Induction Week 

The most important thing to do when you first reach the university is to go to the Student Central to get your biometric card and finalize your student forms. You will then attend your induction/enrolment session.

Freshers Fair will take place on 23rd September. This is a great opportunity for you to sign up for societies, meet people and get unlimited freebies. Freshers Week is packed with exciting activities which will help you feel more welcomed.

If you are around in Oxford on 10-11 September, check out the Oxford Open Doors event. You can visit some of the Oxford University colleges for free.

Freshers Week - Great time to meet new friends and bond with your housemates

The differences in culture and lifestyle can be a source of distress to international students. For example, some students may feel slightly uncomfortable and unfamiliar to drinking (alcohol). With time, you will adapt and get used to your new life.   

Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity for you to step outside your comfort zone and expose yourself to exciting possibilities and challenges. It is good to keep an open mind, at the same, always be vigilant and responsible for your decisions.

See you in September ! For more information, refer here.

Studying & settling in the UK as an international student - Part 1

Oxford Brookes University (Image source: apsu)


A month to go before students from all around the globe start to flood the universities. I had my own harrowing experience back in September 2011 when I reached England all by myself, looking like a shepherd herding my 3 huge bags. So, I would like to share my own experiences in studying and settling in the UK. This is Part 1- Preparing to go to the UK.

(a) Course
For Architecture, you have to do some reading recommended by the university. These materials may be used later in the theoretical modules. It helps to have some knowledge about the architecture in UK as a huge part of your studies will be based on the English/European architecture.

Bring drawing and model making tools (technical pens, blades, drafting paper, sketchbooks, etc.) as these materials are costly here. Unless you have enough baggage allowance, you can buy heavier items such as portfolio cases, cutting boards and papers in the shops here. Broad Canvas and The Works offer great discounts.


(b) Accommodation
For first years, I recommend living in the halls. You build up social skills, independence, responsibility and respect. The price may be higher compared to living in a shared house, but the experience is priceless. For second year onward, I suggest renting a house with a group of friends.
Clive Booth Hall with shared kitchen

(c) Living materials
If you are from an Asian family like me, expect your luggage to be loaded with lots of herbs, spices and goodies. It may seem like a hassle at first because these foods weigh a lot, but you will be eternally grateful to yourself and your parents for your/their wisdom. Nothing can comfort you better on a gloomy winter than a bowl of tomyum syiokness. Or when you are sick of pasta and broccoli, a packet of Penang White Curry Mee will lift your spirits! Craving is a serious epidemic among international students here not to be taken lightly! Thanks to a picture of nasi lemak posted by someone in Malaysia on Facebook, the C syndrome starts and lasts for what feels like an eternity till it is satisfied. When you run out of home food, just pop into the Asian shops in town. My rule of thumb is bring foods that you will crave for in the next 5 months.

Thong Heng Asian mart in Headington

Winter clothes/duvet are expensive in tropical countries. Bring a few pairs of long sleeves to layer up (it's a little chilly in September when you arrive) because you can get cheaper ones that are more suited to the English weather from the shops here such as Primark.

A small rice cooker helps a great deal when you are too busy to cook luxuriously. You can get other kitchen utensils for a cheap price at Argos, Robert Dyas and Poundland.

(d) Finance
Bring some GBP to last you for a month or so. Setting up a bank account in the UK may take some time, meanwhile you need hard cash to buy food and pay rent/transport. Keep your local currency too.

(e) Mental
If you had lived in a western country or studied in an international school, the transition is almost seamless. But for me, it was a gigantic leap from what I was accustomed to, to what was alien to me -extreme courtesy, invisibility of the sun throughout the day, eccentric vocabulary & lightning speed walking.

Homesickness can be overcome by letting your emotions out alone or to a friend. It will wear off in a jiffy when you are occupied by studies and good friends. If you had lived in another city away from family, then you should be mentally strong to live thousands of miles away from home.

I wish you all a great time getting ready to come to the UK! You are privileged to study in a beautiful, amazing country, be excited!

Stay tune for Part 2 - Arriving in the UK!

How to survive backpacking

Hey peeps!
I just got back from an amazing week in sunny Portugal and thought I'd share with you some tips on travelling smart on a budget. Summer is the perfect time to rejuvenate yourselves with some sightseeing and adventure. Europe is a popular destination for international students studying in the UK.

 1. Budget airlines
I book my flights at least one month in advance with Ryan Air, Easy Jet or other low-cost European airlines through third party websites such as : Expedia, Omega flights and Skyscanner. They offer amazing deals on top of the original airlines promotions. I also monitor the months that offer cheap flights, and plan my travel around that time. For longer flights back home to Malaysia, I book it at least 6 months in advance, usually with Etihad, Qatar or Emirates. 
*Remember to browse the websites with incognito mode to avoid Google Chrome from saving a record of what you visit and download. 

2. Accommodation
As a backpacker, the rubric for accommodation are :
Location, Price, Cleanliness, Facilities and Reviews.
I use these websites : booking.com, airbnb.com, hostelworld.com, and hostelbookers.com. Some websites allow you to pay a small deposit online and you can pay the remaining fees at the hostel, usually in euros. Airbnb is a great experience because the hosts often offer insider's tips about the destination which are overlooked by typical tourists. The hosts can even cook local meals and be your tour guide.

3. Money changer
In Oxford, I always go to Senli Cash and Go because they offer the best rates. For currencies that are hard to obtain from the counter such as Brazilian reals, I recommend ordering the currency online weeks in advance. I always change slightly more than my budget to save the trouble of changing more later during my trip. Moreover, the exchange rate in other European countries may not be as good as in UK. Sometimes, I convert my currency at the airport of the country I am visiting, such as Egypt - great rates too. You can keep the extra Euros for future travels, don't convert it back to British Pounds.

4. Packing 
Top 3 things to bring :
Passport+Visa (UK Biometric card for international students)
Money+Bank Card+Student card
Phone+Charger

Remember also - a print out of your boarding pass if required, international adaptor (two round pins for most European countries), download Google Maps on your phone or better, stick to the manual map. Travel light and easy to ease your walking and minimize the risk of losing items. I also bring along my pillow case and towel for hygiene reasons. Don't miss out on extra camera SD cards.

5. The Departure Point
There are 4 main airports in London which I often take my flights from - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. From Oxford, you can take the train, National Express bus, Megabus or the Airline bus to the airports. Be at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Often, people miss their flights because of the slow service at the check-in counters and ridiculously long queues at the baggage screening area.

On your return trip, if you have a non-EU passport, prepare to spend some time with your crossword puzzle in the immigration line - I was stuck for one hour in the line at Stansted.

6. Enjoy the journey
Now, time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your hard work spent in the preparation of your travel. Be alert and street-smart, keep an open mind and indulge yourselves in the adventure! Screw that diet and eat all the gelato and Portuguese tarts you want. You could get student or under-25-years-old discounts for transportation and museums in some countries. Some museums are free on weekends. If you are staying in one place for a long time (eg : for an internship), get the local SIM card. Visit the local supermarkets or farmers market to get cheap fresh fruits and delicacies.

Walk off the beaten path and discover new possibilities. Backpacking is the perfect guru that helps mold your confidence, wisdom, and strong personality. Solo travelling allows you to be at peace with yourself, meet new people, build connections and make you an independent person.

Have an awesome adventure!
Me in Sintra

School of Architecture End of Year Show


The end of year oxford school of architecture show is back with an impressive array of quality work. After the final portfolio submission, students had 2 weeks to build the exhibition with an allocated budget from the school or external sponsors. This was a great opportunity to apply our practical design and build skills to display our work professionally. Although the exhibition itself is more toned down compared to the exhibition in my 3rd year (2014), the quality of work displayed this year is amazing. I am particularly attracted to the intricate and sketchy hand drawings, painted drawings, abstract collages and physical models on display. In this era, the computer is merely a tool, the hand remains the god. Every materialization of ideas start with the pencil/pen. Participatory architecture is also gaining importance. This exhibition showcases the synthesis of art, environment, science, maths and research to form a holistic architecture.

Here are my favourite picks from the exhibition:









Where ?
Abercrombie Building
Undergrad Architecture : Ground floor
Undergrad Interior Architecture : 4th floor
Postgrad Architecture : 3rd floor

When?
9am - 5pm
28/5 - 8/6

Visit the university on the open day (4th June) to check out exhibition and gain first-hand information from the architecture students on duty.

For art/design/architecture enthusiasts, get inspired by the London architecture festival, the Venice Biennale and other schools of architecture exhibition.
[http://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/]
[http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/index.html]

Oh summer you so fine!

Happy Summer People!

May is here with the sassy smiling sun and cool breeze. Time to ditch the dull coats and brighten up your wardrobe! This is the final week of the semester where students are busy with project submissions and exams. Students bid goodbye to their last lecture (of their life, possibly) and strive through the storm of exams.

I submitted my final work on Wednesday and have been chilling around, or better say, treating myself like a king.

Today, I missed the bus departing from Harcourt Hill Campus by 2 minutes! Instead of waiting for the next bus, I explored the hilltop neighborhood. It was a mesmerizing surprise! Harcourt Hill is so beautiful with the natural hilly landscape and lovely cottages that appear just like in the Enid Blyton's books I grew up reading. It felt so surreal as if I had stepped into a magical portal oblivious of time. My phone has got attitude especially in crucial times, and this was one of it. It died on me just when I was about to capture a picture-perfect scenery. What a bummer! As much as I like to take photos with a camera, I also indulge in keeping memorabilia of my journey. I collected many beautiful, bizarre-looking leaves and flowers, to be used as bookmarks. I love to see the transition of seasons through the changes in coloration of the leaves. It's a record of the experiences that I had while the seasons transition - the people I have met, the lessons I have learnt and the ups and downs in my life for a year.


Harcourt Hill Campus


Leaves collected during the walk

And finally, time to pick up new novels and movies. The Oxford Brookes University library has a vast collection of fiction novels that I look forward to dive in over the summer break. I have lived in Oxford for more than 3 years now, and it has never failed to surprise me with its natural beauty and contemporary culture in a historical setting. There are many more natural landscapes and hidden alleys to explore. When it gets too quiet here, London is just an hour away for an adrenaline boost. For now, I would like to escape the city and be with nature. And if my phone fails me again, I always have a good novel, a sketchbook and a photographic memory.

South Park
3 novels in a week feat!
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