Making the most of online study in Mumbai
International student Anirudh Vathul Tiruvallur Thattai is studying for a double degree from his home in Mumbai, India. In this myView Blog post, he shares his experience of learning remotely and tips for making the most of online study.
Kia ora everyone! I’m Anirudh Vathul Tiruvallur Thattai from Mumbai, India. I’m studying for a double-major in Geology and Geography through the Wellington Faculty of Science. I started studying at the University in February 2021. Although I’ve only had a few months of university experience, I’m loving it so far. In this blog I’m going to explain what uni life looks like for me.
Why I chose Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
I chose to pursue higher education in Wellington because of the magnificent nature and multicultural lifestyle, the broad curriculum, and the research possibilities in the field of Earth Sciences and Geography. I’m hoping to be able to come to Wellington after the COVID-19 restrictions ease and see it for myself!
Teaching and learning as a Te Herenga Waka student in India
The pandemic has meant that all my courses are being taught online. I hope I’ll be able to join my fellow students in person soon, but in the meantime my online classes have been extremely informative and fun. The professors have been helpful, and they’ve been generous in giving us extra time to complete the coursework and assignments because of the time difference between India and Aotearoa.
The University staff make me feel comfortable and have helped me with the curriculum. I’ve never felt like I was alone. Despite the time difference between Wellington and Mumbai, whenever I need to clarify anything, I can email them. I always get feedback within a few hours, which makes my study journey comfortable and stress-free!
How I manage the distance between me and my campus
Despite the huge help from tutors and lecturers, the time zone difference had a huge impact on my daily life. In the first few weeks, I had some difficulty adjusting to the sudden change, but as time passed, I adapted to the time difference easily.
I make sure that every day I spent 3-4 hours on self-study, making personal notes, and completing assignments. The rest of my free time is focused on helping my parents with household chores and sometimes going out for walks. I make sure to follow this schedule strictly, and if I ever lag on coursework or assignments I tend to catch up quickly.
My suggestions for studying online at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
For students who are studying online here, I have two key tips that will help:
- If you don’t understand any content pertaining to the course, try to get connected with the lecturers via email. The tutors and lecturers are there to help and will get back to you as soon as possible.
- If you can, start working on your assignments at least a month before the deadline. Starting early can reduce the chances of procrastinating on your coursework and can reduce the workload and stress.
Thanks for reading my blog. I hope that every student benefits from online learning and feels equipped to make the most of the technology available to us!
Anirudh Vathul Tiruvallur Thattai is an International student living in Mumbai and studying for a Bachelor of Science double-majoring in Geology and Geography.
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