Sarosh - A week in the life of a first-year MSc Data Science student
A week in the life of a first-year MSc Data Science student
Hi, I’m Sarosh James from Pakistan, and I’d like to give you an overview of how I spend my week studying MSc Data Science. I’m currently in the second semester of my degree and thoroughly enjoy my time at the University of Hertfordshire. Being an international student has introduced me to a range of new and exciting experiences.
Monday
On Monday, I didn’t have any classes at the university. I woke up around 09:00, had breakfast, and then headed to the gym at around 11:00, which is just a 10-minute walk from my apartment. I spent an hour there before returning home. After that, I took some time to catch up on university lectures and work. I usually spend my evenings relaxing and watching series on Netflix.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, I wake up around 07:00 and have breakfast. I leave my apartment at around 08:30 to ensure I reach the university by 11:00, as it takes me about two hours to get there. My first lecture, Data Mining and Discovery, runs from 11:00 to 13:00, during which we revise key concepts from the previous semester, such as Python, Pandas, and NumPy. After the lecture, I have some time to grab a bite to eat, review any mistakes made during the lab, and prepare for the rest of the day. At 15:00, I enjoy a two-hour free bicycle ride, which is available to university students. This is followed by my next lecture on Machine Learning and Neural Networks, from 16:00 to 17:00. In this class, we cover topics such as Intro to Linear Regression, supervised learning, and classification. Afterward, I take the train back home, arriving around 19:30. I have dinner and then head to the gym for an hour.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, I have a class at 09:00, so I leave my apartment around 06:30 to ensure I arrive at the university on time. My first lecture, from 09:00 to 11:00, focuses on Machine Learning and Neural Networks, specifically covering Unsupervised Learning and Clustering. Between lectures, I often take the opportunity to explore the university’s departments and facilities and occasionally visit Hatfield. From 13:00 to 14:00 , I attend my Applied Data Science 2 lecture, which introduces Google Colab and covers Databases with Apache Spark. Once the lecture ends, I head back to my apartment. After arriving home, I usually take a short nap before heading to the gym for a workout.
Thursday
On Thursday, I have no classes, so I get a good night's sleep and wake up later than on other weekdays. I spend most of the day working on assignments, projects, and preparing for upcoming quizzes. In the evening, I like to cook something special, such as biryani.
Friday
Friday is usually one of the busiest days of the week, with three back-to-back classes. I arrive at the university around 08:30 and start the day with a cup of coffee. From 09:00 to 11:00, I have my Applied Data Science 2 lab, where we apply what we’ve learned in the lectures on the computer. After that, I rush to my next lab on Machine Learning and Neural Networks, which runs from 11:00 to 13:00, where we do the same, putting lecture content into practice on the computer. Without a break, I attend my third lecture on Data Mining and Discovery from 13:00 to 14:00. Once the day’s lectures are over, I head back to my apartment, take a quick nap, and in the evening, I go out with friends to explore London.