‘Fair study programme with high requirements: if you study hard, you succeed’

Doaa Nabawy is a student from Egypt, who came here to study architecture at BME in 2018. A little while later she felt more attracted to mechanical engineering than architecture, for that reason she made up her mind to join BME gain but this time as a mechanical engineering student. At the moment she is over her two global exams, and writing her thesis on hydrodynamics systems.

How do you like studying at the BME Faculty of Mechanical Engineering?

I enjoy studying here. The professors and lecturers are experienced and supportive, with great knowledge, and they speak understandable English. Mechanical engineering has a vital role in developing our communities that's why I was driven to study it otherwise I would be wasting my time.

What were your experiences with Hungary and Budapest?

The majority of young people in Hungary speak good English, but people above fifty mostly only understand some or do not speak at all. But this is not an obstacle – once I asked an old lady about the right direction in the city. She did not speak any English, but she managed to explain the right way, with signs and gestures.

How did your application process go on at BME?

Everything was straightforward since the coordinators explained the procedures. Even so, If you have any enquiry, the staff will guide you gently.

What are the most important things studying at BME gave you?

It makes me happy, as an Arabic Muslim woman, feeling welcome here at BME, and also by most of the people outside BME. Students and professors are nice and respectful. I don't remember that I faced any improper behaviour from any of my colleagues or professors here. Honestly, if you study hard, you will succeed which is fair, not impossible at all. Although the study programme here is advanced, you can go through it easily if you work hard and especially if you keep an eye on the concept, not the points you get, that's why I like it!

I also admire that the study curriculums are flexible and reasonable at BME, which is beneficial for us as students in developing our careers.

I would also like to highlight BME's International Mentor Team. When I came here to BME in 2018, one of them picked me up at the airport, and I owe them a lot. I appreciate the idea to create a group of domestic students to help international ones. I know that is not an easy task at all, to face such a diversity of incoming students from Asia, the Middle East, and South America. I am not connected with the International Mentor Team, but it is very good to have a supporting team, so in case you can seek help.

Did you catch up some Hungarian as well?

I was slightly afraid of studying in a foreign country, where you do not understand the language, but it did not cause any inconveniences.

We had a one-semester Hungarian language course, which international students must take. The teacher was kind and respected the difficulties in language learning during online education. Unfortunately, now I do not remember much, because I rather spend time with international students, and I do not practice the language regularly.

When the online education period was over, we had two meetings, where the teacher brought us to the Great Market Hall near BME, on the other side of the river Danube. She taught us how to buy things, and how to handle everyday situations. She tried to build memories to learn Hungarian. I was so happy converting the language knowledge to practical knowledge.

Do you have some kind of plan, how to continue your studies?

For sure, I would like to improve my skills and knowledge on the MSc level, but so far, I have not decided yet where to continue.

László Benesóczky

Photos: József Szenka, KTK Fotókör