City excels in its warm and friendly environment, with all members of staff always being there to help students in any way they can
What was your main motivation to undertake postgraduate study?
I want to pursue a chartership status in engineering and a postgraduate master’s degree is an essential step for me to achieve this.
What were the factors that influenced your decision making when considering postgraduate study?
Having completed a BEng degree in Mechanical Engineering, I felt as though I needed to further my academic knowledge in order to make me a more competitive candidate when applying for engineering specific jobs.
What were, if any, the main challenges that affected your decision about postgraduate study? How did you overcome them?
The main challenge for me was whether I would be able to perform to the best of my abilities, given the immense workload that a postgraduate master’s degree brings. But having done my undergraduate degree at City, University of London and being accustomed to the support system that the university provides, I was sure that I would receive full support in order to help me achieve the best possible results.
What has been your student experience at City so far?
My experience at City has been, for the most part, a very enjoyable one. There have of course been stressful times, as I’m sure happens to all students during their time at university. However, City excels in its warm and friendly environment, with all members of staff always being there to help students in any way they can.
How studying a postgraduate degree has helped you develop personally and professionally?
I can’t speak for everyone who does a postgraduate degree, but I can say that in my experience, postgraduate study has helped me to develop more than my undergraduate degree. It has challenged me considerably more when it comes to presentational work and group work. And it has placed more emphasis on me to realise the managerial aspect of different projects in engineering and how vital project management is in industry. Which is something that was only briefly touched upon during my undergraduate degree.
What skills and knowledge do you think the course has helped you develop?
The course has most definitely provided me with a more in-depth theoretical knowledge of certain aspects in engineering, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics, Structural Mechanics and Project Management. But it’s also allowed me to become better at using software such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Ansys, Matlab, Fluent, all of which are used to some extent in industry.
What opportunities and experiences City has offered you during your course?
I had the privilege of being the student representative for my course. With this role I had the opportunity to talk to senior members of the university about varying issues and topics about the course. I also had the pleasure of being able to discuss these aspects with senior members from other universities. Being able to express my opinions and debate certain aspects of the course with such senior people was a very worthwhile experience.
What advice would you give to people thinking about postgraduate study? What would you have liked to know then that you know now?
Postgraduate study is no doubt a challenging experience. It will test you in more ways than one. You may say to yourself that you already have a degree and maybe it isn’t worth putting yourself through another year of intense education. But this is something you must look past. The opportunities that can arise from doing a postgraduate degree are endless. You must remind yourself that you will be up against very capable and competitive people when applying for jobs. And you must be able to stand out from the crowd and be the most attractive candidate. A postgraduate degree will give you the tools do just this, by becoming stronger, both academically and professionally.
What are your career plans once you have completed your postgraduate degree?
I intend to pursue a job in industry which specifically has a chartership program, allowing me to achieve my goal of becoming a chartered engineer.
How do you think City has equipped you for the next stage in your career journey?
City has provided me with all the tools I could possibly ask for. It has given me the academic platform necessary for me to achieve my goals. But more importantly, it has given me the confidence to believe in my abilities and to know that nothing is unattainable with hard work.
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