Technology has always fascinated me and this interest stimulated my passion to integrate technology with our day-to-day lives. During my hunt for the right institution, I came across the MEng Mechanical Engineering programme offered at the University of Southampton, U.K. I was really impressed with the university’s good record in the University League Tables for the Mechanical Engineering course and its academic and professional ties with prominent companies.
Around this time, I learnt about the university’s Malaysia Campus (USMC) and its unique split degree programmes where students spend the first two years of their course in Malaysia followed by the remaining two years in the U.K. As I was staying in Bengaluru, studying in Malaysia was a convenient and cost- effective option for me. So, I immediately applied for studying at USMC.
The first two years of my study at the Malaysia campus were exciting. Getting along with students from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds at the campus was easy and the faculty was welcoming. Although my course has been challenging and demands constant work, it is flexible, catering to individual interests through the ‘themes’ offered in the third year. Through the course, I have now got a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of mechanical engineering. Participating in the Eurobot competition was an enjoyable experience, and it gave me an opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge to make an indigenous robot. The culture of Malaysia, with its delicious food and picturesque holiday destinations, gave me a fulfilling experience overall. This, along with the influences of Indian culture in Malaysia and its close proximity to home, made the campus a home away from home.
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Moving to the U.K. campus was a lot of fun. Before beginning my specialisation in Aerospace in the third year here, I was looking forward to another foreign experience: the place, the people and the possibilities. I was hoping the U.K. campus would be as welcoming as the one in Malaysia. So far, my experience in the U.K. has exceeded my expectations. I love being a part of a large and diverse student population at the university. Our lecturers and tutors answer our questions and provide feedback in a structured manner. The university is a perfect destination for students with an interest in engineering. I get to take part in various social and cultural events at the campus, jam sessions with our musicians, and play football on weekends.
The University of Southampton has played a crucial role in preparing me for the challenging professional world. Hopefully, in the near future, I will get to work alongside dynamic people from diverse sectors and apply myself to developing methods that have a significant social impact. Now, I am focusing on my individual project based on ‘Saturation in Inertial Actuators’. My experience at two different campuses of the university has given me a clear vision about what my interests are and what environments I am happy to work in. It has taught me that there need be no boundaries between different sectors of business and that we, as graduates, can contribute towards development that transcends geographic and economic borders.