One of the things that I liked most about the course was how varied it was.
Why did you choose to study for your degree at Sheffield?
Sheffield is a lovely city to live in. There's so much to get involved in in the city, and with the peak district being so close by it's also very easy to take a break and enjoy the great outdoors! The University of Sheffield itself is a fantastic place to study. With so many different societies and sports clubs, there's something for everyone.
What aspects of the degree did you enjoy the most?
Over the course of the degree, I covered so many different topics, which made the learning experience quite interesting. I also liked the fact that I had the choice of many different modules, especially towards the end of the course, which allowed me to tailor the course to my interests. However, the extracurricular activities were by far my favourite aspect of the degree. They allowed me to gain hands-on experience and practice what I learned.
How do you think your degree will/has helped your career prospects?
I believe that the purpose of university is to equip a person with necessary skills to learn any skill that they need to succeed in the future. This is what my degree has provided me with and so it is the foundation for my career, because it gave me the necessary tools and the confidence to learn whatever I need for my work.
In addition to the academic skills that I have gained, the practical skills that I have picked up through the various extracurricular activities, that I was involved in during my degree, made it a lot easier to apply for jobs and build up the confidence required to be effective in the workplace.
What did you like best about studying at Sheffield?
The extracurricular activities! I am repeating myself a little here, but that's only because these activities have helped me so much along the way. I got to work on technical and non-technical problems, talk to external companies and travel. This was obviously a lot of fun, but it also made me a better engineer and more rounded person.
What are your future plans?
It's hard to tell. I've just started a great job as an Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV) robotics engineer at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, which I am really enjoying. I am not sure what I'll do next, but it'll probably involve robots!
Any tips for new students?
Get involved in activities! Join societies, sports clubs and extracurricular activities. You'll meet so many people from all walks of life, learn so much and have the time of your life while doing it - I certainly did!