Rain

What do you like about your course and why?

I love the perfect balance between understanding the deep theory of how the world works and getting my hands dirty with practical applications.

The group projects have been a massive highlight for me. In my second year, we had the opportunity to build an audio amplifier and an FM radio from scratch as a semester project. Seeing the theory translate into a working physical device is incredibly rewarding.

I also really enjoyed the Enterprise project. It taught me so much about team coordination and the dynamics of working with a group of people who are all chasing the same goal, which requires a different skill set than pure engineering, but is just as important. 

The Enterprise project also taught us about the business side of the engineering world. We had to brainstorm an idea, conduct market research, develop possible solutions, and make our product presentable. Each group effectively operated as a small start-up company, culminating in a pitch where we tried to 'sell' our product to the lecturers at the end of the semester. This was a brilliant experience because it demonstrated what working in industry can be like, and shows that success isn't just about technical knowledge; it also depends on understanding market needs.

Beyond the practical labs, the course dives deep into the complex theory behind modern technology, which I find fascinating. It constantly feeds my curiosity about the world and makes me want to learn more about the invisible forces and systems that power our everyday lives.

What do you enjoy most about Surrey?

One of my favourite things about Surrey is the incredible variety of societies and the opportunities they provide to apply your knowledge outside the classroom.

In my first year, I joined EARS (the engineering society), which was a gamechanger because it gave me 24/7 access to a student lab. Having a dedicated space to work on personal projects in my free time was invaluable. Through EARS, I also joined a 'Battle Bots' project, collaborating with other engineers to design and build a robot from scratch. It was immensely fun and a brilliant way to learn skills that simply aren't taught in a textbook.

In my second year, I joined Peryton Space, Surrey’s society dedicated to the National Rocketry Championship. I was responsible for the communication systems, specifically building the flight computer and the ground station. It was an amazing opportunity to take my electronics knowledge and apply it to an entirely different field like aerospace.

Outside of engineering, campus life is fantastic. I am part of the swimming society and frequently use the facilities at the Surrey Sports Park. When the weather is good, having BBQs with friends on campus or relaxing by the lake has given me some of my best university memories.

"Everything I have done at Surrey, from building flight computers to programming communication systems, is a stepping stone towards a career in robotics."

What do you want to do when you graduate?

When I graduate, my goal is to become an electronic engineer within the robotics field, who actively improves the world and makes everyday life easier for people. 

Whilst I love the hardware side of my course, I am particularly drawn to the software and control aspects of robotics. I want to specialize in computer vision and control systems, creating intelligent machines that can accurately perceive and interact with their environment. Everything I have done at Surrey, from building flight computers to programming communication systems, is a stepping stone towards a career in robotics.

What advice would you give to students thinking of studying your course?

My biggest piece of advice is to stay curious. Curiosity about how things work is the ultimate motivation for doing an engineering degree.

Asking why a certain phenomenon happens or why we use a specific method is a great way to stay curious. It ensures you learn at a deeper level rather than memorising a formula or learning how to solve an equation without any context.

I would encourage engineering students to think critically. Running a simulation on a computer is very different from building it in the real world so you need to consider minor, real-world details before you step into the lab. Likewise, when you are in the lab, you will inevitably face moments where your circuit isn't working and sometimes you need to step back and look at the problem from a different perspective to find the answer.

Finally, don't let the math and physics get you down! The theoretical side can be challenging, but it is the foundation of everything you will build so push through the difficult concepts.