Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 8) 8 ADVICE AND INFORMATION www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK A DAY IN THE LIFE UNIVERSITY OF BATH Voted into the top ten of the Times Good University Guide 2007, the University of Bath is an attractive choice for international students. Joanne O’Connor spoke to some of its current students to find out what makes the University so appealing. The University of Bath can trace its roots back to the Bristol Trade School, formed in 1856 to train scientists and engineers. Today its focus remains rooted in science and technology but the University is also now home to a successful School of Management and offers programmes in social sciences, humanities and health. With over 80 postgraduate programmes on offer, there are approximately 3,032 students from overseas studying at the University SPECIALISTS IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Its world-class reputation in engineering is what brought Anna On No Tai here from Hong Kong. Anna completed her first degree in industrial engineering and worked for two years before coming to Bath to study a Masters in Aerospace Engineering. ‘I found my job boring and wanted to do something more technical. I really liked aeroplanes, so I decided to study aerospace engineering. When I looked at the courses, Bath was one of the best in this area.’ Bath is one of few universities in the UK to receive 5* (the highest grade) for mechanical engineering in the UK’s Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in both 1996 and 2001, making it a top choice for students and researchers. Anna is now in the third year of her PhD, which the University is funding. ‘My PhD project is an extension of my Masters project. I am developing a computer code, which involves a lot of programming. I used to study a lot of theoretical stuff, which I didn’t want to continue. But I’m not a very practical person either and I don’t like spending too much time in the lab. My PhD lets me combine the two elements, which allows me to put both skills into practice.’ WORKING WITH INDUSTRY Students on both taught and research programmes attend seminars and meet with professionals from industry. ‘We were one of the first universities to offer work QUALITY TEACHING placements, which has created many links with industries Dr Alicia Kim, who completed a PhD in Sydney before across the UK and overseas - in all departments, not just joining the University as a lecturer in the Department of engineering. Postgraduates are able to use these links for Mechanical Engineering, says the Department’s excellence their own projects if it helps with their research,’ explains is reflected in its rankings. ‘The University has a long history of training engineers. Alicia. ‘Most research in the department is related to industry The Department is ranked in the top five departments of and projects are regularly commissioned by national and mechanical engineering in the UK and has been rated the international organisations. Current projects include highest grade in teaching. All staff are also international collaborations with Motorola, Ford, Castrol, and Airbus leaders in their fields of research. Knowing that the and BAe Systems.’ teaching is based on cutting edge technology makes the Anna hopes to use some of these contacts to stay on and Department an exciting place to study.’ As well as excellent teaching, Anna receives good support. work in Europe. ‘I see myself in research for now but ‘Whenever I get stressed I can go and talk to my supervisor. maybe for a research-based company rather than a university. In Hong Kong we do not concentrate on We also have training courses where we learn how to computational stuff but look more at finance and servicing, present our research. This is useful as it helps you think so there are more opportunities in Europe.’ about your research and discuss it with other students.’ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK
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