3rd year student Fabricio talks about studying MEng Chemical Engineering (Industrial Experience) at the University of Birmingham.
Video transcript
Why choose Birmingham?
I visited all the universities that I applied for and decided to come to the University of Birmingham, because I liked the campus, the people and just the general atmosphere a lot more than the other universities that I visited.
Study
I have gained many transferable skills during my studies as well as in extra curricular activities. For example, as a chemical engineer I have developed a strong analytical and logical approach to solving technical problems.
I’ve also had to work in groups to reach a common objective and that involves a lot of team work. I feel that I’ve improved my interpersonal and communication skills as a result of that quite significantly.
I have also developed very strong communication skills during my role as a student ambassador at the University, where I had the opportunity to meet many people and show them the University and what it has to offer to students.
Campus facilities
The University offers many facilities for students to carry out work alongside their extra curricular activities. For example, there are many computer clusters all around the University which have specialist software that we can use to carry out work to solve technical problems as well as designing systems in unit operations.
The University has a library with an extensive collection of resources in almost every subject you can think of. That has definitely helped me when I have had to do my research.
Accommodation
The University offers many options in terms of accommodation. I would just like to point out the accommodation at the University is very safe and very comfortable. It provides everything that students need during their studies, in terms of facilities that cater for eating in restaurants and eating habits.
They have some leisure facilities as well, which include bars, snooker and table tennis. It’s very safe, because they have CCTV cameras all around. In terms of accommodation, that is very good.
Grants and scholarships
I have been awarded the entry bursary, the achievement award and excellence scholarship as a result of my high grades obtained at school. This has definitely helped me quite a lot financially, in terms of budgeting and being able to have some extra money to spend on other things other than my tuition fees.
Looking ahead
After pursuing postgraduate study at the University, doing a Masters degree and a Doctorate degree, I would like to, first of all, become chartered and after that, work perhaps in the petrochemical or the oil refining industry.
The University and my course has certainly provided me with all the skills necessary to carry out this work, in terms of doing research and in terms of developing all the skills necessary to design systems and solve technical problems and, therefore, I think that it will give me all the skills that I will require later on to apply in this industry.