Kasey Cowen

Why did you originally apply to do your chosen course at Birmingham?

I took A-level DT in sixth form and I loved learning about the different materials that make up everything around us, and after touring Birmingham for an open day I fell in love with the department.

What do you think are the best points of your course?

The a wide range of labs we take part of are incredible fun, we have a sand casting lab that the first-years take part in where you get to make and keep a mini replica of Old Joe out of casted aluminium.

What’s the best thing about studying at Birmingham?

How supportive all the staff is, within your department and the school as a whole. Someone is always there to help you with anything you need, and everyone is unbelievably kind when doing so. 

What’s the highlight of your time at the University?

All the memories my friends and I made during exam season. Towards the end of our exams we had a hard time staying off our phone to focus, so we put all our phones in the centre of the table and whoever touched it first had to eat beef stew flavoured baby food. I’m convinced that punishment alone is why we all managed to pass.

What advice would you give to students thinking about studying on the course?

Do practice problems as soon as possible and go to your professors if you need help! They are always so excited to help students especially when you’re taking the initiative to understand their content better. Nobody is more excited to talk about their courses than the professors themselves. 

Is there anything extra students thinking about studying on the course should know?

A lot of students are worried about how hard the course will be if you haven’t taken all the subjects everyone else has, but the modules make sure you have all the information you need.