Kian Watkins

Why did you originally apply to do BEng Aerospace Engineering at Birmingham?

I applied very late and after taking a year out, so all I had to go from was the course information online. Birmingham stood out to me since the focus was more on design and research, as well as having modules related to space early on in the course. I knew I was going to choose Birmingham after attending an offer day where I was shown around by a very enthusiastic student and felt at home on the campus.

What do you think are the best points of BEng Aerospace Engineering?

I think the best point is the range of content being taught to ensure that you gain general engineering skills that will be useful in any specialisation. Personally, I really enjoyed Airframe Design and Flight Dynamics because the content was brought together with a practical lab on the flight simulators which really helped to consolidate my learning.

What’s the best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham?

The best thing about studying at the University of Birmingham is the campus. It is very refreshing to take a break from studying and wander around the old red brick buildings.

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

My highlight was taking part in one of the universities ‘Go Global’ opportunities last year. I worked as the Aviation Director for a summer camp in the mountains near Los Angeles, CA where I was able to share my passion for aviation and teach the kids some of the knowledge I gained from the first year of my degree. It was a great experience, especially travelling across America for a month after visiting Seattle, Chicago, Washington DC and Austin.

What advice would you give to students thinking about studying BEng Aerospace Engineering?

Get involved with everything the university has to offer and try not to stress. You never know what you could end up getting involved with, just keep looking for opportunities. I was worrying about getting an industrial placement year, but ended up receiving two offers.

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

I would start looking for placement/summer opportunities early in your first year. Not only will it give you great interview practice and knowledge of the hiring process, but if you are successful it boosts your CV and can make it easier to find an industrial placement the next year.