Student Profile - Emma Russell

MEng Materials Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Materials

Emma"The staff within Materials are really friendly and helpful, as the course is so small you get to know a lot of your lecturers on a one-to-one basis which is really unique compared to other engineering courses." 

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

During school I always enjoyed science and maths based subjects; particularly maths and chemistry. I feel materials has a good combination of these and has the possibility to lead into almost every engineering sector, from nuclear and defence to biomaterials.

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

I enjoy the chemistry-based subjects the most in my degree, including corrosion and polymers. The metallography aspect is also very interesting as it shows how many parameters there are when aiming to gain certain properties. I have also enjoyed my final year project where I was able to work both independently in the laboratory for the first time and also as part of a wider team.

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

I love the fact that the University is campus based which really gives a student-vibe to the area. It's also very close to the city centre which means you get the best of both worlds.

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

A main highlight of my time would have been joining a sports team in my first year. When I joined Tae Kwon Do I made some of my closest friends during my time at university and also went on to win a silver medal at the National Student Championship for Sparing.

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

I think the best thing to do is to stay open minded. When I joined the course I didn't really know where it would lead me in my future career, especially in my first year where I mostly gained general knowledge of my course. However, as the course has progressed I have found that there are so many applications to what I am learning and I am really enjoying the subject.

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

The staff within Materials are really friendly and helpful, as the course is so small you get to know a lot of your lecturers on a one-to-one basis which is really unique compared to other engineering courses. My personal tutor has been a great help to me since first year as we met on a weekly basis to go through any problems I had with the course in a small group of three.