David Keszthelyi MEng Aeronautics & Astronautics / Spacecraft Engineering

Current student

Even though I study a specialised spacecraft course, I’ve learned about many aspects of engineering, so the course does not limit my options at all; instead, I have a lot of options open to me after I graduate.

What made you choose to come and study at Southampton?

Southampton is a very strong university academically. It is also located in the South of England, allowing me the best opportunity to enjoy the sun, which is a very valuable thing in England.

What is it like studying here?

It is simply amazing; the University cares a lot about your academic development and employability. However, the University also considers the wellbeing and social lives of its students, just as much as their education. Every year, but especially in the beginning when it can be the hardest, we have many tutorials, and different lecturers who we can ask for help. You never run out of people to turn to if you need some guidance; there are so many people, including academic staff and your peers, who can give you support and advice.

There are also many flexible job opportunities on campus which work around our schedules, all kinds of Career Fairs taking place throughout the year, and lectures given by companies who are encouraging us to apply for internships with them.

This is just the education and careers side; we also have over 360 societies that you can join, ranging from sports societies to the professional academic ones which will definitely enhance your employability if you get involved with them.

How do you rate study facilities at the University, such as the Library? Have you found the Library, its content and the study spaces available within it useful?

Every year I go to the Library with my friends during the exam period. The Library provides computers, plugs for your own laptop, and you’ll possibly have most of your course mates there to spend the day with. Studying with friends can really help you prepare for the exam, and there are lots of group working spaces in the Library available for you to do so.

The environment encourages you to be really productive. Since most of your peers are studying at the same time, if you don’t understand something it only takes five minutes to get some help from one of your friends, who will most likely be somewhere on the upper floors making use of the huge quiet study areas.

What have been your Southampton ‘highlights’ so far?

For me, probably the best decision was to join the Human Powered Submarine team in my first year. We are a multidisciplinary team of students who are building a submarine entirely powered by human propulsion. In my first year I became really involved and thanks to my commitment to the team I was selected to be one of the team’s representatives at the thirteenth International Submarine Races in the USA. Other than getting a free trip to America, I got to present our submarine in front of worldwide enterprises and teams other universities from all around the world. This wasn’t just a great experience because I went on a ‘trip’ with my friends, but I got to participate in a world-scale engineering competition and see a project come to life from paper and pen to the point where our submarine raced its way through the US Navy base.

What other activities have you taken advantage of while at University?

The Human Powered Submarine society gives me a fantastic opportunity to be involved with a large-scale engineering project that I otherwise couldn’t have been. I really enjoy being part of it. Throughout my degree I have been a member, an engineering team leader and I am now the President of the society. I think it has taught me a lot about how to manage projects, which will hopefully become a very important aspect of my later career. I am also one of the few people who can say they swam in a US Navy base.

What are you enjoying most about your course?

I think what makes this course very enjoyable is the projects we do. In our second year we had to build robots with which we then participated in the Eurobot competition. This year we designed a CubeSat for Thermosphere exploration. It just shows where the theory that we learn here can be applied, and motivates us much more to learn; in the end we will be able to design a spacecraft with the knowledge we've developed. I enjoy learning about interesting theories as well, but when you see theory come to life, that’s what motivates you to keep going.

Do you have the opportunity to study modules outside of your core subject area, and how do you think they are adding to your experience / will affect your future plans?

I wanted to specialise in spacecraft engineering so most of my modules are related to that, but I chose my own individual project in my third year, and next year I will have three optional modules which I can select from a very wide range. I’ve already looked at them and I am struggling to find three which I like the most as there are so many I’d like to study.

What networking, employment and work experience opportunities have you undertaken and how have they enhanced your undergraduate experience?

In the summer of my second year I was awarded an internship with the Transportation Research Group through the University’s Excel scheme. The programme offers many great opportunities for students to apply for internships. They are specially designed for students at the University of Southampton.

I don’t know why some people say it is not fun to work over the summer, because I think all of my intern colleagues would agree that we had an amazing summer working together here, while also learning and developing skills that have definitely enhanced our employability.

Do you have any idea of what you would like to do in the future? Have the opportunities you have taken up while at the University helped you have a clearer idea of what you might like to do?

I have no idea yet, but I think summer internships are a really good way to find that out, and the University really encourages you to apply for those. Even though I study a specialised spacecraft course, I’ve learned about many aspects of engineering, so the course does not limit my options at all; instead, I have a lot of options open to me. Right now, all I know is that I really enjoy learning about anything that transports people, and I luckily have lots of options for that in my course. I can focus on spacecraft, planes, submarines, ships, and cars. We learn about many things within the course and the best thing is that we can work in any area of engineering we like after we graduate.

Did you stay in University accommodation? What were your halls of residence like in terms of facilities?

I lived in Glen Eyre, where all the accommodation is located within a park, and I really liked it. My building was completely renovated over the summer before I arrived. We had three bathrooms and a kitchen between seven of us, so it was very good in terms of facilities.

Do you like living in Southampton? What are the benefits of Southampton as a city?

I think Southampton is very good for students; we have the area around the campuses which is really nice and green, and is perfect for taking a break when you have an hour or two. Personally I think the best houses are here as well. Then there is the cheap shopping area (Portswood) where you can get everything you need for a very reasonable price. There are many pubs, clubs, and supermarkets, so pretty much you can find anything you need in your daily student life. In the city centre is a large shopping mall, West Quay, and there are a range of really nice restaurants by the harbour. They are perfect to visit when you have a less busy day.