Eithne Geraghty MEng Mechanical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering
Current student
The University of Southampton has a great reputation for producing highly employable, well-rounded students. Students are encouraged to grasp opportunities throughout their time at university, and I have personally found my tutors, lecturers and supervisors to be very supportive.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Southampton?
Aside from the great reputation the University of Southampton has for excellence in engineering, there were lots of other features that made me choose Southampton. When I visited the campus, I felt a real sense of community and diversity throughout the students and staff that really excited me, and getting involved in University life in as many ways as possible was always important to me. Southampton boasts some of the best facilities for learning and extra-curricular activities, whilst the city also has a lively atmosphere with a wide range of things to do.
How do you feel that the University has supported you so far ?
The University of Southampton is very well-connected, with a wide range of industries and their representatives visiting campus to offer lots of interesting placement/internship opportunities and graduate schemes. Southampton has a great reputation for producing highly employable, well rounded students, reflected by the amount of interest from companies at the many careers fairs the University organises. The University also offers many ways to get extra advice about careers or placement options that are very easily accessible, such as CV guidance and interview skills workshops. As a female looking to go into a male dominated profession, it was specifically important to me to feel I could access support from the University if I ever needed it. Southampton is very proactive in encouraging anyone to grasp opportunities, not just females, and I have personally found my tutors, lecturers and supervisors to be very supportive.
What has been the highlight of your time here so far?
Being involved in five of the University’s dance competition squads, and being dance captain for the undefeated ballet squad in 2016 is a huge highlight of my time at University. I was so proud to represent Southampton in this way.
What do you enjoy most about living in Southampton?
Southampton is a very student-friendly city, with great events happening every night from shows at the Mayflower Theatre, to club nights with a variety of acts performing. I really enjoy that there’s always something going on and different things to explore in the city, without being too expensive. Southampton is also really well connected, so it's easy to get to other places on public transport.
What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?
Completing my third year Individual Project was definitely a highlight of my course so far, as I enjoyed being able to work on and complete a project from beginning to end, and was really proud of the work I achieved. It is a great experience to be able to work so closely with a supervisor, whilst being able to make decisions about the direction of your project. I really appreciate the flexibility available within the course. At Southampton there is no pressure if you haven’t specifically decided what field of engineering you want to go into when you start your course, or even if the discipline you want to pursue changes. The first and second year modules are largely taken by all students within all engineering disciplines. This provides the opportunity to really experience a range of topics within engineering and get to know a larger amount of the cohort, including staff. As a result, I felt like I could make a much more informed decision about my final year theme choice and which students and supervisors I would like to work with as I progressed through the course.
What are your lecturers and supervisors like? Have you found them supportive?
The lecturers and supervisors at Southampton are all involved in research at the University, so it’s great to be taught by and get to know experts in the field. They are always willing to support you and offer help, but are also aware that students should be developing their independent learning skills, therefore heavily encourage proactivity. I have found that this is really useful for developing my independent learning skills as they are vital in the professional workplace, and a reason graduate employment rates from Southampton are so high.
If you could offer prospective students one piece of advice, what would it be?
Get involved! University is such a unique experience whereby you can meet so many new and different people, and there are so many opportunities to experience new things or carry on with hobbies/passions you already have. You have to be proactive in finding out what’s on offer and organise yourself to make sure you don’t miss out on opportunities, especially in first year where you probably have the most free-time. Be prepared that you might have to go to lots of things on your own at first, but you’re guaranteed to meet like-minded people; remember you’re not the only one who doesn’t know anyone yet!