Michael Raven Engineering/Physics/Maths Foundation Year, 2016
MEng Acoustical Engineering
I chose the course at Southampton as the Foundation Year is a well-established and recognised pathway onto world-renowned undergraduate degrees.
Why did you choose to come to the University of Southampton?
I chose Southampton not only because of its excellent reputation, but also because of the great atmosphere and sense of community I felt during my visits on Open Days. I love the energy on campus, and being a few minutes’ bus ride from the city centre is great!
Why did you choose to take a Foundation Year?
I hadn’t previously studied maths at A Level standard so I couldn’t apply for an Engineering degree. I chose the course at Southampton as the Foundation Year is a well established and recognised pathway onto world-renowned undergraduate degrees.
What did you enjoy most about the Foundation Year?
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art labs, and having use of all the usual university facilities. The Base Room was incredibly useful throughout the year, especially during exam periods when the library is busy.
Having completed the Foundation Year, I still had a wide range of degree choices available to me. I love that I didn’t have to decide on my course until the end of the year as I’ve studied new areas that I would never have thought about, or got the chance to try before.
What were your lecturers and tutors like? Did you find them supportive?
Support was always available in many forms throughout the year, and the lecturers were always happy to help out with any problems, no matter how small. They’re always happy to go back to the very basics with you to ensure your true understanding.
How has the Foundation Year helped to prepare for your MEng Acoustical Engineering degree?
The Foundation Year has taught me valuable skills that I can carry through the rest of my university career such as referencing and report writing. The Foundation Year focuses on university study, and hence offers tips and insight that new students wouldn’t usually have access to. It has also given me a head start to computer programming, an aspect which will run through my degree and something that I did not have any previous experience with.
If you could give prospective Foundation Year students one piece of advice, what would it be?
Due to the nature of the Foundation Year, students come into the course with differing abilities in different subjects. Make friends with lots of students and there will always be someone to help you out.