Paul Deligne French, due to graduate in 2019

MEng Aerospace Engineering

As a French person who didn’t travel a lot before, It was a thrilling and rewarding experience to discover not only a new country but also a lot of different cultures and ways of thinking I wasn’t used to in my homeland country. In my opinion, I think this is what university life is all about: Interesting and open-minded people coming from many different places and sharing their experience and knowledge with each other.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Southampton?

I chose to study at the University of Southampton because I wanted to experience a new educative system, different from the rather elitist one I’m used to and also because I wanted to study right away what I was interested in (Aerospace Engineering), which is not possible in my homeland country (France).

What were your first impressions of the University of Southampton?

I was amazed by the size of the campus, it’s quite big and it takes some time to learn how to properly navigate through it. However, we were warmly welcomed by the members of staff and senior students who really helped us to get used to university life as easily and quickly as possible.
The international atmosphere was also very pleasant, with a lot of students and staff members coming from everywhere around the world. As a French person who didn’t travel a lot before, It was a thrilling and rewarding experience to discover not only a new country but also a lot of different cultures and ways of thinking I wasn’t used to in my homeland country.

What do you enjoy the most about living in Southampton?

I really enjoy the green spaces. There a lot of lovely parks in Southampton which are perfect to take a nice break or chill out with friends.

What is your favourite spot on campus?

My favourite place on campus is definitely the Hartley Library. It’s a great place to study in a comfortable atmosphere between two lectures or after a late night gym session, as it’s opened 24 hours a day, which is quite handy during the exam period (laughs)!

What has been your proudest accomplishment while you were in Southampton?

My proudest accomplishment so far was to design, build and test a race car wing with a team of other engineering students, as it enabled us to put into practice a lot of interesting engineering concepts and methods we learned throughout the year. It felt like I wasn’t only studying in order to get good grades or aim at the top of my class but that I was actually learning things that would prove useful in my future life. It was a rewarding feeling I didn’t experience in the French educative system.

Would you recommend the University of Southampton to students from your home country?

I would definitely recommend the University of Southampton to students from my home country, as studying there would enable them to discover a new and interesting educative system, different and probably less elitist than the French one, as well as to study what they’re interested in directly at undergraduate level, which proved really motivating in my case. I also think that discovering and getting used to a new culture and way of life and studying in an international atmosphere would greatly benefit them.
However, they have to be aware that the tuition fees are rather expensive and that university studies in England require a lot of hard work and self-organization.

What will you do with your degree after you have finished your studies?

I wish I could work in an aerospace defence company, such as Lockheed Martin, after I graduate, as I know they hire Southampton aerospace students.

Do you have any stories about your time in Southampton or a happy memory you want to share?

I really like the time I spent trying to teach French to British students at the university’s French Society. It was a nice and interesting cultural exchange with open-minded students who were interested in learning more about my homeland culture and language as well as a rewarding experience, as it made me realize I could contribute myself to university life, however small this contribution may be.
In my opinion, I think this is what university life is all about: Interesting and open-minded people coming from many different places and sharing their experience and knowledge with each other.