My experience at Loughborough has challenged me to become the best engineer I can be, in the classroom, in research and on placement.
My core interests lie in mathematics and physics, and I wanted to a degree that would let me explore them in depth, and that would challenge me. Beyond academic interest I also enjoy modelling and design, which fit well into Chemical Engineering.
I choose Loughborough University because it consistently ranks highly for Chemical Engineering, because the staff were friendly, and because the campus felt like somewhere I’d be happy to call home from the first time that I visited.
During my placement year I worked for PURIS, in The Woodlands Texas. My role was thoroughly engaging: I was part of an engineering development team, investigating the application of cold hollow drawn polymer tubulars to repair underground pipelines without the need to dig trenches. This helped me to gain experience in testing, modelling and data analysis, and develop an appreciation for real engineering in the field.
My placement experience helped me understand how engineering works in practice, from corporate structures to professional design standards. I also learned to plan effectively around deadlines and to coordinate the contributions of a team. Working on trenchless pipe repair taught me how design decisions are shaped by cost, safety and industry standards, going beyond the ideal engineering scenario.
The most valuable skills I developed were presentation and communication. Regularly presenting our progress and achievements both to the core team and the wider company built my confidence in explaining technical work clearly and concisely. Communication skills supported discussion and contribution from a host of disciplines within the team including Mechanical, Civil, and Aerospace engineers.
My course taught me how to become familiar with complex topics in a short time frame and to approach problems critically and analytically. It also showed me how much of engineering is breaking an unfamiliar problem down into things you can actually calculate. I was able to apply all of this during my year in industry. My placement required me to learn a lot of new things, and where there were larger unknowns, I applied core Chemical Engineering techniques, setting up mass and energy balances to derive the equations I needed.
My course is preparing me for the future by challenging me to learn unfamiliar subjects quickly and to research topics in real depth. It has also given me hands on experience with the software and methods that underpin modern Chemical Engineering.
Regarding my future career, I am still deciding between pursuing a doctorate and moving straight into industry. My placement has helped me see the value in both: working in an engineering development team showed me how rewarding rigorous, research-driven problem solving can be, while also teaching me how projects are delivered to deadlines and standards in a commercial setting. Combined with my research experience on the university’s Digiflow project over the last few years, I feel well prepared for whichever route I take.
The most valuable thing that I have learned has been how to approach an unfamiliar problem: break it down into its unknowns, take things step by step and apply the basics in sequence until a solution emerges. It is a method that I have found works as well on difficult coursework as it does on real engineering challenges. This has helped me to be much more confident in tackling problems that I haven’t encountered before.
What I have enjoyed most about studying Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University is the support of the staff and the opportunity to get involved in research projects and initiatives. Both have benefitted me enormously through my time here.
If you are thinking about studying Chemical Engineering here, my advice is: visit the campus, explore the facilities and talk to some of the academic staff. It’s the best way to see whether Loughborough feels like somewhere you’d be happy to call home for the next few years. Be prepared for some long nights in the library, and take a placement year if you can. It has been an invaluable part of my degree.