I chose Loughborough University because of its standout open day – it far exceeded all the other open days that I had attended whilst finishing my A-level studies. This great experience, especially seeing the wonderful, modern laboratory facilities, encouraged me to apply.
The flexibility of the Foundation year was of great interest to me when deciding which course to take. It allowed me to develop skills in areas that I had either not previously studied or had not studied to the level covered in the Foundation year – mainly Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. Strengthening these disciplines was key to my success in the Chemistry degree that I went on to complete, as they are all very complementary subjects.
Transitioning from the Foundation year to the full degree program was seamless. It just felt like a natural extension of my studies. It also made the first-year course induction much easier as I was starting with knowledge of how the University functions, such as exams and coursework, I already had friends I could bring along, and I had an understanding of the campus and building layouts.
The thing I enjoyed most about my Foundation year was the diversity of subjects I was able to study – Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mathematics, and of course Chemistry.
Having this breadth of knowledge has also served me well in my career: I am now the School of Engineering’s Technical Manager at the University of Surrey with my primary research focus being on engineering material characterisation via advanced imaging techniques, such as electron microscopy. I would not have learnt about Engineering if I had just done the Chemistry degree, so since my work combines elements of both subject areas, the Foundation year has been hugely impactful. My degree has also been highly influential in how I approach experimental work in a lab-based setting, having honed my skills in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at Loughborough University.
My experience of Loughborough University was exceptional, from the top-of-the-range facilities to the excellent teaching standards. I’ve always loved Chemistry so getting to appreciate it at further depths each year of the course was really enjoyable.
The most valuable things I learnt were how to work as a team and how to lead a team. There were plenty of opportunities to work alongside other students, be it partnering in labs, working on group projects, or delivering presentations to peers. These all helped form a really strong skill set for the workplace.
If you are considering doing a Foundation Year, it’s a great way to pick up new skills that you can apply to work after university. It allows you to flesh out knowledge in a wealth of disciplines that you may not have had the chance to study, or perhaps take your studies of certain areas to greater depths that will help with entering the full degree program later.