Ever since my school days in Chennai, I have been passionate about vehicles. I reckon it is because my father and grandfather, worked in related fields. In pursuit of my passion, I chose to pursue Automotive Engineering at Anna University, Tiruchi. It was a tough decision as very few girls opted for the course. Chasing my dreams I acquired a a university rank. The proudest moment for me was when I won a concept car challenge at National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi. After an internship at Renault-Nissan that gave me much-needed industry exposure, I knew I wanted to pursue my passion professionally. I chose to specialise in the field with an M.Sc. course.
U.K. beckons The next step was choosing a university that complied with my course requirements. The United Kingdom seemed like a good choice. Loughborough University seemed like a promising option due to its state-of-the-art facilities, excellent faculty and repute in the Automotive Engineering faculties. More than the rankings, the university had good student reviews and was recently voted the best in student experience. The modules and course content surpassed my expectations. I was interested in hybrid vehicles and had planned to study more on the lines of electrical engineering for the same. Being in a university town, it offered a good chance to experience student life. I had the opportunity to attend many guest lectures by professionals from Jaguar Land Rover. These lectures were a reality check and showed us the industry workings beyond books. The course content was designed to mimic actual industrial work, and students had the freedom to choose their modules and research topics.
I think this is what sets Loughborough University apart. Through the course I have realised the importance of industrial exposure and will be working full-time after the course to enhance that knowledge. However, my long term goal would be to research about vehicles of the future and pursue a doctorate investigating the technologies that hold the key to the current energy crisis.
Melting pot The university has a vibrant atmosphere and is a melting pot of various cultures. One of the best assets of LU is the warm welcome it extends to its freshers. During the first days, the various student societies host ice-breaking sessions for freshers. They made me feel at home and I was sure I had chosen the right place to study. The university is also famous for its sports facilities. Every night the students union is abuzz with people. The union hosts regular events throughout the semester. Located in the midlands of England, Loughborough enjoys a good weather for most part of the year.
The writer is pursuing M.Sc. in Automation Systems at Loughborough University.
