Ethan Silveira

What motivated you to pursue studies at university?

I’ve always enjoyed figuring out how things work and solving problems, so studying Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering at City St George’s, University of London felt like a way to do that while also creating something meaningful that can help people. For me, engineering is one of those things that you can’t really learn on your own. You need to be in an environment that encourages creativity, problem solving and teamwork so going to university to study engineering made perfect sense, as it gives you access to that environment.

University also made sense for me as it gives you the chance to meet so many people from different parts of the world and from diverse backgrounds, I have built and am still building lasting friendships and connections. University also gives you the space to make mistakes and learn from them, which is a big part of growing both as a student and a person.

What subjects did you study before applying for study at university?

Before University I went to Sixth form and did my A-levels. During my A-levels I studied Physics, Maths and Psychology I also did an EPQ that looked into the future of blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies (I am aware it’s unrelated to the field of biomedical engineering) however, finance technologies and global financial markets in general has been and still is something of interest to me and is something that I hope to pursue as I break into the corporate world.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

A typical week at university varies but I usually have 4-5 lectures and 3-4 tutorials a week. Lectures cover new content, and tutorials give me the chance to apply it and ask my professors any questions that I may have. Some weeks, I also have lab sessions these are super fun and are great to see how the theory applies in practical settings.

If I have multiple lectures in a day, it’s generally spaced out with at least an hour between them or sometimes 2-3 hours. During that time, I might grab coffee with friends, have lunch at a café nearby or catch up on work. If I finish university early, I sometimes head to the library or go home to review what I have learnt and go through lectures or tutorial sheets in advance.

Balancing university and social life aren’t as bad as everyone makes it seem. During exam periods or when deadlines are approaching, it’s natural that you won’t have the time to go out as much, but with good time management and using the calendar app, you can still fit in going out with friends, gym and downtime.

What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?

It’s tough to pick one module. Engineering is at its best when you’ve learnt different things and then get to bring them all together in a project where everything just clicks.

For me, that moment came at the end of my first year during our end of year engineering design project, where we had one week to design and develop a wearable device that could detect sleep apnea. My group and I developed an entire product from start to finish; we came up with a name, we designed marketing posters, did cost-benefit analysis, built websites and apps and created a physical working prototype that gave out fairly accurate readings.

Over the course of that week, we spent hours in labs and just as many in front of our laptops, we knew what the end goal was, yet we didn’t know how to get there. We failed repeatedly and endlessly along the way, but when things finally worked, that single eureka moment where everything almost magically falls into place made it all worth it.

That’s the feeling I chase. And honestly, you get a bit of that feeling in every module you take as an engineer here at City St George’s.

What knowledge and skills have your course helped you develop?

Studying Biomedical Engineering has helped me developed my problem solving, critical thinking and technical skills as well as key professional skills like teamwork, leadership, communication and adaptability. One of the most important technical skills that I have learnt so far is getting comfortable with using CAD (Computer Aided Design) to design 3D models of objects, an important skill for every engineer to have in their arsenal.

Working in teams on group projects has made me more comfortable with sharing ideas openly, taking on different roles within the team and listening to other’s ideas. It’s also taught me how to stay calm under pressure and to keep searching for solutions to problems even when things aren’t going as planned.

What opportunities and experiences have your School offered you so far?

The School of Science & Technology has given me lots of opportunities to apply what I learn beyond the classroom. From lab sessions to hackathons there’s always something to get involved in and activities that will help build your skills. One highlight for me was taking part in a hackathon where my group’s project to improve navigation for visually impaired individuals within the university buildings ranked in the top 10.

I also recently became the President of the IEEE City St George’s Robotics Society which is the largest student-led robotics society in London. Becoming President has helped me grow my leadership, organisation and communication skills while working with a diverse team to plan and set up events, competitions and collaborations that help inspire other students to get involved in robotics.

What advice would you give to someone considering a degree in your subject?

For anyone who wants to study engineering my biggest advice would be to stay curious and to get comfortable with not always knowing the answer right away. Engineering isn’t about memorising; it’s about understanding how to approach problems logically and creatively. Don’t just focus on lectures; join societies, spend time in labs and build things because that’s where the learning and the theory starts to make sense. In addition, don’t be afraid to ask questions to your lecturers.

When it comes to Biomedical Engineering make sure, you’re interested in both the technological and biological sides it’s the connection between them that drew me to the field. Also, apply to internships, spring weeks and placement programmes, as these experiences are incredibly valuable. They not only boost your employability but also show how well university prepares you for the corporate world.

If you could do any job related to your subject in the world, what would it be and why?

I would love to be a patent lawyer, specifically for medical technologies. There are law firms that hire engineering graduates to work as patent lawyers, where you help verify and protect new inventions. I find that field fascinating as it combines my technical background with problem solving in a completely different way.

If not patent law, I’d love to work in consulting because it combines problem solving, strategy and technical understanding, while also giving you the chance to work on a variety of projects and see a real-world impact of the work that you do.

What excites me the most about both roles are the fact that you get to meet and interact with interesting people.