Marinela Tsepa

What motivated you to pursue studies at university?

From a young age, I enjoyed challenging problem-solving tasks. In school what I found particularly intriguing was mathematics and science, so I knew that was the path I wanted to take when I grew older.

I am also amazed by the design and construction process of different types of infrastructure. I came across engineering through research and found that civil engineering specifically met all my interests as it involves the application of maths and physics, as well as design. This is why I wanted to pursue further studies on this subject at university

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

Before applying to university, I attended Sixth Form. In Sixth Form, I studied Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, and BTEC IT.

Why did you choose City St George's?

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of City St George's is diversity. There are students coming from different parts of the world and being part of such community is a very unique and educative experience. Especially for engineering students, as we are often working in groups for our projects, it is really cool to see how we all come together to solve a problem.

Another great advantage of City St George's is its location. When I was applying to universities, one of the factors I took into consideration was location - I wanted to stay in London. I really like the city, but also, I think it offers you great networking opportunities, creating links with businesses and getting work experience.

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

I would like to start by saying that my weekly schedule can vary depending on multiple factors such as the timetabled sessions, or the amount of workload.

I typically have 4-6 lectures per week, followed by tutorials for each module. I also have lab sessions for different modules; however, these are not scheduled every week. All these sessions can last 1 or 2 hours.

There are days when I need to be in from 9 am until 6 pm, however I will usually have 2-3 hours break throughout the day. During these breaks, I can relax a bit before the next lectures, as well as revise/work on assignments.

On days when I do not have breaks during the day and I finish off my lectures a bit earlier, I often carry on my workload at home, but there are days when I decide to use the university facilities and finish off my assignments at the university.

When it comes to balancing the academic side with social life, I would say it depends on how you manage your time. I have found that being organised helps me be more efficient in completing all my tasks and allows time for me to spend with my family, my friends, or do other activities that I enjoy, such as going to the gym.

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

One of my favourite modules so far has been the design module. During the first terms we learnt some basic skills needed in design such as manual drawing as using AutoCAD. When the second term started, we were given a group assignment.

In this project we had to come up with an innovative solution to one of the challenges that a village in Cambodia was facing: we had to pitch our idea and support it with designs made using the skills learnt the previous term.

I am currently working in another group project, where we have been assigned to come up with a design for a structure that meets the client’s requirements. We will also bring this project to life by building it and testing its efficiency, considering its cost.

What knowledge and experiences has The School of Science & Technology offered you so far?

So far, this course has helped me improve my problem-solving skills and critical thinking. This was done through the tutorial questions for different modules, where we had to apply the theories taught during lectures to complicated problems.

This course has also helped develop my design skills in AutoCAD through the design module. In addition, this course also introduced me to programming: in one of our modules, we learned the basics of Python and how to use it to solve mathematical and physics problems.

What opportunities and experiences has the rest of City St George's offered you so far?

Studying engineering at The School of Science & Technology, I have been equipped with knowledge in a range of aspects including the mathematical, the scientific and design aspects of civil engineering.

Other than classroom-based experiences, SST and my course has offered me the opportunity to apply this knowledge to practical situations in electronic and mechanical labs and design projects.

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

If someone is considering studying civil engineering at university, I would advise them to ensure they enjoy working in groups. In engineering, we are often working in group projects, therefore it is important to be willing to work as part of a team.

I would also encourage to get some experience in the field, for example, work-shadowing placements for you to observe what is done in the workplace. This will be good to give you an insight of what the day-to-day work looks like for an engineer and also ensure that you are truly interested in working in such environment.

I personally did a 3-day work-shadowing placement where I shadowed an engineering manager who was part of the design team. I observed the daily tasks that he had to do, including working on the design of a structure, but also communicating with clients and potential suppliers. That placements helped confirm that this is the course for me.

Lastly, I would advise working on excelling your mathematical skills and revising science knowledge, as well as get some experience on AutoCAD as it will be helpful later on.

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

Studying a civil and infrastructure engineering degree, I hope to graduate and work as a civil engineer in a consultancy firm. The reason I want to be a civil engineer is because it involves using some of my favourite subjects: maths and physics, along with creative design aspects to solve real-life problems.

I specifically want to work in a consultancy firm as I am more interested in the design process of different types of infrastructure, but also project management.

Another main reason why I want to work in this industry is because of the responsibility civil engineers have to make sure they are adapting the built environment around us to ensure sustainability for future generations, while also meeting client requirements.