Navya Narayanasamy

How are you finding studying in the UK?

I’ve found that the vibrant city life in London has offered a great balance to the intensity of studying Aerospace Engineering. Being surrounded by fun things to do has helped make university life more enjoyable. The city and its people have been really welcoming, and honestly, I love it here.

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

My course has 8 modules per year, with 5 taught actively each term. A typical week takes me through a 4-day schedule where I attend 2-hour lectures for each module, along with hour long tutorials and the occasional lab if we’re covering something practical. University does demand a lot of self-discipline, so I usually spend around 2 hours a day independently reviewing content. If my schedule is kind, everything is squeezed into 4 days, which can be tiring, but it means I get a 3-day weekend, which I enjoy greatly.

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

Engineering Design has definitely been the most interesting module so far. Each year, the topics become more engaging, and this module in particular has stood out for how clearly it connects theory to real-world applications. From designing wind turbines to actual aircraft, it really reinforced the enthusiasm that first inspired me to study engineering. It closely reflected the vision I had back in school of what an engineering degree would be like.

What knowledge and skills have your course helped you develop?

There’s honestly so much that it’s hard to know where to start. Academically, we’ve gone into a lot more depth on topics I remember being curious about during A Levels - especially the ones we were told we’d come back to “when we’re older.” Now, we’re doing that! Beyond the content, working in diverse teams to tackle real-world problems has helped me build collaboration and communication skills. Reporting back to professors with progress updates even gave me a taste of what it might feel like in a real workplace, presenting to higher-ups and such.

What opportunities and experience has the rest of City offered you so far?

I’ve had some great opportunities, both volunteering and paid, for example: CourseBuddies and being a Student Ambassador. There’ve also been lots of one-off volunteering events, which were flexible and easy to fit around my schedule. They were also a great way to meet new people from outside my course and make new friends.

What services within your School or the University have you used during your studies?

The support from the School of Science & Technology (SST) department has been amazing, especially with CV development and internship applications. I got to speak one-on-one with someone from the team and received personalised feedback on how to improve my CV and boost my chances of getting to the interview stage. As part of the Engineering Society committee, we also organised a CAD Competition, and the school gave us access to 3D printing facilities, which was great for developing both technical and organisational skills.

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

Honestly, talking to someone already doing the degree is the best thing you can do. Open days, guest lectures, and even social media pages can give you a glimpse into what it’s like. The course syllabus won’t tell you everything - labs and group projects are a lot more fun than they sound on paper!

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

Design and research in any aerospace field has always intrigued me. Gaining knowledge in this area and applying it in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment where innovation is needed feels like something I’d enjoy immensely. Using software like SolidWorks and NX to build models is also cool - it makes the design process feel more hands-on and creative, even when it’s all happening on screen.