Saiveer Singh

What motivated you to pursue studies at university?

Engineering involves many problem-solving challenges, and I have always been fascinated by them. From a young age, I enjoyed making a small-based model of a car engine and building Lego models This is what I would like to further explore at university level and let future dreams of manufacturing cars become a reality.

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

I studied Maths, Physics, and Biology for A-levels before studying at university. This was very useful for my studies at university since both maths and physics are the building blocks towards the Engineering field.

Why did you choose City St George’s, University of London?

City St George’s is in the heart of London, and commuting to campus is only an hour away from home. I applied through clearing since I didn’t achieve the expected grades I wanted, but everything changed when I had a one-one call with my Engineering Professor who reassured me and made me feel welcome to City St George’s.

Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study at university? If so, how did you overcome them?

There was an overwhelming sense of uncertainty with how to repay student loans or any other source of funding towards studies at university. It did have a strong impact on whether to pursue studies at university level or go straight into the working environment. However, I believe university builds a strong foundation for entering professional careers such as Engineering which helped me consider attending City St George’s for my course.

How are you funding your studies – did you secure any financial support?

At the moment, I have applied for student loans via SFE which I will repay once I graduate and earn above the minimum salary wage to pay for my university.

How are you finding studying in the UK?

Studying in London, UK, has been a wonderful experience for me. I enjoy participating in societies offered here and was proud to represent the Hindu Society for the Kho-Kho nationals' tournament where we were competing with other universities. Working as a retail part-time employee and a senior student ambassador at City St George’s has been enriching to further develop my experience in the workplace and it is indeed a privilege to meet new people.

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

There is usually a mix of lectures, labs, and tutorials during a typical week at City St George’s. Lectures run for about 1 hour and 50 minutes with a 10-minute break for students. There are also labs for students to attend as part of their coursework and develop a further understanding of key concepts, to study for exams. Tutorials help students engage in problem-solving questions that may help for final exams where a PhD student, or professor will be there to support students.

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

I enjoyed participating in the air compressor project as part of my second year in the design module. Actively working with other students in a group to help create a working air compressor to pump air into a balloon was really challenging in terms of research and calculations. However, it was indeed rewarding and incredible to see the project come to life and work effectively to pump air into a balloon.