Shreya Aggarwal

What motivated you to pursue studies at university?

Towards the end of my A-levels, I realised that I enjoyed learning a lot and might not be ready for practical experience yet. As a result, I chose to study at university instead of pursuing an apprenticeship. Additionally, I wasn’t sure which specific field or company I should go into, which further influenced my decision to study at university.

I chose a career in engineering because I wanted to apply my analytical knowledge and learn the technical skills required to solve real-world problems. Working on engineering projects would allow me to hone my leadership and teamwork skills. I find it thrilling that the field of engineering is constantly evolving, providing me with opportunities to learn about new technologies and enhance my skillset.

Engineers play a crucial role in addressing global challenges like climate change and sustainability, which means being an engineer I would get a chance to contribute to making the world a better place by developing innovative solutions that benefit people and the environment. I particularly chose engineering with business as this course gives me a chance to learn technical skills along with business knowledge which would enable me to pursue many roles in future like project management, product development, consulting and many others. This acumen would eventually help me to reach my aspiration of becoming an entrepreneur in the future.

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

I studied Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Economics for my AS levels and Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry for A levels.

Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study at university?

I researched and finally found a scholarship offered by this university which took 50% off my fee. Fortunately, I was able to secure this scholarship which made my studies at university feasible.

I received an email from the university offering me to apply for this scholarship because I was eligible to apply. I applied for ‘President's International Scholarship’. To achieve this scholarship, I had to demonstrate that I am expected to achieve academic grades above the conditions of the offer, and I had to provide a written statement detailing how I was hoping to contribute to the wider City St George's community.

Why did you choose City St George's?

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue pure engineering. While researching general engineering courses, I discovered a new programme called ‘Engineering with Business’ at City St George's. This unique course wasn’t offered at any other university, which presented an amazing opportunity. It aligned perfectly with my interests and opened up a variety of future career prospects for me. During my work experience at HSBC in global banking and markets, I realised that I wasn’t inclined to pursue pure engineering. Instead, I wanted to explore the business and management aspects because this experience sparked my interest in business and finance.

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

During a typical week, some days are long, while others are short. On certain days, I have only one lecture, whereas on others, I attend three lectures. Additionally, there are tutorials and labs every two weeks. When I have breaks between lectures, I usually grab lunch in the canteen. If the break falls in the morning or evening, I might participate in events organised by the Student Union, such as fairs or informative stalls. Occasionally, I book and attend career events during my free time. As a programme representative, I also have scheduled meetings. In the first term, I was also taking a free German language course offered by the university, with one lecture per week. If I have a longer gap, I explore places around the university, like cafes, or take a bus to Islington or visit Oxford Street. Sometimes, I head to the library for revision

When I started the university career department was offering Employability Skills Programme (ESP) and many workshops were occurring as a part of it which were quite popular among students as the booking used to get full quickly and you had to book in advance from careers hub if you wanted to attend those. I did attend a few myself for example one was called ‘Digital and soft skills: What are employers looking for with Bright Network’ and it was very helpful as I got useful advice and I also signed up for bright network as a result which was quite useful because they offer you the best events and opportunities to attend.

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

My favourite aspect of my course would be the Principles of Interdisciplinary Thinking in Engineering and Business module because it’s specific to my course and quite different. In that specific module, I got to learn so many new concepts.

I also like the engineering design module, especially the technical skills we learned and projects we got involved in. I am interested in how engineers design different things to solve real-world problems. I had a chance to practice that in real-life scenarios. I also enjoyed the electronics module because I learned how to create circuits and use sensors.

What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?

I have acquired technical skills and business acumen through my course. Specifically, I’ve developed technical competencies such as programming, manual drawing, and using SolidWorks. Additionally, I’ve honed problem-solving, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills by actively participating in various projects. As for business acumen, our coursework covered topics related to entrepreneurship, management, different types of organisations, business strategy and the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) principle. This prepared me if I wanted to pursue a role as a manager, and I learned to be aware of the environment in which current businesses operate.

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

Some of the opportunities that were advertised by the university include summer placement abroad, being a programme representative, mentoring programmes, free coding courses and free language learning courses. These opportunities were typically shared via email and the career opportunities newsletter. I served as a Programme Representative for the entire academic year, and this role helped me enhance my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

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

I would advice to be open-minded and curious. This degree has a lot to offer them for future so they should be ready to engage with the material and be proactive.

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

My course covers various aspects which makes us eligible for several opportunities rather than one. believe that some of the most important transferable skills I’ve acquired so far in my first year through this course include leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and technical skills.