Tom K. headshot

Tom K.

MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics with Spacecraft Engineering

I am currently in my third year of my degree, now focusing on the Spacecraft Engineering stream. Knowing that I wanted to study and engineering or physics related degree, I studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Music at A-Levels. I took Music to add variety to my A Level studies.

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Which university are you studying at?

University of Southampton.

What subjects and qualifications did you take at school or college (e.g. A Levels, IB, BTECs, EPQ)?

Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Music at A-Levels.

Why did you decide to pursue this degree at university?

I’ve always had an interest in space, whether the physics side or the engineering side, so I knew I wanted to either astrophysics or aerospace engineering. In the end, I decided on engineering, as I also enjoyed practical and hands-on work.

What does an average day or week at university look like for you (e.g. lectures, practicals, independent study, other interests)?

Usually about 2-4 hours of lectures per day, then the rest is self study. Most of the content learnt is through coursework or problem sheets. I also try to complement this with sport everyday.

What aspect of your course do you most enjoy?

Having the opportunity to learn complex physics and maths, then applying these to real world applications.

What do you find most challenging about your degree?

The broad range of topics covered. Across all modules, there are countless mathematical and physics concepts that we learn, and so its sometimes hard to keep track of it all.

What are your aspirations after your degree?

To continue in academia (hopefully achieve a PhD), and then go into research.

What would be your top piece of advice for anyone wanting to study aeronautics and astronautics with spacecraft engineering?

Be sure to always remember to have fun with the subject you’re studying. Hopefully it will be in the field that you enjoy, so don’t overwhelm yourself. If you feel like you’re struggling with a particular piece of content or coursework, chat with a course mate; they may be in the same boat and you can guide each other.

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