Student profile
Shreyas Reddy, MSc Innovation and Technology Management, from New Delhi
“ I was attracted by both the high standard and variety offered by the course and university as well as the diverse student population and activities on offer here. ”
Currently studying MSc Innovation and Technology Management, Shreyas was an undergraduate here, studying the four year MEng Aerospace Engineering with French.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Bath?
For my undergraduate degree at Bath, I was attracted by both the high standard and variety offered by the course and university as well as the diverse student population and activities on offer here. In my 4 years as an undergraduate I came to love the numerous aspects of the University and the city, and was strongly attracted by the integrated nature of the course (which is only offered at a few universities around the world), and it was a natural choice to return here for a taught postgraduate course.
What do you enjoy most about studying and living here?
The diverse range of activities and the student populace itself, as well as the courses like my current Master’s degree which offer intriguing combinations and challenges.
Did you find anything in particular difficult when you first arrived?
On the whole, I found adapting to life in Bath surprisingly easy. It’s a city that is big enough to find plenty to do yet small enough to not be intimidating. The people are pleasant and welcoming and I have had the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of people since I arrived here. Perhaps my greatest challenge, to some extent, was making purchases in pounds while converting everything back to rupees and (unsurprisingly) finding the conversion costly. Luckily, I had known about the relative cost for a while before, so I was able to grow out of the habit pretty soon.
Was there anything that you found particularly useful when settling in?
Going to events where I got to meet new people and enjoy a quiet conversation certainly helped, while campus tours helped me understand the layout of the University. Wandering around the city of Bath became straightforward pretty soon as well.
Can you tell us about any strong memories you have of your time at Bath so far?
The strongest memories I have of my four years thus far at Bath involve my friends and activities with the Students’ Union and International Office, where I got to know many new faces and take part in a wide variety of activities.
What are your plans for the future?
After finishing this degree I hope to get a job in a technical sector (probably aerospace), preferably in mainland Europe (but I’m open to other options that seem appealing) and eventually returning to work in India when there’s more activity in my preferred sector. At some point in the future I may consider pursuing a PhD (at Bath, for all I know), but I’d prefer to have some years of work under my belt before I think about that subject seriously.
What advice would you give to other international students thinking about coming to study in the UK?
It is definitely a place that combines quality education with practical knowledge that is relevant to the industry, and the life is also fairly pleasant with a wide range of options to pursue in one’s free time. Universities like Bath have many connections in industry so the work trains one to be a graduate ready for the industry from day one, which could be slightly jarring for some international students with a more theoretical background. Nevertheless, there’s something for nearly everyone, and if one’s willing to put up with the workload one often finds life as a student here to be worth it.
