My experience as a Master’s student at Huddersfield
Haritha Devaraj
MSc Engineering Management, School of Computing and Engineering
Hiya! I’m Haritha, a final year Engineering student. I’m a massive fan of Formula 1 and Cricket. I’m also into dancing, love literature and good movies.
As I sit down to write this blog, I’m surrounded by mixed emotions of struggle, self-doubt, fear, patience, resilience, and hard work; all of which I can see is coming to fruition as I near the end of my Master’s and I realise that it was worth all the effort.
I completed my bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering in India and decided to continue my studies in the UK. Initially, I didn’t know where to start. I wanted to find a course which would let me pursue and connect my interests in technical engineering and management. I envisioned myself working in the automotive manufacturing industry and believed that postgraduate study would help get me there. An Engineering Management MSc was exactly what I was looking for and choosing to study it at the University of Huddersfield was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
The first term of my course was challenging as I was completely new to the academic practices in the UK, and it was not at all easy being new in a different country. But trust me, the University and the universe have your back! I was able to take up enough support from the University (both academic and mental health wise) to ensure I was able to overcome the difficulties I faced. Now, here I am about to finish my Master’s and graduate on a high note.
There are so many instances and experiences that I am extremely grateful for during my time at Huddersfield. One of the main highlights is my placement year. I was extremely fortunate to work within the University’s Engineering Control and Machine Performance Group (ECMPG) at the Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT), which is well-renowned and internationally reputed for machine tools and metrology research in precision engineering. Here, I have been able to gain insights and advance my learning to prepare myself for my dream career in manufacturing.
Additionally, I was also able to learn about various aspects of the manufacturing process. I was able to apply what I have learnt from my course to different areas of work on my placement, which was great. I also gained an insight into the dynamics of a research group and the academic profession in general, which has further motivated me to think about pursuing a PhD.
Now, as I near the end of my placement, I see that I was able to explore my strengths, weaknesses, and professional skills, and this has played a significant role in my career. I’m looking forward to getting into the Quality Engineering Department in the manufacturing Sector. I’m also very glad that I’ve been given Affiliate Status at the University of Huddersfield. So, I’ll be able to continue to work on the project I was working on during my placement in the meantime.
Finally, I just want to say, if you are interested in attending the University of Huddersfield, go for it! If you are new to the university, I wish you all the best and assure you there’s going to be lots of fun – make the most of your time. And, if you are in your final year like me, I’m sure you’ve had a good time. No matter what stage or state you are in right now, I know you are going to shine in your future.
I will miss this secure and comfortable lifestyle of being a student, but I’m super grateful for all the memories (good and bad), and even more excited to the future to see how things unfold. Now, I’d like to finish with my favourite quote, “If you really want something and you’re truly passionate about it, go for it, give it your all and never give up on your dreams.”
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