Study Abroad: A Chemical Engineering student gives insight into the subject, experience & more

Aman Joshi, a recent postgraduate student from the University of Strathclyde took a mid-way transfer to Scotland while pursuing an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering in India. He then went on to pursue his postgraduate degree from the same university. He describes chemical engineering as a strenuous & exciting field.

We at Edugraph, talked to him about his study abroad experience, the chemical engineering field & much more.

1. Why did you opt for a midway transfer to the University of Strathclyde from your university?

I’ve always been drawn to the UK because of its culture and status as a global center for education. Additionally, there are only a few universities with renowned chemical engineering programmes and labs when compared to other engineering fields. At Manipal University, India, where I had started my undergraduate studies, I discovered that Strathclyde was a partner institution and also accepted the credits.

2. What was the admission process at the university?

From my experience, the admission process was pretty straightforward and direct. There is a separate university portal where one can register and directly upload relevant documents such as transcripts, passport copies, sponsor letters, and English language test scores. Once that is done, an application outcome is usually given within a very short period. Also, the university has multiple helplines, email addresses, and student ambassadors who support new applicants throughout the process.

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3. What was your experience with the scholarship scene? Do you have any advice regarding the same for students looking at pursuing education abroad?

Yes, I had acquired a scholarship for my undergraduate studies since Strathclyde was a partner university with my undergraduate institution in India. Similarly, I was also given a scholarship for my postgraduate studies from the Faculty of Engineering worth 15% of my tuition fees, which supported me a lot financially.

My advice for students would be to be direct about it and discuss it with either the department or the financial team of the university and check the available opportunities for oneself.

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4. Since you took a transfer during your UG and then went on to complete your PG as well, what were the major differences between the teaching system of UG & PG at the University?

The UG and PG teaching systems at the University are pretty different. UG focuses more on the basics and their application, whereas PG, on the other hand, has a more converging and streamlined practical approach. PG has significantly higher industry-focused modules, and few basics are expected to be learned and understood before the course begins.

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5. What do you think is the major difference between the education systems of Scotland and India?

From my experience, I feel the education systems are more alike and complementary than different. But, if I had to pinpoint it, I would say the Indian system leans more toward theoretical learning, whereas the Scottish system leans towards the industrial application of knowledge, and indeed Strathclyde’s motto is ‘the place of useful learning’.

6. There are several other fields in Engineering. What made you pursue Chemical Engineering?

My introduction to chemical engineering happened during my school days when we had an assignment on the 14 grand challenges of engineering. On researching further at the time, I found that chemical engineering was involved in solving 10 of the 14 challenges, which made me dive deeper into the subject. Also, the vastness of chemical engineering and its relation to other engineering fields has always captivated me.

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7. What is the one thing that you find the most difficult and the one thing that you find the most interesting about Chemical Engineering?

To be honest, there is no one thing, but rather Chemical engineering as a field in itself is very strenuous. Due to its wide application, it requires learning multiple subjects, concepts, and their relations in a brief period of time, making it challenging but also more exciting and engaging.

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8. How much industrial exposure was provided to you during your time at the University of Strathclyde?

Throughout the UG and PG years, we had multiple speakers, guest lectures, and alumni who taught us about industry standards and showed the industrial application of the subjects we were learning. We even had a few trips to the plants like Whitelee Wind farm and others.

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9. What are your further career goals? Where do you aspire to work at?

I intend to continue in research and start a professional career. Currently, I am in the application phase for jobs and research, so I am open to wherever this journey takes me first. In any case, Strathclyde has given me a versatile foundation to support both of my endeavors.

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10. If you had to describe in one word your overall educational experience at the University of Strathclyde, what would you say?

The simplest word to describe my Strathclyde journey would be ‘balanced’. The university gave me a very stable and steady experience, which in a way gave me the freedom to experience complete student life. And although Covid did impact that experience somewhat, the University and especially the Faculty made sure we weren’t overburdened in any condition. The labs at the University have been the most exciting part of my studies here. I also think the Chemical Engineering courses are exceptional at the university because of the staff involved here and their high level of teaching and constant support.

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