Li Yuan, a postgraduate student studying an MSc in Structural Engineering, writes about her passion for the subject and what she hopes to achieve after gaining her postgraduate degree.

My decision to join Newcastle University to study an MSc in Structural Engineering, was made after long consideration and evaluation.

There are a number of universities that offer a similar course, and so deciding which to apply for was tricky. As my family were settled in the North East, the universities that I considered in the first instance were the ones located close to home. Newcastle University was a top-ranking university with an outstanding reputation amongst the North East universities on my list. In particular, it is ranked 2nd in the UK for Civil Engineering research power, which fulfilled my requirement as someone interested in becoming a Structural Engineer PG student.

In comparison with competitors, the MSc Structural Engineering course at Newcastle is delivered with more attention to industrial practice. The modules are taught in blocks, which is a huge advantage to me as I don’t have to jump in and out from each module. The teachers and professors are from or work closely with the civil engineering industry, allowing my study to be industrially focused.

As an investment of my career development, an MSc in Structural Engineering at Newcastle University will provide me with a better platform to restart my career. With 86 percent of graduate students from this program being employed or in further study after 6 months. This is a very high ratio compared to other universities. Furthermore, this course is accredited by the ICE and IstructE. The acceptance by the leading industrial institutions will enhance my job hunting success after my graduation.

I am currently in the middle of my final semester. The experience of passed study has proven my decision to study an MSc in Structural Engineering at Newcastle University was definitely the right decision!