Final year MEng Civil Engineering student Lucy Manners reviews how beneficial The Institute of Civil Engineers QUEST Scholarship has enhanced her employability and professional development.
Being awarded a QUEST Scholarship has been invaluable to me, as I have been able to develop a strong link with my sponsor company Morgan Sindall over the last 4 years. Not only have I been allocated a Supervising Civil Engineer to give career guidance along the way, but I have also met countless people at different stages of their careers who I am now able contact to get advice about anything from careers to uni work.
The Institution of Civil Engineers QUEST Scholarship offers £10,000 in bursaries over the length of an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, as well as the opportunity to undertake paid work placements each summer and the potential to gain full time employment upon graduation. In addition to this, the Scholarship gives you the opportunity to begin your professional development early, by signing a Training Agreement and beginning the process of Professional Chartership from the outset.
Throughout my time as a QUEST Scholar I have undertaken three 8-12 week summer placements on site, experiencing everything from quality control to building a bridge over a motorway! Through each placement I have developed my skills as an engineer, and as my confidence has grown I have been given more and more responsibility. The Scholarship is a fantastic way of gaining experience in the industry in a controlled environment before taking on the responsibility of a graduate role!
As my final year at Newcastle University comes to an end, it is clear that obtaining the QUEST Scholarship has helped me develop both at university and professionally. The combination of external support and guidance from my Sponsor Company, as well as on-going professional experience, has helped with my personal development no end, and I look forward to starting my role as a graduate site engineer with Morgan Sindall in September this year.
Applications for 2016 will open on the 7 March and close on the 15 April 2016. Click here to find out more about ICE Quest Undergraduate Scholarships.
Useful links:
- MEng Civil Engineering at Newcastle University
- VIDEO – Civil Engineering degrees at Newcastle University