"I think a real strength of my course was the balance between theoretical knowledge and practical lab work. In my first year there were lots of opportunities to build up my lab skills and I was really supported to learn new areas in which I had no previous experience. I found that this really affirmed my A level knowledge but challenged me to learn completely new material too. Another real strength is the wide range of modules in the third and fourth year which allows you to work on both established and emerging fields of research.
"The learning environment is modern, light and spacious making it easy to work on both individual projects and in a group. The equipment in the labs is all cutting edge and there is plenty of room to do large-scale practical work. The computer labs are very relaxed and friendly; in my first year they were a good place to get to know each other and I found the communal screens for sharing information and practising presentations really useful when collaborating on coursework. You can also get support from second year students who are often happy to help!
In her second year Alice commented:
"The workload of my course was challenging but rewarding. We covered so much material in the first year - I was amazed when I look back and reflect on how much I have accomplished! The practical work really helps strengthen your theoretical knowledge. So far, I have particularly enjoyed semiconductor physics which I studied in the first year. I had never studied this before and understanding how devices work on an electron level is fascinating. I am particularly looking forward to my third year, where I will hopefully be working on a biosensors project on a nanometre scale for my individual project. This is an emerging field and may even result in the early detection of some cancers.”
"There are tons of opportunities to get involved and learn some really valuable skills at Southampton. I have had summer internships with Cirrus Logic which I gained through the UKESF scholarship scheme and with Ericsson Television. I have also been involved in student outreach events and I am working as a Senior Mentor at the University Taster Course.
"I would really recommend Southampton as a place to study because it has a great balance between academic study and social life. The practical work I have done here has really set me up for working in the real world and employers love Southampton graduates because of their practical skills. The student societies are fantastic - you can choose something that supports your academic studies or something just for fun!"
"In my current role as a validation engineer I am responsible for ensuring engineering systems, test methods, software and processes used to manufacture medical devices are scrutinised and meet the requirements to ensure good quality medical devices, every time! I get to work on lots of different medical devices, which was one of my ambitions throughout my university career. I have been able to use my electronics skills in software development, rapid prototyping and micro-controller programming in this role."