Meghana

Engineering (Honours)
(Chemical and Biomedical)

Why did you choose to study at UQ?

When I was in year 12 and before I had gone to any open days, I was very much conflicted as to where to go. But as soon I went to the UQ Open Day, I instantly fell in love the environment and atmosphere that the UQ campus had to offer. In particular, the engineering facilities were top notch, with access to all the latest technology and the staff were engaging and approachable. Another key factor that encouraged me to study at UQ was the high level of women empowerment that I saw and felt, especially with my desired engineering degree. I felt very included and welcomed, as a girl who was considering engineering and was drawn to the endless opportunities that female students were presented with.

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in studying engineering, architecture, computer science and/or information technology at UQ?

There are several things I have come to understand throughout the one and a half years of my engineering degree so far; but there are five key pieces of advice that I would share with students who are considering studying on of the EAIT courses. Firstly, the degrees will challenge you; there are going to be times when the courses are going to test you to your limits. But there is so much to learn, and this is just part of the amazing learning experience. Making friends with other students in the same degree as you is vital; these are the people who are going to help you and be there with you for the four years. Each of the respective degrees provide several ways for this peer connection to form, it is simply about diving in headfirst. Following on from moral support, never be afraid to ask for help from lecturers and tutors; they are very approachable and friendly, and they are there to assist you. Next, make the most of the learning resources available to you, whether it be libraries or senior students from the same stream, the knowledge you will gain is invaluable. Finally, it is okay to make mistakes, this is part of the learning process, so just have fun and learn from your mistakes.

What do you love most about your degree?

The reason I absolutely love my degree is that it challenges me every day; I am constantly learning new things, being pushed to my limits and making mistakes. There is not a single day where I think that my degree is boring, and this is purely due to the efforts of the staff and tutors in each one of my courses. What I have found so far into my degree is that UQ provides a vast number of opportunities for teamwork and collaboration, right from the orientation week. In my first year, I engaged in several group projects and assessment, which have been vital foundation blocks for the workload that second year has brought. Furthermore, it gives us students a great insight into what working in industry will be like. Another factor I love about my degree and the EAIT faculty, is the tremendous amount of support and assistance given from both staff and fellow peers. This is important to me because I know there are always people that I can count on, and that I do not have to do it all alone. This is why forming those connections and creating those bonds with the students in my cohort was so important. For engineering students, I love the fact that we have industry tours, such as to the Gladstone alumina refineries, because it gives us a taste of our working environment, as well as a chance to engage with peers.  Following on from the support provided, the clubs and societies affiliated with the EAIT faculty are very helpful in hosting events with industry workers and employees’ panels, providing me with the best chances of securing a graduate placement. Overall, the thing I love the most about my degree is the opportunities I get and the people I interact with on a day to day basis.