Rohan: Engineering Management
Having completed his undergraduate degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering at Vishwakarma Institute Of Technology in India, Rohan Aparajit is now studying Engineering Management MSc at Queen Mary. He shares his experience of the course so far.
Cohesive knowledge
One thing that I really like about this course is that every single module adds up with the other - when you're learning business strategy, you need to know about cost engineering, and you need to know about supply chain operations – so you keep adding to your knowledge.
Expert input
The opportunity to hear from industry experts help us to put the things we are learning in theory into real life contexts. People who have been working in these sectors for a long time, who have experiences and knowledge far beyond what we can imagine, present to us the same ideas that we have been taught in class. It makes you see the importance of what you’re learning.
It’s a great experience getting to explore all these different industries – cosmetics, construction, science, politics – different virtues and different perspectives, so you get a broad approach towards what you could do with this degree.
Supportive teaching
The guidance is amazing from all the professors. You don’t just have to go to your supervisor for a certain question, you can approach any of the faculty members.
Because of the way the programme is designed – where all the modules make sense together – there will be times when you will feel the need to approach different professors with different expertise, and the university has all of this to offer.
My project
My research project is on supply chains in the English Premiere League. I’m working on a circular supply chain, its problems, its analysis and what should be its improvements and scopes. I was given freedom of choice to choose my industry for my project, so I chose based on my love of sports.
I have weekly meetings with my supervisor and we maintain a progress bar. It’s treated as if it’s an actual real-life project, which is really important to me because after this project, the next step for me is getting a job and working in a company, so this is my chance to adapt to a corporate life.
From week one, students are encouraged to ask questions. This course really encourages students to be more corporate-focused, industry-focused on not just how they should look at a certain problem or a product in life, but also the way we talk, the way we speak, the way we approach things.
Moving to London
Moving to London was very exciting and I am really enjoying studying here and hope to stay.
At Queen Mary we have a campus which is situated in the heart of the city, 10 minutes away from central London.
I always have something to look forward to, I go out and have fun with my friends often.
I live in student accommodation which really took away the headache of having to look for a house and also adds to my student experience.
Moving to London was made so much easier by the university, because they provided support for each and every thing that I needed. They provide everything from mental health support to medical assistance, IT services – you name it, they have it.
Studying at Queen Mary also makes living in London more interesting because we have industrial visits, so you get to see the industrial parts of the city which aren’t really shown on social media. We get to see different perspectives – London is a city to be learned from, not just to watch.
It's a very beautiful university. London is an amazing city, it's the liveliest city. There will always be events and conferences that you want to go to.
Student life
I am a member of the football society here, which is made up of students from different countries. We play games against each other and also mix up our teams when we go out to play almost every other weekend.
I’m also part of the tennis society - I find sports helps take my mind off academics, so I prefer these to joining the more academically-focused clubs.
The university has so many more clubs and societies to offer across academics, theatrics, arts, music, sports, they are a must if you come here. Try to be a part of at least one club or society as it really boosts your morale and you’ll meet people from different backgrounds and across the student body, not just from your course.
It helps you keep your eye out for more opportunities too, so it’s a nice networking opportunity as well as being fun.
My favourite thing about studying Engineering Management
Hardly any exams! We’ve only had one exam and the rest of the course is all projects and assignments. It has encouraged me to focus on how to deliver presentations, write reports and research well.
My favourite thing about Queen Mary
is without doubt the library.
It’s the best. I’m lucky because I live nearby, so I can enjoy at least four days a week at the library. We have a very big library and also a canal-side library if you want a change of scenery.
The library has a lot of resources, computers you can use and borrow, as well as books. It's just a very nice environment where you can see other people working.
When I told my parents that the library is my favourite place, they were surprised because I’m not the kind of guy to go to the library! But the environment here is just so much nicer, you start thinking positively and encouraging yourself. Also, London weather is not the best to stay in bed and work!
My next steps
I’m currently looking for corporate jobs, in supply chains, product development and project management, because now I have figured out that that is where my interests lie.
I’ve also figured out the industries that I like, so I am still being open to what kind of job I get – an entry-level job is more about learning more about the industry.
I would also consider taking on a research role at a university, because I’ve started to enjoy researching things thoroughly.
I had no prior work experience before coming to Queen Mary. I didn’t know how to make a CV, write a cover letter or approach an interview, and that thought was quite scary, particularly for an international student. The Careers and Enterprise Service were really amazing and encouraging, I’ve been to their offices several times and had online meetings – it’s at my own discretion and you can extract the potential out of it.
They encourage every single thing that you want to do. You just ask the questions, and the service is very helpful.
My advice for students starting this course is…
Make the most of the resources the university has provided. Even the small things, for example, Dr Park recommended that we read The Financial Times, and the university has a free subscription of that for us to use, now I get a Financial Times report every Monday that I go through with the top 10 headlines.
In your first few days, note down all the resources you find interesting, and make the most out of them.