Student Profiles
Alden Denzil D'Souza, India
MSc Renewable Energy Systems Technology
Alden completed his Master's course at Loughborough University in 2009. Having studied for a Bachelor degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at RVCE, Bangalore, Alden spent a year working in Energy Management and gained an understanding of the impact of energy on people's lives. Consequently he chose to pursue a career in renewable energy and set his sights on Loughborough University as the pathway to fulfil his goal.
“I come from a middle class Indian family and as someone who has grown up in places all over India I see myself as quite flexible and open minded. I was quite into sports in my childhood but then studied engineering because I fell in love with it. During my time at RVCE I organized massive student festivals and clubs as Chair of my department, performed well in my academic life, and also taught a wind energy class.
“To pursue a career in Renewable Energy I chose the MSc run by CREST (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology) at Loughborough University. It is one of the best programmes in the world and studying under the guidance of such talented and dedicated researchers and professors was a dream come true for me. The scholarship awarded to me was the icing on the cake. Studying for a Master's is a big commitment in terms of time, money and effort and the International Office at Loughborough provided excellent support, in fact the best compared to other universities in the UK and US which offered such programmes.
“The travel arrangements provided by Loughborough University on arrival at Heathrow were really nice and much needed, especially after an eleven hour flight! The Accommodation Centre was efficient and I stayed at Forest Court during my study at Loughborough University. The facilities at Forest Court were good and the location ideal considering that I was in the heart of town and not far from the University. I enjoyed watching football matches in the pubs in town and also some dancing in the Students’ Union. Loughborough University has a lot of events and although my course didn’t give much free time, I feel there is something for everyone to get involved in here.
"The people in Loughborough are friendly and the farmers’ market is something you shouldn’t miss. There are many places close to Loughborough town which are ideal for those quick short trips on weekends. The town of Loughborough is very well connected with the rest of the UK and is also safe.
"The Department has strong links with industry and provides everything that I expected for a Master’s programme. I met people from all over the world in my Master’s programme and had the opportunity to work with them throughout the course. This has helped me to communicate better in a multicultural environment and understand how people in different countries approach problem solving. I used the alumni database to find a project with a company for my MSc thesis which helped me to build on the knowledge I had acquired on the course. The Student Support Centre, the Graduation Office, the Careers Centre and my department provided excellent support when needed, especially concerning my visa.
"After graduating I worked as a Wind Analyst with a company called Dulas and developed the technical design of a 10MW commercial wind farm in the UK. I hope to continue working in the wind industry and doing my bit to save the environment.
"I would definitely recommend Loughborough University to international students for the following reasons:
1. Excellent student support facilities
2. Strong industrial links and very good reputation amongst employers
3. Very friendly staff
4. A truly global experience."
January 2010
Masha Mani, India
MSc Advanced Manufacturing Engineering & Management
Masha completed her BEng Mechanical Engineering at Sathyabama University and decided to undergo her Masters in the UK as it provides a high quality of education and professionally recognised qualifications. Masha was awarded the Loughborough University International Scholarship on the basis of her outstanding academic achievements and potential. She talks here about her experience at Loughborough University:
At first I was in a dilemma if I should leave my sweet home and family and fly abroad but I had the inner feeling that I am certainly a winner and not a loser.
I figured Loughborough to be among the top rated Universities by visiting the British Council exhibitions, University visits to India and Web ratings. Especially for my course, I found that Loughborough was one of the top 3 ranking Universities in the UK. I greatly appreciate the support I received from the International Office, in particular from David Chapman.
When I arrived in Loughborough I started enjoying every moment living a completely different life from my home country. Initially, I experienced the culture shock but eventually got used to it and now it turns out to be a memorable past. I enjoy my course and the curriculum designed for it gives thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject where the time is sensibly distributed for both the exams as well as project works. I enjoyed my dissertation to a greater extent which tied me up with new concepts, researches and validation with industries.
The University is a positive environment which provides abundant inbuilt facilities like library resources, laboratories, students’ union, careers service, social clubs, sports and extracurricular activities.
Although University accommodation has good facilities, I chose a private facility named ‘Mezzino’ as it is right in the town centre which offers privacy and easy access locally. The university halls have a totally different life from the private ones, but I enjoy being with my multi-cultured friends in a newly built apartment.
Although it’s fun and entertaining with varied culture, it has always been a challenging environment to work in. My journey continued with my job hunting where I faced the ups and downs but with the presence of the almighty, I succeeded in my career too. Currently, I am working for the leading worldwide manufacturing company ‘Cummins’ which gives me a great experience and satisfaction at work.
I would strongly recommend students to take up the challenge in Loughborough, especially to the International Students as they can prove their skills and talents in a very distinguished way. Moreover the reputation that Loughborough has among the UK employers is absolutely credible and the expectations from the students are also equally high. I wish all the success for the forthcoming potential students.
I would like to thank the almighty, family, friends and individuals who were supportive in my activities. I thank the International Office for standing beside me and guiding me always.
October 2008
Atmanand Jha , India
PhD Civil & Building Engineering
Atmanand arrived at Loughborough in April 2003 and is currently in the middle of his postgraduate research into Hydrodynamic Modelling. He is the current Chair of the Loughborough International Students Association (ISA). After completing his Masters in Water Resource Engineering at IIT-Bombay, Atmanand researched some of the premier Universities across the whole of Europe. He chose Loughborough because of it’s major reputation in Engineering. Atmanand says:
“…the facilities on campus are some of the most advanced and modern of their kind. Also, the quality of the research work carried out at the Engineering faculty is, in my opinion, some of the best in the world. As well as the academic life, Loughborough is also known for having one of the largest Student Unions in the country and a good social life on a large, safe campus. All these factors led me to choose Loughborough as the right University for me.
“My experience of Loughborough University so far has been excellent. The Research Students Office, the accommodation services, the Civil & Building Engineering department and the International Office all helped me to settle in quickly. I also joined the International Students Association immediately and met many new people quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the ISA from my first organised trip to Edinburgh where I met 50 new people! I want other people to experience the benefits of the ISA which is why I now Chair the association.
“Apart from everything I have already said, I would recommend Loughborough to international students for the following reasons:
- The town is a student town and local residents are very friendly.
- The location of the University is perfect for seeing UK because it is central with excellent transport links to other parts of the country by rail, road and air.
- The engineering faculty is one of the best in the UK.
- Loughborough University is unquestionably the best for sports – either for competition or occasional participation.
January 2005
Ajith Venkateswara Pai, India
MSc Automotive Systems Engineering
01/01/2005: After graduating from the College of Engineering at the University of Kerala in 1999, Ajith began a career in the automotive industry in India. Therefore, when he began researching the appropriate institutions to study Automotive Engineering, one of his key requirements was to find a University with strong industrial links and a very practical element to the learning. Ajith explains:
“I began an internet search and soon realised that Loughborough University is one of the best universities in the UK for Engineering. Also my Managers in India recommended Loughborough because of the papers submitted to the Society of Automotive Engineers. I am in the R&D Powertrain group of TVS Motor Company and Loughborough covers this subject area extensively. Most importantly, many students on the course are experienced staff from world leaders in the automotive industry – Ford, Landrover, Jaguar – and it is important that I surround myself with this quality of practical knowledge.
“The international office and the MSc Course Director and Administrator made the process very easy for me. They generally replied to my questions with 24 hours and helped me get accommodation and a bank account. Also, I think it is excellent that Loughborough University provides a free pick-up coach from Heathrow airport when international students arrive in England.
“I would definitely recommend Loughborough to other International students, especially from my country, India. The support and advice offered by the International Office staff before, during and after my arrival was of the highest quality. The academic staff and facilities (for example, the library) are excellent and the whole atmosphere at Loughborough is perfectly suited for both studying and socialising”.
01/01/2007: Ajith graduated in July 2006 where he received two awards from his department: (1) Best MSc student of the Year and (2) Best full-time Project of the Year. Ajith has now returned to the R&D Powertrain group of TVS Motor Company in India.
January 2005 & January 2007