Ashley Van Bruygom

"I always knew I liked maths and science, probably because it is what I am best at. It was not until I met my A-Level maths teacher, who has a mechanical engineering degree, that I was made aware of the opportunities for women in engineering. I went to a girls' school, so we were encouraged to pursue STEM subjects there and then beyond at university. Coming from that background, I knew there was going to be a bit of an adjustment period going from a "no-boy" environment to one that is still predominantly male.

Loughborough has an engineering history which is what I was drawn to initially. It was not until I came to visit that I completely fell in love. The campus, facilities and extracurricular opportunities are second to none. Loughborough is one of the few universities that offers a dedicated Aeronautical Engineering degree. I am by no means a plane aficionado, but I have always been fascinated by the science behind how they stay in the air. I have now discovered that I am especially interested in aerodynamics and using computational fluid dynamics to predict flow around different objects, not only aircrafts.

I am really interested in a life as a consultant, working on different projects in a slightly faster paced environment than at some engineering firms. I have also found that an engineering degree is extremely transferable. The finance and law sectors are now looking at graduates with STEM degrees, so the world of work is wide open!

Engineering is such an incredible subject to dedicate yourself to with many variations to suit everyone. If you like chemistry, why not try Chemical Engineering? Biology? Bioengineering. There are so many different types of engineering to choose from that you are bound to find something you will love."