Anastasia Ilina
Management Consultant
Materials and Manufacturing are both very important in order to be able to have the products in our everyday lives – from boring things like aluminium cans to super cool virtual reality goggles.
As an engineer or researcher in this field, you can work on driving the medical industry forward, making drugs or implants cheaper, but you can also work on making cutting edge hair driers or autonomous cars.
At the same time, this is the perfect degree for somebody who is somewhat good in technical subjects, but has no idea what to do, as it simply opens the doors to doing just about any profession after… finance, banking, business, whatever you like.
Post 16 Education: IB Diploma, taking HL Maths, Physics & Chemistry, but also enjoying SL Psychology, German & English Literature
Higher Education: BEng Materials Engineering at Loughborough, MSc Industrial Studies, Manufacturing & Management at Cambridge
Why did you choose Materials Science and Engineering?
I was interested in science but didn’t know what I want to do. In the end, the engineering degree really gave me a well-rounded technical education with business skills. It really makes me feel confident that any of my friends from my degree would be great at just about any job they do (whether that’s starting a company down the line or leading a FTSE100 company).
I specifically studied Materials Engineering at Loughborough, because it is a great degree for explaining the way that everyday things are made. It not only explains the nitty-gritty of the chemistry within plastics and metals, but also shows you why this is important in the areas of sustainability, health and even how the prices of things in your supermarket are affected by the materials used.
Anastasia’s experience as a student
I really enjoyed my time at University. Both during my Bachelor’s and my Master’s, I was actively involved in University sports, making great connections with people and building lifelong relationships.
Career
I am currently a Management Consultant focused on manufacturing at a leading management consulting firm. After working at Airbus and Rolls Royce as an engineer in the areas of R&D, manufacturing and innovation, I switched to the consulting path in order to “see more of the world”.
In consulting, one is able to work on endlessly variable projects – from reducing medical costs of the NHS, to helping clothing brands convert the highest possible number of website visitors to buyers. It also means that I constantly get to combine my technical engineering knowledge with my people skills in order to help my clients improve their business and learn how to do new things.
Anastasia’s advice
Don’t worry about not knowing something – you can always learn this when you need it. Do what you’re excited and passionate about, even if it’s a different path from that of your friends, or of the “cool kids”.
If you’re not happy, find what needs to change and change it!
Live in the present, but also don’t forget to think about the future. Pursue a subject that makes you excited, but also having a bit of thought about what kind of jobs this might lead you to.
Sometimes keeping as many doors open as possible is wiser if you don’t know what you want.
Loughborough University offers undergraduate BEng and MEng degrees in:
Materials Science and Engineering / Automotive Materials / Bioengineering / Biomaterials