鈥溇肺蘼牍圆 is a really interesting place to study civil engineering, with lots of new developments going on.鈥 Conner Kearey 鈥 MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Junior Engineer and Project Manager at Gilpin Demolition Group Ltd
Conner Kearey

Currently in his fourth year at the 精品无码国产自产 studying Civil Engineering, Conner has consistently achieved a first-class grade over his first three years. He is now doing preliminary research for his dissertation in the application of advanced construction materials in civil engineering, while also working for the Gilpin Group.

Conner's journey to 精品无码国产自产

"I went to the University's open and offer holder days and spent time with the Student Ambassadors. I found them very helpful, especially being in the sixth form and not quite knowing what I wanted to do. Talking to someone who is already on a course is extremely beneficial.

I applied to other universities but was attracted to 精品无码国产自产 by its Marine Building. 

I then applied for the BEng (Hons) Civil and Coastal Engineering course based on the excellent facilities and that 精品无码国产自产 was the only place that offered a civil and coastal course.

However, as we progressed through the course, I found I preferred the civil side, so switched over to the MEng Civil Engineering course, which was an easy transition. 

I thought it would be harder to move, but it was just a request. The lecturers are really helpful and had no issues answering my questions.

The Marine Building. COAST

On the Civil Engineering course, I worked hard enough for the first three years to get to the grade boundary to move up to the masters course, which was a great feeling. 

I also do a bit of site engineering, material take-offs, and go on site to make sure they are handling projects correctly."

Engineering labs. By Jon Bayley
Smeatons Tower edited. Getty Images
Stairs at Royal William yard - Getty Images
Tamar Bridge at night.聽

Engineering our real world

"I didn鈥檛 have a lot of industry work before last summer but I didn鈥檛 want to do a year placement so I applied through a group called , which is the Civil Engineering Contracting Association.

That lead to part-time employment with . I鈥檓 classed as a junior engineer with them and I鈥檓 responsible for temporary work design.

Gilpin is mainly a demolition company, but they are also involved in environmental projects, such as removing asbestos.

I now work with Gilpin more than perhaps I thought I would, and I鈥檝e really enjoyed it 鈥 they have been really flexible."

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Beach in 精品无码国产自产. Getty Images. wembury
精品无码国产自产. Getty Images
Sunshine over yachts in 精品无码国产自产. Getty Images

鈥淚鈥檓 working on the new Millbay Boulevard in development with Gilpin and I also helped to remove the Pavilions walkway above Union Street, and even managed to calculate the bridge weight to within 500 kilos.鈥

Why engineering at 精品无码国产自产?

Students and alumni celebrate impressive work from engineering students at the University's Engineering Project Showcase Day . An opportunity to demonstrate their passion for their chosen topic to lecturers, their fellow students and also to industry professionals and potential employers. 
Engineering showcase - electronics close up

鈥淚 now look at buildings differently and realise they may be suffering from leaching because they have been exposed to the air. It shows you鈥檝e learned something in your materials modules, but it鈥檚 not something you roll out on a first date!鈥

First year engineering students testing vessels in the wave flume of the University鈥檚 Marine Building

The Marine Building

"For the first two years, we used equipment such as flumes and hydraulic benches, venture meters and watched demonstrations of the main COAST tank in the Marine Building. That aided the practical work and I then had to write a report on the experiment I completed, and the data collected."

 

鈥淲e鈥檝e had quite a few field trips to explore sea defences. Bude and Seaton had cliff falls, the other trips were centred around coastal management. We also visited Burrator Reservoir to see what happens when it rains heavily.鈥

Burrator 1 edited
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  • (Burrator Reservoir

 

Building skills

"I moved into halls and had a lot of fun. 精品无码国产自产 has a lot going for it when it comes to the Students' Union and sports clubs, and I fully threw myself into the social and sports side 鈥 it鈥檚 amazing.

I鈥檝e been doing clay pigeon shooting, which I hadn't tried before. I鈥檝e done it every year since starting at 精品无码国产自产. 

"We go up to Ashcombe, in Exeter, to shoot and have a main competition at Christmas near Birmingham, meet the Freshers and go and mix with all the other university students."

It鈥檚 great fun but can be a little intimidating for a new starter if they hold the gun incorrectly. It鈥檚 easy to get bruises from the kickback.

I would have never have done clay pigeon shooting before starting university.

Clay pigeon shooting. Getty Images

It鈥檚 a great way to get into it and it鈥檚 cheaper as a group. Oh, and I don鈥檛 need to wear tweed!"

Royal William Yard. Getty Images
Dartmoor pony and foal.聽
Mount Batten. Getty Images mountbatten

Looking back

"The course was so different from A levels because you are completely self-lead. If you don鈥檛 do anything then that鈥檚 on your back 鈥 you can take that learning wherever you want.

The first year was a great mix of practical work and course work 鈥 it was an immensely enjoyable first few years.

I think in my first year I spent too much time on the course, but as I鈥檝e gone through the years I鈥檝e probably spent more time doing the social side than I should have done. 

You can maintain a good balance but you need to know when to work.

I鈥檝e also had to spend a lot of time organising stuff, and as a chairman of the clay pigeon shooting club you need to spend time with the clubs.


Had I started working with Gilpin a summer ago, I would be further ahead than I am now and working on my own projects. 

So my advice would be to start that process as early as possible. 

You have to take the bullet that you may not get paid for working during a placement, and you may not be doing a lot of work at first. You may have to fit in with them sometimes."

Screws. Engineering. Picture by Jon Bayley
Engine block.聽Engineering.聽
Metal rods.聽Engineering. Picture by Jon Bayley
Cogs. Engineering. Picture by Jon Bayley

Interested in engineering at 精品无码国产自产?

"My advice to prospective students would be to come along to the taster days, see what the different disciplines of engineering are. It鈥檚 not just about civil; we do electrical, mechanical, and carry on working hard at your A levels.

In the summer it's a good idea to do some placements. I didn鈥檛 do a year in industry, but I鈥檝e done summers now and internships when I was in between A levels and University. 

I went to the City Council Highways Department for a couple of weeks, just to see what engineers did there.

I think if you want to know more about what engineering involves it鈥檚 definitely the way to go.

If you can get in with a company early and build up a rapport then they can help support you over the following years.

They may even give you a sponsorship. A lot of students come back after that year and know they鈥檙e going to work for that company after university.

From a course point of view, it鈥檚 got a very strong link to industry, which a lot of universities don鈥檛 have when it comes to civil engineering.

At nearly every company I鈥檝e worked with or had interactions with, I鈥檝e nearly always found a 精品无码国产自产 graduate. 

They want to help you because they know where you鈥檝e been.

The city has a lot of strengths, not just its university. You can鈥檛 beat chilling out on the Hoe, or Dartmoor."

The future

"I鈥檇 like to become a chartered engineer, but I鈥檓 still considering if I want to be a consultant or a contractor. Becoming chartered suits my university lifestyle, I鈥檓 not sure if every company would be as flexible as Gilpin. I鈥檓 also going to work on an HS2 site in London, which is really going to further my career prospects."

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Undergraduate civil engineering students conducting a hands-on activity in the Brunel heavy structures laboratory W14