David Hume - MSc Mechanical Engineering

I studied the MSc in Mechanical Engineering. After finishing my MSc I started a new position at Smiths Aerospace, a transatlantic aerospace systems and equipment company.

Doing an MSc definitely puts you in a better position when it comes to applying for jobs and has resulted in getting a position at a level above the standard graduate entry.

Before returning to study I’d worked at Fleetlands, who maintain, repair and overhaul helicopters, engines and mechanical components for the armed services. After a three year apprenticeship and another three years working it had given me tons of experience but I’d started to feel in need of a change.

I decided to do a degree at Portsmouth after it was recommended by a friend. The lecturers here are world class engineers – leaders in their field – so deciding to stay on and do my MSc here was the best decision I ever made. When I chose to do the MSc I was lucky enough to get some funding through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for my tuition fees and a maintenance grant which has helped enormously.

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering could lead to a variety of jobs, but with my background and lifelong interest in engineering I’ve chosen to take my career in that direction.

Smiths design and manufacture fuel systems and aircraft components for military and civil customers. My role will involve both design and testing and is based on Computer Aided Design (CAD) which I used for one of my course projects. I’m looking forward to applying the theoretical knowledge I learned on the course to working on real projects.