Curious to find out what a typical day would be for an engineering student? Find out why Asa chose to study Civil Engineering, and what she thinks about the reality of student life...

Hi there! Or as the Geordies say, “HOWAYYYY MAN.”

My name is Asa and I am currently in my final year of BEng Civil Engineering at Newcastle University.

My path to Newcastle wasn’t as straightforward as others. I came to Newcastle through Clearing, and arrived on my first day having never visited before! However I was quickly blown away by Newcastle’s charm and friendly people. I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time here and believe that it has shaped the person I am today.

Having grown up in London, it was nice to escape the hustle and bustle of a busy metropolitan city. Newcastle has a mixture of everything. From the Quayside to the beach and with it being a little cheaper you can do much more.  It attracts many different people from around the world, so I’ve been lucky to meet people from all walks of life and have experienced a variety of cultures.

I chose Engineering due to my loves of physics and mathematics, but also because I am quite a creative person and the course at Newcastle gives you the opportunity to work with architects and assist them in their designs.

For years 1-3 you are taught with a linear timetable meaning every week is quite similar with a variety of site visits and events, along with some surveying out in the snow! I’m now in my fourth year and I am taught in blocks, giving me the freedom to conduct my own learning and research. In engineering we do a lot of group projects so you can interact with everybody on the course whilst building key attributes employers look for, such as teamwork and leadership.

I have also been lucky to have had access to a huge array of societies and clubs during my time at Newcastle. I am an active member of the Newcastle University Boat Club which competes both nationally and internationally as we are one of the top clubs in the country! This has allowed me time to unwind after a busy day of lectures but also meet new people within the university.

A typical day for me would start at the university gym for rowing circuits.

I would then head to the Engineering building for a couple of hours of theoretical lectures. In my lunch break I sit in the Engineering common room and chat to the other engineers who may study different specialities. I’m lucky that my dissertation supervisor is upstairs so if I have a query I can quickly go and ask them about it.

My afternoons vary from computer labs to workshops and more practical sessions to put into practice what was learnt in the morning. I enjoy this way of learning as it means I can consolidate all the new material. I end my day at the University Boat club in Newburn on the water or at home in the lovely student area of Jesmond.

There are many misconceptions with engineering being a “boys only” degree. The course at Newcastle offers a variety of modules from climate change resilience to architecture, water treatment and concrete structures. There really is something for everyone.

I arrived at Newcastle having come through Clearing and I will leave as a British Rowing University Champion, having secured a graduate job at one of the UK's top Engineering firms, and with enough memories to last a lifetime.

Interested in finding out more about Engineering at Newcastle University? Discover the practicalities of our different Engineering degrees, career prospects, and opportunities to study abroad in our Engineering subject page.

Interested in learning more about Civil Engineering? Chat with an academic to ask your questions one-on-one. Book your slot and schedule a time that works for you.