I am incredibly passionate about the energy transition to a future where our electricity is sourced primarily from renewable energy. The electrical engineering side of that transition is a booming field of research and development, so I was very interested in pursuing a Master’s degree to further my knowledge in the technical aspects of power systems. The MSc in Future Power Networks at Imperial College London included multiple modules on the technologies involved in furthering the energy transition, and my research project allowed me to investigate the stability implications of adding renewables to the grid. Through my Master’s, I was able to gain exposure in this field, enhance my skills, and feed my own curiosity in making electricity more sustainable.
Being an international Master’s student
As an international student, it was important that the university I chose for my Master’s gave me an excellent education. International students incur expenses to attend their courses, so I had high standards for the UK courses I considered. Imperial stood out to me for the research output, global reputation, my course’s modules, and professors. It is an exceptional institution that gave me the education I was looking for.
It was a bit intimidating to move to London and begin a challenging course at a new institution. Fortunately, I was able to meet my coursemates and faculty members in an informal setting, which helped ease the transition. While my course modules were challenging, I was able to succeed through diligent revision and working with my coursemates.
Joining societies
I was really impressed with the wide diversity of clubs at Imperial. I made friends through the basketball club, the hiking club, the surfing club, in addition to those on my course. Though not a member of the official basketball team, I participated in a three vs three league at Ethos (Imperial's sports facility) during the Spring term, and I continued to meet with a group of Imperial students after the term had ended.
I encourage future Master’s students to explore the societies’ web pages and attend the Welcome Fair to visit the society booths.
Many societies will provide free or reduced trial sessions for the first two weeks of the term, which is a great way to try the activities and find something that fits your interests. I imagine some Master’s students will assume that the societies consist only of undergraduate students, but that is hardly the case. The hiking society, for instance, had multiple Master’s and PhD students that went on each hike.
Living in London
I loved living in London! It is a world of its own, with an endless number of things to do. I had never visited the city before moving there, but I really enjoyed my time and would certainly consider moving back.
The ease of transport, history of the city, and plentiful connections to other parts of the UK and Europe are just a few reasons why I grew to really appreciate London.
It has people from all over the world, and that exposure to diverse people and their cultures enriched my experience.
I tried to take advantage of the opportunity to travel while in London. I had only been to Europe once prior to moving to London, so there was plenty for me to explore. While studying my Master’s, I was able to visit Wales, Scotland, France and Spain - all of which were new to me!
Securing a job offer
A few weeks after completing my course, I accepted a job offer to become a Power Systems Engineer II at Electric Power Engineers. I work as a consultant for renewable energy developers, assisting with power system analysis and interconnection applications. My studies helped me determine the type of role I wanted. I am fortunate to be working a job in the exact field where my passion lies. My Master’s also helped me understand what to expect from a PhD. This was something I was very curious about going into my Master’s. Working closely with a PhD student during my thesis gave me a great understanding of what I could look forward to if I pursued a doctorate.
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