Our student experience at Cranfield University as husband and wife

We asked married couple, Sachin and Smaranika about their experience of coming to the UK and studying at Cranfield University as husband and wife…

Why did you both choose to come to Cranfield?

We are husband and wife, who have both worked as Mechanical Engineers in different industries in India. We have always had the ambition to complete our master’s study in the field of Energy and Sustainability as we are driven by the goal of contributing to the Net-Zero plan and the UK was the ideal choice for us. We wanted to specialise in Advanced Mechanical Engineering and gain more technical skills. Also, our decision to come to one of the highly reputed universities in the world has completely changed our lives.

How was the process of getting to Cranfield?

Yes, we are international students from India. When we started the process it was straightforward and very clear on the website. Additionally, there was always continuous support from the Student Immigration team in terms of issuing our Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and the Admissions team in the application process and explaining the requirements for various documents.

Do either of you have a scholarship?

Yes. By God’s grace, we both received a Cranfield scholarship of £2000 which helped in reducing the living expenses. It was a great support from Cranfield University.

What has been a highlight of your course/ experience for you both so far?

The course and experiences have been amazing because of the international exposure and interaction between a diverse group of people from around the world. The modules have been taught in a very innovative way by exploring research topics, understanding the fundamentals and implementing our engineering knowledge using software and tools. The University has an amazing library facility, group meeting rooms for technical discussion and Cranfield’s Student Association (CSA) to relax and enjoy. Also, we had the great opportunity to visit the Farnborough Air Show 2022 which was an international event. We were so excited to see so many aviation leaders and innovative projects that the aviation industry has been working on for the future.

How did you find the group project?

The group project has been one of the best experiences at Cranfield University. Our group was made up of four people from different nationalities and Sachin and I were working in the same group. We had a great time! We all had a unique skill set which helped us to collaborate, guide and motivate one another towards the successful completion of our amazing project on “Modelling of components in supercritical CO2 power cycle.” Our tutor had supported us immensely and conducted regular meetings for review. We learnt a lot and gained many technical skills that will be essential in our future careers.

Have either of you learnt any new skills from the group project?

Yes. There were many different skills that we learnt, but the most important were time management, teamwork, innovation and analytical thinking. Apart from that, we got to learn and use engineering software such as ASPEN, ABAQUS, SOLIDWORKS and Ansys Fluent.

How are your theses going so far?

We are both on the completion stage of our theses. It has been a research-oriented experience for us, I have been working on Inconel 718 alloys and my husband (Sachin) has been working on modelling residual stresses. The research activities were well-planned and discussed in review meetings with our supervisors.

How have you both found studying and being on campus?

We have had a very good time studying and being on campus as we opted for on-campus accommodation, Fedden House. The sports centre and library are our favourite places to spend time.

What do you both do outside of studying?

We have travelled around the UK and been to quite a few amazing places in this beautiful country such as Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London. We are both travel enthusiasts and we have loved the opportunity to see amazing cathedrals, visit fantastic restaurants and hang out in some beautiful gardens around the country.

What are your plans after graduation?

Our plan is to enhance our technical skills and expertise and with our previous work experience and by God’s mercy we would like to start working in an engineering consultancy within the United Kingdom.