Sarbjit’s Cranfield journey and the Hingston scholarship

My name is Sarbjit Kaur Gill and I am currently studying an MSc in Advanced Materials. During my undergraduate degree I enjoyed studying the materials related modules, therefore I decided to pursue this further. With the effects of climate change becoming more and more prevalent, the materials industry is set to be one of the most, if not the most, vital areas of evolution in the coming decade. Whilst researching materials related postgraduate courses, I came across Cranfield. Coming from an aerospace background I was immediately fascinated by the airport at the University.

The modules of Advanced Materials MSc allow for a deeper understanding of materials, their properties, and the selection process. In particular, the composites manufacturing for high performance structures module intrigued me, as it will provide awareness of the emerging manufacturing process involved in the development of composites. Furthermore, the course at Cranfield piqued my interest as it also discusses management as well as the selection processes; these will be tremendously useful and improve my employability for the future.

Receiving the Hingston scholarship is a great honour for me. Not only has it helped me to be one step closer to my goal of becoming a chartered engineer, but it has indicated to me that I am seen as having potential to contribute to the future of engineering. Furthermore, it has allowed me to pursue further education without stressing about the finances.

My interest has always been in the STEM subjects and, as such, I have always been one of very few women in the room. Growing up I had not seen many women in these positions, studying engineering subjects and from a young age it was never really reinforced towards girls. I hope to be in a position where I can be a role model to girls in school whilst they are choosing their subjects for GCSE or A-level, just to show them that it is normal and natural for women to be in this position.

For anyone thinking about coming to Cranfield I would say the University offers the most unique experience. At Cranfield not only do you gain amazing education from professors who are passionate about their subjects, but you also get to meet amazing people from all over the world. I genuinely believe that Cranfield is one of the very few places in the UK that can provide such a unique experience. You get to experience different cultures, different languages and different traditions, it expands your mind.