Lukas Hetnöcker, eighth semester student in Mechanical Engineering. He is pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree, 1-subject programme.
What made you choose this degree programme?
I was an engineering enthusiast even as a child. Back at school, I developed an interest in the energy revolution and in regenerative energies. Consequently, I knew from the very start that I would opt for an engineering degree. The mechanical engineering degree at RUB was a particularly attractive option, because you don’t choose a major until the 5th semester. If I had realised at some point during the degree course that I’d prefer majoring in a different subject, I would have been free to go for it. Some of my fellow students have changed their mind about the subject of choice during the first 4 semesters and have settled for a different major than they’d originally planned. However, I have seen my interests confirmed, which is why I chose energy and process engineering as my major in the 5th semester.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
At the start of the mechanical engineering course, you expect to be able to handle large machinery and be taught about the latest technological developments. However, the basic courses, which comprise the first 4 semesters, are very theoretical. The typical questions emerged: “What will I ever need this for?” and “Do I really want to do this till the end of my life?” Starting with the 5th semester – following the choice of the major – the degree course got very interesting. In hindsight, I appreciate that many of the mathematical principles taught in the basic course are necessary. And once you recognise a direct relevance for an engineering problem, it stops being dry maths, because you know what you “need it for”.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
I enjoyed calculating plants or components based on realistic standards, i.e. 1:1, the way it is done in the industry. In construction engineering, for example, we designed a go-cart, and in thermodynamics the turbine for a steam power plant.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
The greatest challenge is maintaining your motivation throughout the exam phases and not losing sight of your goals. In mechanical engineering, exams are written during the semester break. This means that after the semester ends, you don’t get to enjoy a 10-week holiday; instead, you will spend a lot of time revising. At some point, motivation dwindles. In moments such as these, it is important to have fellow students who help you struggle through these difficult times.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
The mechanical engineering degree at RUB opens up many possibilities. Your chosen major can point you in a particular direction; but thanks to the basic courses, you will have acquired a range of expertise that will enable you to work in other fields, too. This is why my future place of work should be very diverse and provide an ongoing stream of challenges. This will ensure that my work will never get boring and I will continue to learn something new.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
In order to pursue a mechanical engineering degree, you must not have an aversion against mathematics – maths will be inevitable. But don’t worry: the moment you use maths to solve concrete technical problems, rather than schematically, it can be a lot of fun! And don’t let the basic courses discourage you; you will need those basics one day, even though you will only realise that in hindsight.
Niklas Küppers is a Mechanical Engineering student in his 10th semester. He is pursuing the Master of Science degree.
What made you choose this degree programme?
My interest in energy engineering was roused following my first encounters with thermodynamics, taught in physics resp. chemistry at school. However after my A-levels, I was also interested in a number of non-engineering subjects, those including maths, music and architecture. I made the decision to study mechanical engineering after a gap year (volunteering in social work, internships). The internships in particular gave me an insight into what my future job as an engineer might look like. As a result, I was convinced that taking up the mechanical engineering degree was the right thing to do.
In which respect have or haven’t your expectations been fulfilled?
The mechanical engineering degree course at RUB is subdivided into two parts: the “first four semesters” and the “rest”. In the first four semesters, students are confronted with many subjects that are not yet interesting at this stage. You have to get used to the format of (frontal) lectures and the (for the most part) challenging exams. Due to the rigid structure, you might at first feel like you’re back at school, which can be frustrating.
The later part of the degree course, on the other hand, offers a wealth of major fields of study, and you have the option to choose your subjects at will. In that phase, you will acknowledge that the basics through which you struggled in the first four semesters were perhaps not very interesting, but that they have been fundamental for understanding the subsequent modules.
Which aspect of your degree programme do you enjoy most?
It is very satisfying to immerse yourself in issues and subjects you knew nothing about and to deepen and broaden your understanding in the process. Because you can choose your major fields of study, you will be able to improve your competencies in those subjects that you are genuinely interested in.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Organising a “Transcript of Records” in English and the first exam phase.
What would you like to become after completing your degree?
I would like to work as project manager the field of energy and process engineering on an international level. At present (August 2016), I am also tempted to start my own business in this field. The mechanical engineering degree at RUB has prepared me for both options, in my opinion.
Which advice would you like to give to students who consider enrolling in this degree programme?
The importance of the much-cited “early interest in engineering” for the mechanical engineering degree is overrated, I think. The degree programme is indeed very demanding, but everyone struggles with the same hurdles. Students who didn’t take advanced maths in the sixth form can (but don’t have to) compensate for it by attending preliminary courses at university; in physics and chemistry, the modules then pick up where the school curriculum left off. As to the other subjects, they will also be new to many of the students who have been interested in engineering. You should not let the first setbacks discourage you; only a small minority passes the exams on the first attempt.
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