Sheffield- The City

Written by: Birju Galaiya

Hi guys, in this blog I shall give you a glimpse of what makes Sheffield a great city to live in. Over the last two years I have become accustomed to the reliable transport system, the friendly people and the buzzing city centre.

The one thing I find great about Sheffield is the blend between the city centre and the countryside- a seamless transition that allows you to experience the best of both worlds; a vibrant shopping and social area in the middle of the city and a scenic countryside scattered with many hills. In the city, there are numerous shops ranging from the top brands to smaller outlets and a massive market which caters for a diverse population. The University itself is integrated into the city and therefore giving you a chance to interact with the locals. As you move away from the centre it is evident that Sheffield is the greenest city in Britain- it offers a rich variety of open spaces including parks where I usually tend to go for a run. Few of the parks have ponds and it’s a perfect location for a picnic or even relaxing for a while especially in the summer.

If you like going out at night you won’t be disappointed. There are many affordable clubs in the city that will ensure you have a great time with your friends. From pop to hip-hop, you shall find what you are looking for and the amazing thing about it is that the clubs are walking distances away from each other! 

Getting around Sheffield is really convenient. From University, the city centre is a walking distance away. The public buses are reliable and they come in handy when you are running late for lectures having overslept! Sheffield also has a tram system known as the Supertram. Using a tram is perfect if you want to travel towards the outskirts of the city where there is a shopping centre called Meadowhall which has over 280 stores. Also, the tram takes you to the Centerainment Valley leisure park which is a great destination for bowling, laser quest, cinema, mini golf and dining. Having been there a few times, I can say it’s a good break away from university campus and you do have a great time.

During Halloween and Christmas period, the city centre is transformed into the respective themes. The stunning lighting facade on buildings and streets make the city lively. Many rides and activities are available for the public to experience and unique food stalls providing hot food in the cold. During Christmas, if you are not going back home you won’t have to be worried of staying alone. Many students tend to stay back and the university organises different activities which you can attend for free and make new friends. Visiting the festivities in the city centre will definitely be an experience you won’t forget.

For those who are interested in sporting activities, Sheffield is the right place for you. Every Saturday there is a free Sheffield Hallam 5km timed parkrun. For those football fans there are numerous pubs and bars all around the city while if you want a real experience you can walk down to Bramall Lane and watch Sheffield United fight it out. The stadium atmosphere is incredible regardless of the outcome of the match. One can also watch ice hockey and learn how to ice skate.

I can summarise it up by saying that Sheffield offers many fantastic opportunities for all. I love it here and so will you!

  

What do you actually learn in Mechanical Engineering?

Written by: Birju Galaiya

Well, to answer this question you need to go back and define engineering. It is the ‘application of scientific, economic, social, and practical knowledge in order to invent, design, build, maintain, and improve structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes’ (Wikipedia). Mechanical Engineering is the broadest type of engineering and focuses on the usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools. 

 In my two years, I have developed a better understanding of how machines operate, why certain things are the way they are in terms of design and how the different type of engineering disciplines are interlinked to each other. In this blog I shall take you through some of the things we learn as part of our course and their applications in industry.

In my first year, we were taught the basic fundamentals- algebraic mathematics which is useful in solving problems, the magnitudes forces acting on a body and the implications of these forces, the microstructure of a substance and the relation to its properties (e.g what makes a material strong), thermodynamics (study of heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work), design skills which included drawing and understanding the importance of design and finally a touch of management (costing, managing a engineering project). These topics we learnt were quite detailed and supplemented by weekly lab sessions where we would put what we learnt to practice. For example, as a group we designed and carried out an experiment test a copper wire for its properties i.e. tensile strength and Young’s Modulus (its stiffness). After testing it and collecting the various data, calculations were done and we wrote a lab report explaining our findings and linking them to the theory we learnt in lectures. An application of this could be in the cables needed to operate a lift- the cables would need a material that has a high tensile strength to support the passengers. Engineers calculate how strong the cables have to be and reduce the likelihood of the cables snapping. Quite complex but interesting! 

  In the 2nd year, the structure was similar but the semester was much denser as a lot of content needed to be covered. We did a module about electric circuits which included electromagnetic induction, D.C and A.C circuits and network analysis. All machines are integrated with electric circuits so it is important to learn the concepts of circuits. 

We also used Solidworks in modelling a small wooden bridge we had to design to support a load. The software lets you simulate the bending that would occur when the load is placed and gives you an idea of where the bridge is at the weakest point. This is known as structural analysis and engineers use this to analyse structures like buildings, bridges and machines to see whether they are safe to use. 

Also, we used was MATLAB where we used mathematical equations to understand main concepts of vibration. Vibration analysis is really important to ensure the integrity of a machine- if it vibrates at certain frequencies it can be dangerous. A suspension of a car relies on dampers that reduce the vibration caused by the surface contact between the wheel and the uneven road. Engineers simplify the system into a model where they calculate the safe limit of vibration allowed. 

 Finally, the finance part of engineering is as important as the design itself. We learnt about the laws engineers and firms need to follow especially the laws of patents and environment. Managing a large engineering project is a key skill required. As groups we were given several imaginary projects that we had to manage in terms of ensuring costs don’t exceed, the solution provided was viable (good return of investment) and to ensure all employees are integrated into a team that would deliver the project on time. It was quite challenging task to manage all these factors but it was a good experience that will definitely help me in the future when assigned a project in a firm. 

There is so much more that we learn in our course!

You can look at the modules you will study at Mechanical Engineering Modules

 Thank you.

What to do with my Mechanical Engineering Degree?

What to do with my Mechanical Engineering Degree?

Written by: Birju Galaiya

In this blog I will explore the career paths a Mechanical Engineering Student can follow once they have finished their degree. Apart from the degree the University offers you, they support you in every possible way they can to perhaps help you find a part-time job, build your skills or apply for a graduate scheme.

Have you ever thought about what you’re really going to do once you have gained a degree? Which would be your ideal company? What you want to specialize in and what is going to be the future trends in the engineering industry? Well, most of you wouldn’t have given deep thoughts but I don’t blame you- you have enough on your plate at the moment focusing on passing exams. I was the same.

But I think it’s really important to have a plan on what your aspirations are. Yes, you will study for 3

or maybe 4 years. Then you need to look for a job. This I believe is the hard part. Mechanical Engineering is the broadest kind of engineering where you could end up working in the aerospace industry, building services, energy sector or in the transport and automotive sector. It’s really up to you which industry you are interested in! Personally, I am keen in joining the energy sector and the rail industry. In the end whichever industry you want to join- they want the same thing from you: a good set of skills that supplement your degree. In order for you to do this you need to create a CV- a profile of your achievements and the type of skills you possess.

The Careers Service at the University of Sheffield supports students in their quests for jobs in a number of ways. They help you develop and perfect your CV by facilitating a one-on-one session with a careers advisor who guides you through the process. Furthermore, throughout the year, they have talks and workshops targeting a particular group of students. For example they would have a talk about how international students can get part-time jobs and what they need to do in terms of visa restrictions. The talks are very helpful, especially for international students. Other talks include ways on improving the way students fill in job application forms. Also, you can undertake workshops where you can, including others, improve on your communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

When it comes to the tests and interviews most companies now have, it is important for you to be prepared for them thoroughly to increase your chances of success in a competitive job market. The Careers Service frequently carries out mock tests and interviews which you can use to prepare yourself. I have taken few of these tests and I can say that they build up your confidence and give you hints about what you need to put more effort in.

Once you graduate, you have to apply for a job. Without much industrial experience this becomes much harder and for that reason many students now try supplement their studies with real industry work experiences such as a summer internship and a year out in industry. The university makes it a bit easier for you as they advertise many internship opportunities available for students rather than you having to search online (hassle!). Every semester, the university hosts a careers fair for all types of courses (not only engineering) where employers come into campus and advertise their vacancies. These fairs are important as you not only make good contacts with the recruiters but you can ask them whether the job would suit you or any other job related queries. These fairs are really popular and the number of students that turn up for them is incredible.

Recently, the Careers Service introduced a mentoring scheme where current students are put in contact with Alumni in industry. I just finished this scheme and having a former student talk to you about how you can develop your career is really helpful especially because they have been in your shoes so they can advise you on what you can do.

I hope I have not scared you guys by talking about your future careers but it’s a worth a thought. The University has been very supportive in this regards and has made it much easier for students like me to explore their potential. If you want to know more about a career in Mechanical Engineering, please feel free to ask me. J

What does the University offer?

Written by Birju Galaiya

In this blog I will explore into what the university offers in terms of the facilities and support for students. It is really important for all the students to be satisfied with the services provided to them- whether it is directly related to their studies (e.g. library resources) or help them undertake activities outside their course (e.g. sports). I have been impressed by the facilities available to us- it just makes the university experience complete!

As always, with studying being a priority for all students, the University has 3 libraries that students can use for their study time. The biggest of them is the Information Commons that delivers high quality IT-enabled study spaces and 24 hour access to student materials. Having 6 levels, it has study desks where students can read or plug in a laptop, soft-seating areas where students may work informally or relax and specially allocated space for silent study (too silent for my liking!). It also has a 24hour café to cater for those students who are lazy to go back home. Being up to date with technology, the computer system allows you to book computers, group rooms and text books in advance. There are plenty of text books available in all the libraries allowing you to refer to them during revision.

There is a dedicated team of staff that provides computing facilities for students to meet all their learning, research and development needs. It maintains over 1400 computers across the campus together with the printing machines, ensuring they are functioning at all times. With their Laptop Loan Service, students can borrow laptops for free. Also, students are also allowed to borrow creative media equipment such as video cameras which students can use for their society events or even module assignments.

If things are not going right for you, there is always someone you can talk to in the Student Advice Centre. Whether it’s something personal, course related or accommodation problems, you can always count on their advice. It’s all fun and games when you’re healthy and keeping well until you hit rock-bottom. I experienced that during my first semester in second year when I fell ill for more than a month. You feel weak, miss home and a lose appetite. Frustrating as it may be, you have to attend lectures so you do not miss out on topics. Thankfully, the University’s Health Service really assisted me during this rough time. Booking for appointments to see a doctor was not too much of a hassle and you do not have to wait for a long period of time for you to get an appointment. I had a blood test taken at a nearby hospital that gave doctors more information about my condition. The doctors were very understanding and gave me advice and prescriptions on how to get better quickly. Overall, I was pleased by the services they provided.

Being a sport fanatic, I was hoping for great sporting facilities that I could use and yes- Sheffield delivered. The University’s own centre for sports- Sport Sheffield has a lot to offer including several floodlit football and hockey pitches, a swimming pool, state of the art gym, badminton courts and a bouldering wall for the daredevils. You can join the different intra-mural leagues where teams compete against each other while also getting a chance to have a break from studies. Sheffield, known for its hills, has been a brilliant place for me to explore my running- I enjoy running in the numerous parks, hills and get a chance to see some beautiful scenery Sheffield has to offer. If not Sport Sheffield, Sheffield offers other venues such as the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre which as an Olympic-sized 50m swimming pool. Whatever sport you are interested in, you won’t be disappointed.

These are just some of the things the University offers. There are loads more!