My first impression of the Master’s Programme in Aeronautical Engineering

I am three months deep into the Master’s Programme in Aeronautical Engineering, and the journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. Hailing from the Ugandan education system, the transition to Linköping University in Sweden has not only exposed me to a new culture and way of life but has also introduced me to an academic environment that continually surprises and challenges me. With new environments, usually comes new challenges, so staying optimistic is paramount to having a smooth sail.

Here are some of my first impressions about my programme- three observations that have positively struck me the most are as follows;

A fifteen-minute break midway lectures: There is an unspoken rule here at Linkoping University that stipulates that after the first hour of study, there is a fifteen minutes break. This is basically a break where you get to stretch and fika. Fika is a Swedish tradition where you and your colleagues or friends come together for a pleasant time over a simple tea or coffee (with an accompaniment, preferably a sweet bite). Now this might seem like something that is of little significance to many out there, but something like a break for snacks in the middle of a lecture, besides being refreshing, is pure luxury for me. I previously had lectures that ran for four hours straight, no breaks, no blinking, so trust me, while taking in all that “rocket science”, you need those fifteen minutes to catch your breath!

A Practical Learning environment: Moving from a curriculum that was largely “text book” based, where you see motors, engines, drilling machines and other basic machinery only in books, being able to see and touch what is being taught about in class has been a major highlight for me. The term “jet engine” is no longer a myth for me. Besides studying its details in class, I have had the privilege of seeing and touching one at our Valla Campus (picture inset as cover photo). Never in my life had I seen a real-life jet engine, seeing it in close proximity gave me a certain subtle sense of pride that I cannot seem to put in words.  Furthermore, Linköping is the home of Aeronautics in Sweden, with companies like SAAB a superpower in the Aeronautics field and highly-sought-after destinations like the Aerospace Museum.

Use of Software; The level of soft skills imparted to us the students is stunning! This cuts across all the Engineering programmes, but for Aeronautical Engineering in particular, I have so far had the privilege of learning and extensively using software such as MATLAB, Simulink, Hopsan, Open VSP, Ansys Design software, among others. I have also further deepened my knowledge in Data Analysis using Excel. Not to mention that these skills shall be invaluable in the job market after here. With the technical software knowledge I have acquired so far, I could compete favourably with expert software engineers on the market. And what’s more is that as a student, all these software packages, more basic ones like MS Office package, and many more are readily available for download on the student online rooms, and all are free! The unsung bonus is that tutorials to these are freely given in the classrooms.

Bonus: I especially love and appreciate the punctuality of the lecturers for all the courses. The lecturers offer tailor-made assistance to students. This much attention from professors surely guarantees success.

As I eagerly anticipate the upcoming semesters of my educational journey at Linköping University, I am excited to continue immersing myself in the world of aeronautical engineering. These first three months have been a testament to the program’s excellence, from the practical learning experiences to the invaluable software skills acquired. I look forward to penning down more highlights and sharing the continued adventures of my academic pursuit. Cheers to the next chapters!

Yours, Chelsea.

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