Bibi H.A. Rahman

Coming as an international student to UK entails a lot of preparation, planning and money, so choosing the right University in the right location was the utmost important criteria that needed to be considered. At first I found the selection process was overwhelming since there are hundreds of Universities to choose from. So I was really glad when a friend recommended the Times Higher Education Ranking as a reference.

The decision to choose The University of Manchester was then easy to make. The University was in the top 30 spots in the Times Top 200 World Universities Ranking, was number 12 in the Times Good University Guide for Electrical and Electronic Engineering subject, and it also has the largest High Voltage (HV) laboratory of any UK University, backed by The National Grid High Voltage Research Centre. Through word of mouth from friends who have studied there before, I also got to know that the University has an excellent service for international students.

The way the course is taught is very comprehensive and interesting. The lessons taught covered the theoretical knowledge of power system, yet offered a lot of information and insights into actual power system operation and practices. There are also lectures given by visiting professors who are experts in their fields and field trips to well-established companies who are major players in the power system industry such as Areva, Scottish Power, Alstom and National Grid. All these learning methodologies have not only taught me a lot about the basic knowledge of power system, but have also made me realize that this branch of engineering is always developing and advancing in so many ways. Two of the most interesting aspects I learned during my course are about the power supply market structure and the development of sustainable energy. Now I am able to understand more about how the market is structured to enable competition and how energy can be delivered more efficiently and economically to customers. As for the sustainable energy, it was an eye opener to learn how much can be done to help the environment and at the same time to produce power from alternative resources that are more environmentally friendly.

After completing my studies, I will go back to my home country and continue working with my current employer, and hopefully my strengthened understanding of power system engineering will help me solve many issues that arise in my work. I believe with a Masters Degree under my belt, I will achieve greater success and expertise in my future career.