Savannah Pascall: When I was in college, I used to feel quite lost. I don’t feel like that here.

I was amazed at the amount of practical work on the BEng Electronic Engineering course when I came for an open day.

I previously studied software development at college. I had an enthusiasm for computers, but I didn’t want to be stuck at a desk all the time. After I left, I took a gap year which turned into four years of retail work. I didn’t enjoy it, so I looked into applying to university. 

I was amazed at the amount of practical work on the BEng Electronic Engineering course when I came for an open day. After I saw the lab equipment and facilities on offer, I knew I wanted to come to Portsmouth.

As an older student, I worried I wouldn’t be as skilled as others on my course. Since I’ve been out of study for a while, I’ve had to relearn organisational skills. Managing my time across modules is important for me to succeed.

The support from my tutors is never-ending. I always have resources to help – from the Maths Café to weekly lab support sessions. Being able to overcome challenges is the best feeling. The sort of stuff you learn here prepares you for real world experiences – and that’s hard to come by. 

When I was in college, I used to feel quite lost. I don’t feel like that here. There is so much support available - not only from staff but from my colleagues too. There's a sense of cooperation between everyone. It’s really nice to go far on your own, but it’s even better when I can do it with the support of the Uni and my fellow students. 

I spend my day in the labs, working on a range of projects. I know a lot of students head to the library, but I use my free time to get the most out of the facilities. 

Recently, I created an Electronic Die on a 7 LED display in an ‘H’ formation as part of the Principles of Digital Systems module. This uses discrete logic of components to mimic the spots on a dice. 

I needed to troubleshoot problems like an incorrectly installed component and a missed connection.  Being able to put in place what I’ve learned in lectures into a successful project is always exciting. 

I’m part of the Electronic Engineers Society. It’s great to work alongside my peers, and we’ve visited engineering and technology companies like TÜV SÜD and Airbus. It’s a great chance to meet people in the industry, and get to know what they do. 

I’ll definitely do a placement year. I’ve spoken to other students who’ve done placements at places like BAE Systems and CERN. I’d like to get involved with researching health and safety at large companies, too.