Euan’s Story

Moving from France to Edinburgh was a big leap into the unknown for Euan, which was made more complicated with the pandemic coinciding with the start of his studies.

When campus life resumed, Euan enjoyed all that Heriot-Watt had to offer, including a range of competitive sports, the opportunity to build lasting friendships, and engaging in face-to-face teaching. He was offered a role from Subsea7 before even beginning his final year of studies.

What programme did you study and why did you choose it?

I picked Civil Engineering because I thought I would really enjoy learning about large structures such as bridges and skyscrapers. It was the best decision I ever made and enjoying the degree made it much easier to keep going when times got tough.

What were the key differences you found between studying/living in France and Scotland?

There is a lot more face-to-face lectures in France, with most days being 8am-5pm in classes. In Scotland, it seems to be more relaxed, with less lectures and more self-learning. Another difference is that in France, internships are mandatory and part of the degree, especially in final year. Whereas here it is optional (but recommended). Finally, the biggest difference I found is the environment around sports, with a wide variety of teams and competitions to choose from in Scotland.

What extra-curricular activities have you gotten involved with?

Once the pandemic was over, I joined the University’s American Football team. It was a great experience, and I ended up being Team Manager for my last two years and receiving a volunteering award in the process. During the last 2 years, I was also a teaching assistant and lab demonstrator, helping run concrete labs for 3rd year students.

What unique opportunities have you had during your studies?

During my studies, I was able to attend construction site visits, Construct-Ed (1 week experience), scaled-model building competitions, conferences and award nights.

For summer placements, I was able to intern at Mott Macdonald as a geotechnical engineer and at Subsea7 as an offshore structural engineer.

What advice do you have for students?

A strong foundation in core principles, whether it's structural analysis, materials, or maths, will make everything in later years much easier to learn. Don’t aim to just pass modules, aim to truly understand the 'why' behind what you're learning. It will pay off when things get more complex. Also, stay curious, work with others, and do your best to network with industry.