Andrea Caristo
"Surrey has an incredible student body with people from all over the world: it’s a great opportunity to get to know people from different cultures, sharing moments in a super-inspiring cultural melting pot."
Course
Bridge Engineering MScGraduation year
2015The University of Surrey was the natural choice for my masters for a few reasons. It is renowned for its research in bridge engineering, which is the area I targeted for my career. It also has a great record for student employability, and great connections within the industry.
Bridges fascinated and inspired me long before I became an engineer because of their economic and social importance, their artistic features and their importance throughout human history. Bridge engineering is also a highly international field, with projects available all over the world.
The thing I most liked about Surrey’s MSc Bridge Engineering was that it provides the perfect balance between theory and practice. It offers a hands-on approach whilst also ensuring that students deepen their technical understanding. Each module includes extensive design content, which helps you to achieve full immersion in the subject.
Being able to propose my own dissertation topic, based on my own interests, was another invaluable part of the experience and has allowed me to start becoming an expert in my chosen field. Thanks to the support of my supervisor at Surrey, I’ve since presented at an international conference, and recently published a paper in a journal linked to the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
I am currently a Bridge Engineer at AECOM, the biggest civil engineering consultancy in the world. My day-to-day work involves designing new structures, assessing existing ones and, recently, conducting site work on the Tamar Suspension Bridge in Plymouth. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to work on both international and UK projects; this has enabled me to engage and work with different teams and get exposed to a varied range of expertise.
What I learnt during my MSc at Surrey gave me a great advantage in finding my current role because I had an up-to-date knowledge of UK and international bridge engineering practices, an excellent overview of European design codes, and a great network of contacts.
I found Surrey a great place to study. I lived in University accommodation on Manor Park and really loved its location – just outside town but very close to it, with easy access to Surrey Sports Park and the lecture halls and library. Surrey has an incredible student body with people from all over the world: it’s a great opportunity to get to know people from different cultures, sharing moments in a super-inspiring cultural melting pot. I’d recommend to any student that they embrace the Surrey experience fully, take part in the events that run almost every day on campus, participate in societies, and just have the time of their life!
Discover our courses in civil and environmental engineering, including our MSc Bridge Engineering.
