Portrait of Jacob, MSc student

Why did you choose ISAE-SUPAERO?

Even before I started my bachelor, I had always wanted to do aerospace engineering, however, there is not much scope for this industry in South Africa. I therefore decided to do my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and pursue a master’s in aerospace engineering thereafter. I chose ISAE-SUPAERO as the programme looked interesting and the fact that the institute has close ties with industry. Ultimately, my goal is to work in aerospace engineering in Europe and learning from members of industry, and also completing an internship in the final semester, are perfect ways to learn and grow as an engineer.

How was the arrival process for you?

The arrival process was fairly smooth for me. The Toul’box package was very helpful; it definitely made things a lot easier and helped to take a lot of the stress of moving countries away. Other than that, it took me a little bit of time to adjust to living in Europe; it is very different to what I am used to, but overall, I settled into my new environment quite quickly.

How were these first months of studies here?

The first few months here have been good for me. I find that some of the courses are probably more helpful for me as I do not come from an aerospace engineering background, and I am therefore learning certain things for the first time. Overall, I feel that I have adapted well to the aerospace curriculum from my background in mechanical engineering.

How do you find life on Campus?

I find it quite different to life in my bachelor. I think this is partly because almost everyone lives on campus together, which creates a different but fun atmosphere. There are also a lot of different clubs on campus, from sports and cultural clubs to student run technical clubs. Most students are members of multiple clubs, and it feels like there is always something happening on campus.

The strong assets of the MSc ?

I think the biggest advantage about ISAE-SUPAERO, and what differentiates it from other institutions, is the close ties that it has with industry. We receive lectures both from academics and from people coming from industry which provide a different perspective to the content that is being taught.

Any career goal or projects during your 2 years of Master?

My main goal after completing the masters is to work in Europe. One aspect of the masters that interested me and coincides with my goal was the mandatory internship that is completed in the final semester of the programme. This allows one to get industry experience before graduating, which is a major benefit in trying to find work after the masters.

Discover more of ISAE-SUPAERO’s aerospace engineering degrees.