Student Tonya Yastrebova explores her interests through a broad engineering degree

Why did you choose the bachelor’s programme in Mechanical & Civil Engineering (previously Computational Engineering), and why did you originally decide to apply to Aalto?

Before my final year of high school, I started exploring university options with a focus on Europe. I knew I wanted to study something related to (applied) mathematics or computer science, as those were subjects I enjoyed at school. I stumbled upon this bachelor’s programme which piqued my interest because it combined all the technical subjects I enjoyed and was good at: mathematics, programming, and physics! I didn’t want my bachelor’s to be too specialised because I wasn’t sure yet what exactly I wanted to do with my career, so choosing something as broad as Mechanical and Civil Engineering seemed like a great plan to me!

My main motivation for applying to Aalto was this specific program that seemed to combine all my interests together, while also being a centrally located university. I was also very intrigued by the freedom to customise our studies with the various electives and minors being offered here.

What has been the most interesting part of your studies?

One of the most interesting parts of my studies has been learning to use different modelling and programming softwares – something I didn’t get to do previously in my studies. For example, during my first year, we were taking the course Numerical Methods in Engineering where we were taught to use MATLAB. I remember it was weirdly organised and the homework assignments were quite difficult, but that’s what made it so fun for me! The next year, I took a master’s level course that introduced me to another software called Mathematica and expanded my knowledge on MATLAB. That was a very valuable learning experience that I probably wouldn’t have been able to get without Aalto’s free approach to studying, where we can really customise our study plan however we want.

What is studying at Aalto like in practice?

I found that in practice, studying at Aalto is not too overwhelming. Following the recommended timetable helps keep your workload manageable throughout the periods, but it is also possible to take more courses for the extra challenge. The courses have a couple of contact points per week, such as lectures and exercise sessions, and the rest of the time is intended for independent work. I find that the teaching is generally well organised and the professors are passionate about their subjects, which helps me stay motivated throughout the year. For independent work, I like to explore study spots in different buildings on campus to find places that suit different kinds of work. You can walk from one side of the campus to the other within 15 minutes, which allows me to explore its different sides.

What is the best part of student life?

I really like the diverse student culture at Aalto! There are so many different events you can participate in throughout the year where you can have fun with your friends but also meet new people. During my first year, I was part of my guild’s student council where I got to organise events together with my classmates. That was a great way for me to adapt to this completely foreign environment while also contributing to the student community!

Another thing I love about student life at Aalto is that our campus has a lot of nature surrounding it. When I’m feeling tired, I love to go on walks on the trail by the water and enjoy the beautiful Finnish nature.

What do you hope for from your future career?

At this point, I’m still exploring what exactly I want to do in the future, which is one of the reasons why I chose such a broad bachelor’s programme. During my studies, I’ve especially enjoyed learning to use modelling softwares, so I would be interested in exploring this area further in my master’s degree. More generally, I hope to have a career that gives me the opportunity to keep learning and trying new things. One of the things I value most about my programme is that it can lead to many different directions, and I’m excited to see where my studies and future experiences will take me.