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Joshua Lynch

Civil Engineering (MEng)
Joshua Lynch

I wanted to study at City with its focus on “the professions” and the practical application of theoretical principals.


I wanted to study at a university with a focus toward “the professions” and the practical application of theoretical principals. I wanted to study in the heart of London as the challenges associated with working in a global city that is constantly evolving, is exactly the reason that got me into engineering in the first place.

What was your favourite aspect of your course?

I enjoyed working on a variety of projects based on real-life engineering projects; be it the design of a port, the refurbishment of an existing building, designing a school in a highly seismic region with poor access to traditional construction materials and knowledge… the list goes on. This allowed me to work as part of a team, utilising the course material practically to solve real world problems.

What was the highlight of your time at City?

Graduation! There was nothing more rewarding than celebrating the years of hard work that it took to develop from a school leaver to an engineer with a professional qualification; It granted me the opportunity to reflect on my time at City with the friends that I had made over the years and continue to keep in touch with both professionally and through alumni events at the university.

What was the main benefit of completing a course at City?

The academic staff are passionate about the course as well as their own research, which has obvious merits. This kept me interested throughout my time at City and opened my eyes to subjects that I had previously not considered as being the most interesting. This also provided a wealth of opportunities to discuss the industry with them which is crucial in an industry that is forever changing, and to ascertain early on just what I might want to do after graduation.

How did City prepare you for your chosen career path?

The subject matter that I studied gave me an insight into what different sectors of civil engineering entail, and project work helped me to understand how these sectors interact on a daily basis. I gained both a theoretical and practical understanding of the profession, and learnt how to deliver work in a proficient manner. The career centre helped me prepare for job applications and the lecturers provided great insight into what to expect from the world of work.