Taimur Khan

Taimur Khan is an undergraduate student at the University of Leeds who studies Civil and Environmental Engineering BEng at the School of Civil Engineering.

Choosing to study at Leeds

When making the decision to come to Leeds, its reputation for excellent teaching was something that stood out to Taimur: “The University of Leeds ranks as one of the best universities in the country for civil engineering and is part of the prestigious Russell group of universities, so it was always on my radar as a university to consider. I had previously visited the university during my A Levels, and I really loved the friendly and vibrant atmosphere around campus. I had the chance to speak to several lecturers and students who were all extremely friendly and passionate about their study areas, which was great to see.

Prior to joining the university, I dove deeper into the modules on offer and was very impressed with the wide selection of modules on offer. The civil engineering course offered a wealth of contact time with a high emphasis on group projects and practical learning. The university is also known for its careers department, and it is one of the best in the country for its employability, so I knew I was on the right track!”

The university is also known for its careers department, and it is one of the best in the country for its employability, so I knew I was on the right track!

Picking the right degree

Taimur is currently studying BEng Civil and Environmental Engineering with a year in industry. Speaking about his course, Taimur said: “The course offers a wide variety of modules over the duration of the degree which helps keep my interest and motivation high. My favourite part of the course is being able to implement the theory taught in lectures and tutorials during the variety of practical sessions on offer. I took part in the Civil Engineering Surveying camp which was held at the CITB construction college in Kings Lynn. This was a great way to utilise the knowledge gained in lectures in a practical setting using the same equipment that would be used in a real construction project.

The best aspect of this course was doing the design projects. The Integrated Design Project (IDP) occurred in every year of my degree and has been a great way for me to be creative and to use my own ideas towards a project. The projects involve using software such as Revit and Robot to create and visualise designs and the support offered by lecturers throughout was brilliant.”

Gaining industry experience

Our civil engineering courses offer a variety of flexibility from optional modules to adding in a year in industry. Speaking of his year in industry, Taimur said: “I worked for a contracting company, GRAHAM construction, working as a site engineer in the highways division as part of the Construction Works Framework (CWF) with National Highways. The reason behind undertaking a placement year was to gain practical experience and to implement the theory gained at university into real life projects.

“I would certainly recommend a placement year to any undergraduate at the university as it boosts your employability prospects and gives you the chance to work for the company in the future. I have been fortunate enough to be offered a sponsorship from GRAHAM and I will be joining them on their graduate scheme upon the completion of my degree.”

I have been fortunate enough to be offered a sponsorship from GRAHAM and I will be joining them on their graduate scheme upon the completion of my degree.

The university also offers students in-depth career support. Speaking about the support he received, Taimur explained: “The employability team at the university is great and definitely make use of the tools available on the university website in terms of CV and cover letter templates. Don’t be shy to approach the employability team as they are extremely friendly and will give you great tips and tricks when applying to companies.

“It seemed quite daunting at first in terms of applying to various companies, interviews, assessment centres, etc but it's all amazing practice and is a great way to get your foot out of the door. A year placement is also a great way to explore the different areas of civil engineering and to find a certain area that you enjoy working in, ultimately helping you when applying for graduate jobs upon the completion of university. Not to forget it gives you invaluable experience, making you a lot more attractive to employers.”

Life at Leeds

Taimur described living in Leeds as an enriching experience, characterized by a vibrant mix of cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities: “The University Union at Leeds is one of the largest in the country and boasts a wide selection of societies. I am a keen cricket player and alongside playing club cricket, I joined the University cricket team which has been great offering weekly training sessions held at The Edge and in Headingley. This helps with taking a break from studies and allows me to focus on my health and wellbeing. Additionally, I have been a member of the Civil Engineering Society (CivSoc) throughout my time at Leeds and it's a great way to meet fellow course mates.” 

Leeds has a large student population and as a result you will experience a variety of cultures and meet people from all over the world. Leeds also has great transport links which makes it extremely easy to catch a train/bus to anywhere in the country! Being a large city, you’ll never get bored, as there’s plenty of activities on offer; bowling, cinemas, minigolf, escape rooms and a wide variety of restaurants and bars.”

Leeds has a large student population and as a result you will experience a variety of cultures and meet people from all over the world.

Looking to the future

After a successful year in industry, Taimur was offered a graduate job at GRAHAM Construction. Taimur said: “I look forward to joining the team as a site engineer. My main aim is to work there and gain experience whilst working towards Chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).”

A word of advice

Taimur would say to students thinking about studying BEng Civil and Environmental Engineering: “If you enjoy maths and physics, then this course is for you! It's also an accredited course so it will set you on the right path to become a chartered engineer. The course may be challenging however, if you work hard and stick to it then you will love your time at university and will have a successful career.”

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