This summer I had the privilege of spending four weeks studying abroad in London, England. During this time, I completed six credit hours of classes including Thermodynamics and Circuits and Electro Mechanical Components while getting to explore the UK. I met lots of other engineering students from UTK that I otherwise would not have gotten the opportunity to talk to and become close with if it were not for this experience. I was also able to get a unique perspective on the material we were learning in class by getting to visit historically significant sites and marvelous engineering machines.

This study abroad program had a balance of in-class work and planned excursions that we went on. We traveled to Bletchley Park, the British Science Museum, the Royal Institution, the London Water and Steam Museum, the Brunel Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe, and did a city tour along with the London Eye on our first day in the city. All of these excursions greatly helped reinforce the material we were learning in class. We got the opportunity to see 19th century steam engines running which was a perfect real life example showing how the thermodynamics principles we were learning in class were applied in real life to make these steam engines run.

Out of the many excursions we took on this trip, my favorite was getting to go to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. I started my journey into engineering in my junior year of high school when I took a physics class where we talked about the Greenwich Royal Observatory and the prime meridian. A little over 3 years later, on this trip, I found myself standing on the prime meridian looking at Greenwich. Getting to walk through the observatory and see some of the history and concepts that I learned about in my courses so far in engineering and back in that high school level introductory course sitting in front of my eyes was absolutely surreal. It was a full-circle moment that reminded me of the importance of studying engineering and coming back to the home of the industrial revolution.

Outside of class and the included excursions, I got the opportunity to visit Cardiff, Wales and Edinburgh, Scotland on two of our free weekends. Getting the chance to explore outside of London was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience I would not change for the world. I loved getting to travel with fellow engineering students who I met on the trip and getting to bond with them over the new experiences we were having together. It was great having a close knit group that you were with everyday to get homework help or study for quizzes with all while getting to go out and figure out a brand new city together. The connections I made on this trip were with people I hope to stay in touch with for years to come. Overall, the Engineering in London study abroad program was a wonderful experience where you have a nice balance of familiarity and lots of new experiences awaiting you. This was a great program that gives you ample time to explore a huge city all while getting to take some core classes that are important to your degree. It was an equally challenging and rewarding four weeks that gives you unforgettable memories and friendships.

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