For Rae, studying at UCS was about more than gaining a qualification. Her Nuclear Engineering Degree Apprenticeship gave her the opportunity to gain experience across different areas of the industry while developing the skills needed to build a career in nuclear engineering.
Today, Rae works as an Operational Development Engineer at EDF.
Gaining experience across the nuclear industry
As part of her apprenticeship, Rae completed six different work placements, giving her the opportunity to experience different areas of the nuclear industry and discover where she felt most comfortable.
The placements allowed Rae to explore different pathways within the industry while gaining valuable experience that she could take forward into her career.
Alongside her practical experience, Rae studied at UCS, developing the academic knowledge and skills needed to complement her workplace experience.
Support throughout her studies
Rae says that the support she received from her lecturers was an important part of her experience at UCS.
Despite how busy the lecturers were, how many classes they had or assignments to mark, or how last minute it was – they always had time for us.
Building a career in nuclear engineering
Rae is now an Operational Development Engineer at EDF, where she continues to develop her career within the nuclear industry.
One of the things she enjoys most about her role is the variety. Rae says that her job can be very different from one day to the next, while her role has continued to develop over the years.
Her experience demonstrates the opportunities that can come from combining higher education with real industry experience.
Rae’s advice
Looking back on her time as a Degree Apprentice, Rae says she would tell her younger self not to put so much pressure on herself.
She found that when she stopped worrying about having to outperform expectations, she continued to achieve the same grades and perform just as well in her job and placement reviews.
Showing up and trying your best is all anyone can ask for.
For anyone considering a career in nuclear engineering, Rae’s advice is to remember that you don’t have to put unnecessary pressure on yourself to succeed. Working hard, gaining experience and doing your best can take you a long way.
Find out more about Nuclear Engineering at UCS
https://www.somerset.ac.uk/study/subject-areas/nuclear/