ECS welcomes record numbers of students

Over 650 students enrolled in the School of Electronics and Computer Science today, on a wide range of programmes critical to the development of future technological capabilities in research and industry.

Around 300 students enrolled on the School’s prestigious MSc programmes, covering software engineering, electronic engineering and nanotechnology, wireless communications, Web science, and Web technologies. Vishnu Nair, from Chennai, India, is taking the MicroElectroMechanical Systems course. He decided to come to Southampton because of its premier position in Electronic Engineering, but on his first trip to the UK he is finding the climate very different from home. ‘I’m used to temperatures of 30C,’ he said, ‘and am finding it very cold!’ But he added: ‘It’s really great to be here and the University Campus is very beautiful.’ Vishnu is planning to work part-time to help finance his degree programme.

Yang Tianran from Yibin in central China is taking the Microelectronic Systems Design course. ‘I came to ECS because it has a very good reputation in Electronics,’ he said. ‘I want to get a qualification that will help me find a good job afterwards, either in the UK, or back in China.’

The MSc students have had a week’s induction programme to the School and University, which included a boat trip on Tuesday on Southampton Water. ‘We are delighted to see so many students choosing the MSc programme in ECS,’ said Professor Darren Bagnall, Programme Director. ‘Each year, it gets harder to get on the programme and it is a great to welcome students from so many different parts of the world who want to do postgraduate study in ECS.’

Over 260 undergraduate students registered on the six main degree programmes in the School: Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT in Organisations, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electromechanical Engineering. Around 25 per cent of undergraduate students are from outside the UK/EU. 'We are very pleased to see such a large number of high-achieving students entering the School against continuing high demand for all our programmes,' said Dr Andy Gravell, Director of Undergraduate Studies. 'We hope that all our new students have a wonderful experience here in ECS and the University, and are successful in their studies.'

Around 70 new PhD students also enrolled in the School this week, with another 80 expected to register for PhD studies later in the year.

The University term begins officially on Monday 4 October.