É«É«À²

Why did you choose the master’s Programme in Civil Engineering, and why did you originally decide to apply É«É«À²?

If I’m being completely candid, my original plan was to just look for the top institutes around the world offering graduate education in structural engineering, because after my bachelor's in civil engineering, the natural next step was to pursue a master’s in civil and structural engineering at an even better institute to advance my career in this profession. When I was looking into master's programs, Aalto’s Civil Engineering master’s programme really stood out from the others. 

I was very drawn to Finland's education system, particularly on its emphasis on student wellbeing, but the deciding factor was the flexibility Aalto offers. And as I accidentally stumbled upon Finland as an option, my entire paradigm shifted. Before that, I wore academic burnout as a badge of honor, convinced almost entirely that it was the sign of a true quality education. But as I learned more about the Finnish society where wellbeing and a very grounded connection to nature are quite deeply integrated into daily life and into the system, Aalto seemed like a perfect option for me. It promised the world-class facilities and the elite, high-quality education I was looking for, set within an environment that prioritizes your peace of mind. Plus, Aalto really allows you to truly take charge of your own education. This and the reputation for the expert faculty in structural engineering just made it a very easy choice. 

What has been the most interesting part of your studies?

I think quite definitely and absolutely the hands-on projects in the courses have been the most interesting highlight of my studies. One project that really stood out was the Finite Element Modeling of the Haukkilahti Water Tower, which we did for the Finite Element Modeling in Civil Engineering course. It was incredibly exciting because it wasn't just a typical theoretical problem, it involved analyzing a complex, real-life structure and tackling genuine industry challenges. Getting the opportunity to not only model the structure, but also to learn how to interpret the simulation results and then use them to solve practical engineering problems was a huge and an interesting learning curve for me. 

What is studying at Aalto like in practice?

Studying here is incredibly thoughtful and heavily prioritizes student wellbeing. One major difference I’ve noticed compared to my bachelor studies in Pakistan is the six-week study period system. Instead of juggling many courses over an 18-week semester and stressing yourself out, you focus intensively on just a few courses at a time. That approach makes learning much more engaging and manageable. On top of that, the studies here are a great mixture of high-quality theoretical teaching with hands-on laboratory and practical experiences, which really prepares you for real-world challenges. And Aalto chooses their faculty quite carefully, because it shows in the quality of teaching that the faculty imparts here. 

What is the best part of student life?

I absolutely love the student guild culture and the student community. The guilds have these fun traditions and host enjoyable events where you can socialize, meet new people, and make lifelong friends. It’s an incredibly supportive environment, which helps you settle into Finland very smoothly as an international student. 

Beyond the campus, my most memorable experiences have been simply exploring Finland's nature during the summer such as by hiking through the scenic routes of Nuuksio National Park, enjoying the beaches in Helsinki region or just quietly watching the sunset by the shore at Suomenlinna Island. Quite thankfully it’s been a long time since I’ve felt the academic burnout, because of this opportunity to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful side of Finland.

What do you hope for from your future career?

Growing up, my dream job was actually to be an architect. As someone who loves to design unique, aesthetic and functional structures, the more I grew older, I became more interested in how those structures are built, which led me to civil engineering studies. 

Now, as the world shifts further towards computation and advanced techniques in engineering. I have developed a deep interest in using computational modeling and simulation to design structures that are not only advanced, but also sustainable. So ultimately, I hope to use these skills to help address the complex problems faced by the industry around the world.

Have you worked in your field during the summers or alongside your studies? 

Yes, I have! The work was quite unconventional as a student of civil engineering: during summers I worked as a research intern at the Corning Scientific Research Center, where my focus was on the solid and structural mechanics of Glass. It's a highly research-oriented role, and I genuinely owe my preparedness for it to the specialized courses I’ve taken at Aalto. 

I was able to customize my study path to focus on computational structural engineering and mechanics, and it opened doors to entirely new domains for me, evolving more from typical buildings to advanced applications on materials like fiber optic cables and Gorilla Glass mobile phone screens. It’s been a really fun experience to adapt the professional and soft skills I’ve learned at Aalto and using them in Finland’s truly wonderful working environment.