“Challenging, worthwhile and brilliant” - how Harry Rigby sums up his Engineering degree.

MEng Agricultural Engineering student Harry Rigby started fixing farm machinery from a young age, but it wasn’t until his degree that he really started thinking about the mechanics of what goes on inside a tractor.   

“I didn’t think too much about the maths and the systems of what I was towing until I had to design the machines in my Fundamentals of Agricultural Production module,” says Harry.

“My course has been great. At first, I was worried about the level of the mathematics required for it, but that’s not been an issue, because the lecturers are more than happy to talk you through the arithmetic again and again if you ask them to.

“Sarah Parsons, has been especially helpful in this respect, she will go out of her way to set up a tutoring session or provide you with additional materials, but all the engineering staff treat their students more like a friend or colleague, and in my opinion, that’s what makes them so approachable,” says the 21-year-old.     

“I’m just over halfway through my degree, but I can already see that my course is providing me with the engineering skillset that I will need to be successful in the industry.”

Harry, a member of the Harper Adams Football Club, is currently on his placement year with robotic solutions and services firm, Lely Atlantic.

“I am really enjoying my time with Lely, to them I’m not a placement student, I’m another member of staff - and I’m currently managing my own sales tracker project, including the planning, implementation and training that goes with it. 

 “I would love to work for the firm in the future, but I’ve decided to undertake a postgraduate degree as a means of helping me get as far up the career ladder as possible,” says Harry, who is from Acton Bridge, Cheshire.

“I’ve spoken to a number of industry professionals about my potential career trajectory if I leave university with either an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree.”

Harry adds: “they said my career would get so far with an undergraduate degree and further still with a MEng, so to me the decision to stay on for an extra year and complete a postgraduate degree is an easy one.”  

As he considers his University experience so far, Harry singles out two key highlights of his time at Harper Adams.

 “The placement year, as it prepares you for your future, and the networking because I’ve made industry contacts and friends who will support me no matter what.

If, like Harry, you want to get as far up the career ladder as possible, have a look at our engineering courses.