Name: Howard Phillips
Course: MPhys Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics
Institution: University of Kent

Howard’s degree in Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics provides his perfect combination of maths and star-study…

‘The course at Kent was exactly what I was looking for – no other universities did anything similar. I’ve always been good at maths and had a great interest in the Universe and stars, so it seemed like the perfect way to combine the two. I had visited other universities, but I liked Kent.  On top of that, the Institute of Physics rated Kent highly.

I have found the course pretty much as I expected – really hard work but also interesting. One of the things that we get to do on the course is studying up-to-date data. Towards the end of your course you’re studying new techniques and new information, things that are literally on the cutting edge of science.

The lectures have mostly been easy to understand and well presented, and the materials are easy to access. I particularly enjoyed the Spacecraft Design and Operations module. It provided a good insight into the space industry and fascinated me from week one until the exam. The lecturer was excellent and made the subject really easy to understand.

Being President of the UKC Space Society has given me the chance to put what I learn in class into practice. I joined in my first year and worked my way up. The trips to the ESA space centres have made me think about what I would like to do when  I graduate.

I would ideally like to apply to a graduate scheme for the defence, nuclear or space industries.’