How Vinayak's dream of studying Aerospace Propulsion course came true:Shiksha Success Stories
Talk to ExpertStudyabroad.shiksha.com got in touch with one of the international student we counselled – Vinayak R. Nambiar, who got admission to Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, UKfor the MSc in Thermal Power course with specialization in Aerospace Propulsion.
Question: Why did you choose this particular university and UK as your study destination?
Vinayak Nambiar:Cranfield University is ranked as one of the best places to study the course that I chose, which is MSc in Thermal Power with specialization in Aerospace Propulsion. It ranks at the top position in UK rankings and at number seven worldwide. Anyone who is an aerospace enthusiast knows that Cranfield is a dream university.
After I complete my degree, UK offers good employment options. Many aerospace giants like Rolls Royce, Airbus and BAE have their headquarters in UK. Given the amount of industrial exposure that is available in UK, it is the best study destination for aerospace related courses.
Q: Did you have any apprehensions when you signed up for Shiksha study abroad counselling service?
VN: No I didn’t have any apprehensions about the services Shiksha provides. I’m really thankful to Shiksha for all the help provided, without your help the whole process would have been a lot more difficult. Even though there was never a face-to-face interaction with my counsellor, I didn’t mind it.
Q: According to you, how are the Shiksha study abroad counselling services different from other consultants?
VN: Other consultants try to impose their choice of universities on the students. For example, if they have a tie-up with a certain university they will recommend it to most students rather than giving them a choice to choose their own universities to apply to. In my experience, Shiksha doesn’t have that approach. My counsellor asked me about which colleges I’m most interested in applying to and we applied to only those place.
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Another thing that differentiates Shiksha from other counsellors is the fact that I was always involved in all the steps of the application process. Starting from the Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Recommendation Letters (LoR), consultants write these documents by themselves based on your Resume and past achievements. In case of Shiksha, the editors first ask you to submit a draft of these documents and they provide feedback on what you have written.
I was in touch with the editors through e-mails and we sort of created these documents together. Once I had submitted my SoP and LoR drafts, the editors sent me their feedback mentioning all the changes I can make. I created two to three drafts in similar fashion, following the feedback provided. I got lots of information and insights from them, as they told me what all sections I can create and explained the layout.
Q: Tell us about your experience of working with the Shiksha counselor.
VN: It was really great, she was always available to answer my queries and she addressed them quickly. We stayed in touch constantly and she would ask for regular updates on my application status. At each stage of the admission process, she provided relevant and timely information. During the visa application stage, I had a lot of doubts but she answered all my questions patiently.
Even after I reached UK, we stayed in touch and she contacted me a few times to check on my well-being. So I’m really happy with the help she provided me.
Q: What was the most challenging part about applying to universities abroad?
VN: When people consider studying abroad, the first thing that comes to their mind is funding as it costs a lot more to study in UK than it does in India. In my case, my family supported my decision so my funds were taken care of. A friend of mine has applied for a student loan, which can work out differently for people.
Another thing that took time getting used to is the distance between your home country and the new place. Settling into a new culture and country is the biggest challenge I faced. It took a few days to find an accommodation and to settle in, but now I am very happy about where I am in life.
Q: How is your experience of living in the UK so far?
VN: It is really good, it is very cold here! I stayed in a hotel for a few days right after landing in UK. I started searching for an accommodation through the university website and my Shiksha counsellor also gave me a few helpful links. Finally, I was able to get an accommodation 15 minutes from the university campus. Travelling is also not a problem as buses ply frequently from my place to the university.
After that I opened a UK bank account, which was done within the first week of landing. Then I got a local phone number, which was really easy to acquire. Now that I’m settling in and getting used to the British life, it is a lot of fun.
Q: Do you have any advice for prospective international students?
VN: Prepare in advance. As soon as you are done with your bachelor’s degree and you are sure of going abroad to study, start preparing. You don’t want to waste time in between as you will start losing touch with whatever you have learned during your under-graduation. Another thing is to do a lot of research online before you make a decision, take help from your friends or acquaintances who have studied abroad.
Read more Shiksha Success Stories:
- How Priyanka scored a scholarship to study in US
- P. Gopinath's journey to making to the course of his choice at Sweden
- Sourabh shares his experience of successfully applying to universities at US and Canada
- Shubhansh's journey from quitting his job to getting into NJIT
- Vaibhav on why European universities were his exclusive choice
- Why Aishvarya chose a Canadian university over American colleges
- How Ankit made it to Lakehead University's most popular course
- How Medha made the decision between pursuing MBA and MS
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2026 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern.
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus.
- Solve previous year question papers.
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems.
- Revise regularly.
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well.
Cranfield University campuses are located in two different locations i.e. Cranfield at Bedfordshire and Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham. Cranfield is the center of academic excellence that is located a short distance from town and other places of interest. Cranfield University courses are available in master’s level graduate programs in engineering and management. Foreign students can pursue MBA/PGDM, MIM, and MS courses at the university. These courses are available in over 20 specializations i.e. Aeronautical engineering, Bioinformatics, Chemical Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, etc.
Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.
Starting research
Shortlisting colleges
Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
Scholarship & finance
Visa application
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.