Matthew John Crompton

What did you enjoy most about your degree programme?

The opportunities to be involved with real projects such as the Formula Student team as well as within the academic projects in third and fourth year allowed the taught content to be put into practice. Real projects also developed manufacturing skills and an appreciation for the importance of design for manufacture, vital engineering lessons for my future career.

Some of the students we are profiling have been awarded a departmental prize or award in recognition of their exceptional achievements. If this applies to you, please can you tell us about this and what it means to you?

I have been awarded two Dean’s commendations for first and second year, and IMechE Student of the Year for both third and fourth year. These provide additional validation that I can be content with the approach that I have taken to my degree as well as providing vital differentiation within a competitive graduate marketplace. I feel additional recognition also is important in order to identify those that have gone above and beyond to achieve, as this sets up a hardworking mentality within students due to the associated reward.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Formula Student.

What was the highlight of your time at Exeter?

Being able to develop the exhaust manifold and integrate a turbocharger into the powertrain of the Formula Student car. Whilst it was a significant challenge that had elements that weren’t as rewarding, the final product was something that I was very proud of. I also feel that exploring the local area and building strong relationships with my university housemates has been a highlight. 

What will you miss the most about University?

I feel that I will miss the short lecture to coursework to mark cycle, however stressful this may be at the time(!), as achievements will be larger but less frequent within industry, therefore forcing greater self-confidence and conviction of the chosen approach. I also hope that industry experts will be as approachable and willing to help as the majority of lecturers at the university, as well as be working on ground-breaking new technologies and approaches, as experienced primarily in fourth year.

What advice would you give to current and future students? (If you are an international student what would you like to tell future students from back home who might be thinking about applying to study in Exeter?)

 I would encourage achieving a healthy work-life balance as whilst I do not regret working as hard as I did at university, I feel that I could have lived a happier and more fulfilling life alongside university work had I struck the balance more correctly earlier within my time in Exeter.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

We are close to the Formula Student event so final preparation for the event and then I am going on a long holiday with my walking boots and mountain bike to go and explore the European Alps. I then am fortunate to have a graduate position at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK where I am starting as a Graduate Engineer, looking to achieve chartership with the IMechE.