Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering
Graduate Structural Engineer, Beca
Ralf developed an interest in buildings from an early age, motivating him to pursue his studies in Civil Engineering.
Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, Ralf and his family chose UC because of its global reputation, quality, and practical component of the programme which UC offers.
"UC was one of the top ones for Civil Engineering, with UC ranked 9th in the world for Civil Engineering and the 1st in Civil Engineering in New Zealand (Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2021), which I am really proud of," he says.
"Additionally, some courses have some real-world application. My second year was incredibly fun, especially the Design Studio Course (ENCN213). The course has an annual Bridge Building Competition where students are required to build a bridge and test it in front of some top companies’ representatives. I believe that having this experience will help you understand your coursework far better."
Apart from a great university, Ralf was also looking for a peaceful and beautiful place to live, and New Zealand provided more than that. He says, "I chose New Zealand because it is a peaceful and beautiful place to live with breath-taking scenery, wonderful people, and diverse cultures".
He also enjoys the variety of clubs that UC offers to help students settle down easily and be part of a community according to their likes, such as academic, sports, religious, and social clubs. Additionally, he says, "UC has great facilities to support the students. The Central Library is my go-to place to study, especially during the study week. I can see that UC has put a lot of effort into ensuring that students can get the best studying experience".
Ralf’s achievements and efforts are well recognised by the University. In his first year, he was awarded the UC College of Engineering International Scholarship which recognises high-achieving international students studying towards the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours. During his third year, he received the prestigious Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship.
As part of the Civil Engineering programme, Ralf secured an internship as a Structural Engineer intern at Cephas Rock, where he completed 400 hours of work experience. He later worked part-time in the same company as an Assistant Technician Engineer while completing his Bachelor’s degree.
"I spent my summer learning a lot from this internship programme. I designed a shallow foundation for a building, did some construction monitoring, soil testing, and other structural engineering related work. It was really a great experience to get a hands-on experience on the degree I am studying."
Ralf advises that in order to succeed in your degree, you should commit and manage your time wisely, as well as surrounding yourself with good friends and find a hobby to help you to relax.
