Are you thinking about studying Agricultural Engineering at Reaseheath College, but want to know more about the course before you apply? To help with your decision, we interviewed current Agricultural Engineering student Gabe to ask him all about his experience of studying the course at Reaseheath.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?  

I am 18 years old and currently studying a Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Agricultural Engineering at Reaseheath College.

I grew up around machines and I have always been passionate about fixing things so studying Agricultural Engineering was a clear choice for me. When I was 16, I started in the Army as a Plant Operator Mechanic which I really enjoyed, but after 15 months I was medically discharged, so I started to look at my options again, and found that studying Agricultural Engineering at Reaseheath College would be a really good choice for me.

Why did you want to study Agricultural Engineering at Reaseheath?

Before I joined the Army, I came to a Reaseheath Open Day to look around the Agricultural Engineering department. I was really impressed by the amount of kit the college had, and liked that the workshops were spacious and modern.

I also met some of the staff in the department who were all really friendly and clearly knowledgeable about their course, which made me want to study here. I am now nearing the end of my first year here at Reaseheath College and I don’t regret my choice at all.

What is your favourite thing about studying at Reaseheath College?

I like the amount of independence I have at Reaseheath. The tutors trust you and treat you like an adult, which I really like. You are encouraged to learn by trying things on your own, but I know that my tutor is always there to help me when I need it. I also get on well with others on my course, and we all look out for each other which is great.

What is a typical day like for you as an Agricultural Engineering student?

The days at Reaseheath are really varied and relaxed as long as you get your work done. We currently have one day a week of theory sessions in the classroom, two days of practical sessions in the workshop, and one day for tutorials, academic progress workshops, and our BeReady programme, where we cover a variety of topics which develop our personal and employability skills.

On a practical day, we start by receiving a brief from our tutor about what we need to do, then we fill out a job card and a risk assessment, and then work on the machinery for the majority of the day, with a break in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon. For the last hour or so we usually make sure that the machines are working again after the work we’ve completed and we tidy the workshop. We then finish by chatting about what we’ve done and finish our job cards.

The other day of the week I spend completing my work experience, where I work off-site fixing a variety of machinery. All students need to complete 315 hours of work experience in their first year, which is a great way to boost your employability skills.

What would you like to do after you complete your course?

When I finish the course next year, I would like to be self-employed working with plant machinery and feel like this is an achievable goal given the skills and experience I’m gaining here at Reaseheath. There are a lot of opportunities within Agricultural Engineering, and potential to make a lot of money too, so it’s a great career option if you’re willing to work hard.

Would you recommend this course to others and why?

I would highly recommend studying Agricultural Engineering at Reaseheath if you are interested in the industry and want a great career working with machinery. This course would also suit you if you enjoy practical sessions as you will be learning by doing things for the majority of the course.

I have made a lot of progress since I started here last year, thanks to the guidance I’ve received from my tutor and the great facilities I have to work in, so I would definitely recommend Reaseheath College as a great place to study Agricultural Engineering.

Applications are still open for September 2022 so if you would like to find out more about this course and apply, please visit the Agricultural Engineering course page of our website.