Tell us about yourself
My name is Thaw Htet Naing, I am 27 years old and I graduated from MSc Advanced Structural Engineering from Edinburgh Napier University in 2025.
What was your background before studying this course?
I finished my Higher National Diploma from California Unitec in Myanmar and then went on to study BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University.
What encouraged you to study at postgraduate level?
I wanted to further enhance my knowledge and understanding in engineering generally, but I also wanted a new challenge to keep me progressing and learning.
Why did you choose to study at Edinburgh Napier?
I chose Edinburgh Napier because I found it provides students with a huge variety of resources and ways of learning. As I finished my Bachelors degree here, I had seen first-hand the outstanding performance of the teachers and lecturers and how kind they were when helping me complete my course work.
How did you hear about the course?
My interest lies mainly in the structural element of engineering, so I researched the available courses here and found that Edinburgh Napier offered what I was looking for. I saw that the course had lots of interesting modules so that made my decision easy.
What were your favourite parts of the course?
The practical module in Timber Engineering had us create a timber-to-timber connection and make a structural appraisal, this allowed me to get really hands-on with my work and I enjoyed that a lot.
There was another module called Materials and Finite Element Analysis where I learnt all about the reaction s of structures when they are loaded in different ways. I got to use software like Matlab and Robot Structural Analysis tools which was great.
Learning about the chemical composition of concrete in Advanced Concrete Analysis challenging as we had to learn about post tensioning and composite floor decking, but it was rewarding.
Of all the modules, the most interesting and fun thing was Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Design as I had learned a little about this in my Civil Engineering degree so it was great to get a broader understanding of things like dynamic performance and how soil can help prevent damage from earthquakes.
Have you faced any challenges during your studies?
Yes, the biggest challenge for me was coming back to study after a few years – I completed my Bachelors in 2019 and started my Masters in 2024, so the academic gap was something that I had to catch up on, but there was plenty of support available from my lecturers.
How was your student experience living in Edinburgh?
I lived in the Slateford student accommodation, and it was really enjoyable and fun. I met many amazing and kind flatmates, helpful staff and had a very peaceful experience of Edinburgh. Napier offered outstanding learning resources, and I really appreciate all the things that I had during my studies.
Would you recommend the course? If so, why?
Yes, absolutely. If you are looking for new challenges and trying to elevate your understanding in structural engineering, or if you want to learn about engineering concepts with a focus on the structural side, I recommend you join this course, I guarantee you will not regret it!
What’s next for you?
I will seek further challenges and search for a graduate job preferably at a big company. I am also considering going further in my education and studying for a PhD to take ny knowledge further.