• Why am I writing this blog?

As a student in SCAV (Smart, Connected, and Autonomous Vehicles), I received many queries from prospective students asking about how to apply for SCAV at WMG in recent days. Therefore, I decided to write a blog talking about my application process to SCAV. Hoping this could be useful to anyone who intended to join us in SCAV at the University of Warwick.

• First, a brief introduction to SCAV.

As we all know, electrification and intelligence are shaping our vehicles in the future. Among these, automated vehicles would bring evolutional changes to our ways of transportation. Hence, every major vehicle company and technology companies globally invest heavy money in relevant R&D.

At SCAV, students are working closely with Intelligent Vehicle Group through modules and projects. Thanks to the industry connection of WMG, we also have plenty of guest lectures and collaborative projects with industry partners. All of which would help lay a fundamental knowledge in understanding automated vehicles.

•  Apply for SCAV.

Now, cut to the case.

No matter whether you are attracted by the state-of-the-art automated vehicles, or by the high salary provided in relevant R&D positions. You have to go through three stages before you are given a place at SCAV.

1. Personal Statement, CV, Transcript, Reference submission etc.

2. Video Personal Statement.

3. Interview.

1. Personal Statement, CV, Transcript, Reference submission etc.

This is the general stage that you have to go through no matter which universities or courses you are applying for. Just be mindful that if you are choosing to study SCAV, stressing your interest and relevant knowledge regarding automated vehicles could be helpful. WMG has given a useful guide on how you should write your PS, you could be directed to that page using the link down below:

Advice on your Personal Statement | WMG | University of Warwick

2. Video Personal Statement

When you receive an e-mail requiring you to provide a Video Personal Statement after your application submission. Congratulation! You are at stage two now. It is worth noting that different years of application may require different content in your VPS. But based on my experience, your VPS would require a demonstration of your coding/programming skills, and your knowledge of basic electronic circuit analysis (analogue circuit and digital circuit). I would recommend that applicants pay attention to preparing their VPS at this stage, for it will be reviewed by the course leader of SCAV.

3. Interview

If your VPS has been accepted, then you are at the final stage of your application. You will be contacted by the course leader personally for an interview. Based on my experience, during the interview, you would be asked the same questions you prepared for your VPS and the reason for choosing SCAV. It will not be a stressful interview but any pre-research (like reading some comprehensive papers on automated vehicles, any news in related industries) would be helpful. Because of the advancement of SCAV, this is a very hard master’s course compared to other courses at WMG. Therefore, your determination of joining this intensive master’s course would also be appreciated.

After the interview, hopefully, you could receive an offer for your place at SCAV.

I sincerely wish everybody could receive your desired offer.

PS: Pictures are for some of the cool stuff we met during the year. I will be writing a blog regarding the experience of studying SCAV very soon.

MSc SCAV-Hetian Wang

It can be very stressful and busy working as postgraduate students in WMG, which is why from time to time, we need extracurricular activities to refresh our minds from lectures and PMAs.

People have all kinds of interests to relax and have fun. But if we are going to find a common ground, I believe top choices should include having enjoyable food.

Personally, delicious cuisine always gives me a refreshing mind and ease the tension in my study. Just last weekend, I paid a visit to one of the Chinese restaurants in downtown Coventry and it is amazing.

Living on campus of the University, we took the bus and spent around 20-30 minutes to downtown Coventry.

My friend and I ordered rice noodles, skewers, and Tinfoil BBQ, which is all served in alignment with the Chinese flavour. I especially like the rice noodles, for the soup is tasty and the noodles are smooth. As a Chinese, it even reminds me of my hometown where they serve the same taste rice noodles. With great food, we were relaxed and casually chatting.

Of course, they aren’t just Chinese restaurants in downtown Coventry. As far as I learned, we have Korean restaurants, Japanese restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants and more. They are served with their traditional food and worthy to have a taste.

As a student at the University of Warwick, Coventry is a great place to explore. It is not as big as cities like London or Birmingham, but it has its characteristics. And I am intended to explore more amazing restaurants in Coventry with my pretty and warmhearted friend.

As international students studying in Britain, we ought to have a lot of unforgettable memories. A night with a friend in a nice restaurant in Coventry downtown is definitely among them.

MSc SCAV-Hetian Wang