"A Life Changing Decision"

After gaining a degree in Civil Engineering in 2006 and spending four years working in Tendering and Bids roles, Ahmed Bahgat decided it was time to shake up his career.

In 2011, he joined our Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accredited Surveying Masters – a decision he describes as “life changing”.

He tells us more about his Northumbria experience, and how it has transformed his career.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

The Surveying Masters I selected was accredited by RICS, and I felt this is exactly what I needed to develop my career, which I very much enjoy. Another aspect was that the University embraces people from various backgrounds and cultures in a harmonic way, and offered a flexible learning experience through distance learning.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that it was challenging. But it was rewarding to those who put time and effort into their studies. The programme was very well structured and managed. We were taught many topics such as methods of measurements, construction technology, contracts, law and project management. This meant that, with the right level of dedication, we enjoyed a chance to advance our careers effectively.

What impressed you most about our academic staff?

They were all very knowledgeable in their respective fields and specialities, with the majority of them having practical experience. This took the quality of education to another level, one where textbooks and real-life examples merged.

How connected was your course with industry?

I have always had a firm belief that the industry could not flourish, and to some extent survive, during challenging times in the absence of strong commercial and value management. This is why it is not rare to hear about companies of all sorts of scale failing in today’s tough market dynamics. This course was very much related to the construction industry and it equipped me with the knowledge of how to do things in the right way. In other words, how to keep your projects profitable. With time, I have learnt that some aspects of the course, like contracts and commercial management, can be applied in different industries.

How did studying at Northumbria help you to achieve your career goals?

It put me on the right path and gave me access to a wide range of opportunities. It gave me the thrust I needed to approach the hiring market with confidence.

What was the best thing about your course?

The Law and Professional Practice module. It helped me in my career and still does.

What are you doing now?

I’m now a Projects Commercial Manager in the UAE. I manage the commercial and contractual aspects of two automated rail-work systems across the Middle East, in addition to advising on future bids.

What advice would you give somebody who is thinking of studying at Northumbria?

Make the most out of it. It will help you build the momentum that you need to boost your career in the right direction.

Become a Chartered Surveyor with Northumbria University

Find out more about the RICS accredited Surveying courses we offer below:

Postgraduate (conversion) degrees