Chan Xiang Yan, Class of 2024, MSc in Rail, Transport and Logistics
Xiang Yan was right on track.
A bachelor’s in electrical engineering was fulfilling and covered not just the complex electrical system that powers all modern devices, but also the intricacies of computer network systems. Yet, this was not a fulfilling means to a goal, as there could more specialised knowledge to be tapped.
“In my final year of my bachelor’s, it came to me that perhaps electrical engineering may not have been my cup of tea. Upon looking for interesting engineering-related courses, I found an interesting course, Rail, Transport and Logistics (RTL) under TUM,” shared Xiang Yan.
“I find it interesting because it not only covers rail, but also provides additional content on transportation and logistics. It’s rather refreshing since most master’s degrees specialize in a specific domain. But I see the benefit and importance in acquiring knowledge from different fields, especially in rail and transportation, which is multi-faceted and interrelated,” explained Xiang Yan.
“Rail and transportation are especially relevant in Singapore, as it is the critical network that transports our people around the country. Singapore’s transport system is continuously developing with the expansion of the numerous MRT lines and extensive road networks. The engineering difficulty and considerations required to develop such an extensive transportation network in the limited land area, while responding to the needs of various stakeholders, is incredibly challenging,” Xiang Yan continued.
It was not all sunshine and rainbows, even for Xiang Yan.
The lack of knowledge from civil and mechanical engineering proved to be a hurdle when taking on classes in railway engineering and his final semester master’s thesis. “I had some difficulty understanding the concepts from the courses and found acoustic simulation difficult during my thesis. It definitely required some reading to catch up on the content,” Xiang Yan confided.
Yet, Xiang Yan still managed to complete his thesis successfully, where he eventually attained the Best Thesis Award in his cohort, was a point in case the determination streak in him to do his best despite the limitations.
His performance and efforts would have been in vain without the support of his classmates from TUM. International students from all over the world were able to study hard and play hard together. The goal is to enjoy the learning journey with like-minded classmates and helpful professors.