To keep his university and career options open, Tom Stubbs decided to study for Cambridge International AS & A Levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and English Language at Peterhouse School in Zimbabwe.
‘I wanted as broad a spectrum of study as possible,’ he said, ‘and these are subjects which allow you to go into almost any field of university study. They were also in line with my possible plan to study engineering'.
Lasting benefits
Tom’s Cambridge International AS & A Levels not only helped guide his choice of degree, but also resulted in more than one university offer. He accepted a place at the University of Saskatchewan, in Canada, where he also discovered the lasting benefits of his Cambridge studies: ‘In my opinion, Cambridge International are far superior to high school exams I have seen in Canada and the USA, and they give me an advantage throughout my degree course – the Cambridge International A Level syllabuses covered each subject in depth and have remained relevant throughout my degree,’ he said.
‘As my university course progressed, the soft skills I learnt with Cambridge have also become increasingly valuable, such as my study technique and strong work ethic, something you need in order to thrive within the Cambridge programme. As a result, I think I have performed better at university and I would strongly recommend Cambridge qualifications to anyone who is interested in studying engineering.’
Strongly recommend Cambridge qualificatons
'As my university course progressed, the soft skills I learnt with Cambridge became increasingly valuable, such as my study technique and strong work ethic, something you need in order to thrive within the Cambridge programme,' he added. 'As a result, I think I performed better at university and I would strongly recommend Cambridge qualifications to anyone who is interested in studying engineering.'
A career in design engineering
Tom graduated in 2020, remained in Canada, is now building a career in agricultural engineering: 'I achieved my degree with added distinction, and I am now a mechanical engineer designing agricultural equipment,’ he says. ‘Every day I still use the skills I gained as a Cambridge student. The Cambridge work ethic, emphasis on self-discipline and the desire for thoroughness continue to serve me well, and the fundamental Cambridge principle of questioning everything is also highly relevant in my current field.'