Cristhian Poveda Bravo

Tell us a bit about you. 

I am originally from Colombia, where I completed my undergrad in Mechatronics Engineering at Universidad Autónoma de Occidente.  

Before moving to the UK, I worked as a self-employed robotics engineer, gaining valuable experience in the field.  

Currently, I am pursuing an MSc in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence here at UCL, while also serving as a Student Ambassador for my Department.  

Outside my academic responsibilities, I am an active member of UCL’s salsa team, which has been a wonderful way to share a piece of my culture and connect with other students at uni.  

What attracted you to the Robotics and AI MSc at UCL? 

I chose Robotics and AI at UCL because of the curriculum, facilities and the rich industry context in London. The master’s has an up-to-date selection of modules which facilitates the specialisation in different robotics applications.  

I liked that I was able to receive a comprehensive guide through sensing, navigation and control techniques for robotics, which helped me strengthen the foundations in the field to now move to autonomous flight for UAVs in my dissertation.  

I was also attracted to UCL’s facilities, mainly the robotics lab at Here East, where I’m developing the technical work for my thesis. Finally, I felt moving to London was the right choice to create more professional opportunities as a robotics engineer from Latin America by connecting to the industry and potential clients in Europe. 

What has been the highlight of your course so far?  

I really appreciate the possibility of working with drones in a well-equipped laboratory for my dissertation, plus the guidance of a highly experienced team as my supervisors.  

I think the development of robotics really depends on the technical conditions of the testing platform, and in this case, I have the availability of multiple drone platforms, controllers, and a 3D indoor localisation system.  

I enjoy having the freedom to explore the capabilities of the systems to propose a meaningful research study, while being supported by the team. Also, being at Here East is a good taste of how actual industry-level laboratories work. 

What’s it like studying at UCL East? 

It is a place to fully concentrate on studies. We have modern classrooms and a couple of nice study areas to meet with friends. Most of the time, the Marshgate and One Pool Street buildings are quiet, and we can find study spots easily. Also, getting here is easy; one can take several tube lines to Stratford and then the shuttle bus to campus. 

However, it can feel a bit isolated from central London. Therefore, it is necessary to plan if you’re studing at UCL East but want to participate in social dynamics at the main campus in Bloomsbury. 

Have you found any hidden gems near campus? 

One of my favourite places around is Hackney Marshes, which is a massive park with lots of outdoor football pitches at the other end of the Olympic Park. It is an ideal space to practice sports with friends from uni, just 20 minutes away walking from Marshgate.  

Also, I enjoy hanging out at East Village right by the main park. It is a place to relax, where there are some independent food businesses perfect for going with friends or even having a nice date.  

On the other hand, I highly recommend the fruit and vegetable markets in Maryland, 20 minutes walking from Marshgate. I always find fresh products there to cook, and interact with the local community, which makes me feel at home. 

What was your biggest challenge to coming to study in the UK and how did you overcome this?

The biggest challenge to coming to UCL was getting the funding for the tuition fees and my living expenses. To overcome this challenge, I planned for about a year and a half before the start of the master’s. I started by building savings from my work and looking for scholarships and external funding options.  

I found Colfuturo, which is a local funding entity in my country for postgraduate studies abroad. I got into the Scholarship-Loan programme that includes a 25% discount on the tuition via a direct partnership with UCL and additional flexible funding for the rest of the tuition cost and some of the living expenses.  

I got the travel cost sponsored by one of my clients for whom I had implemented a robotic system. And, I have been constantly supported by my family for the remaining living expenses while I’m studying. Furthermore, I work as a Student Ambassador and as a coding tutor in my free time to cover my maintenance in the city. 

What’s been the most important connection you’ve made at UCL so far and why?  

Fortunately, I have met wonderful people during this experience. I have a solid group of classmates from my Master’s. We study together, support each other with coursework and share social activities mainly at the student societies and uni pubs.  

It’s been awesome to find people who are on a similar professional path and have similar ideas on what can be done from our area of expertise. At this point, we have built a solid network that I’m sure will be foundational for our future careers. 

Additionally, I met 2 people from Colombia who are also pursuing a Master’s degree at UCL. They have been a crucial support in the process of settling into life in the UK. We have discovered the city together as well as shared common activities that we enjoy, such as dancing or practising sports. I like that, with them, we have a solid ground to build other personal relationships with people from all over UCL’s community and in London in general. 

Beyond your studies, how has UCL supported you? 

UCL has provided funding to be part of the university’s salsa team and acquire the required dancing shoes for the competitions. This support has been crucial to participating in the national university competition in Birmingham and several social events in London, in which I’ve made valuable friends.  

On the other hand, UCL provides entrepreneurial workshops and programmes to all the students and alumni. I have participated in some of the workshops and intend to take part in the Explore and Venture programmes in the subsequent term to move forward with my own entrepreneurial ventures.   

What do you plan to do when you graduate? 

After my studies, I plan to build a career as an independent robotics engineer, either by providing specialised consultancy or founding my own business in the field.  

I believe the skills and connections I’ve gained have prepared me to pursue an entrepreneurial venture at this point. Nonetheless, I am also open to exploring roles as a robotics engineer within the industry.  

Ultimately, my goal is to achieve a healthy work-life balance that allows me to thrive in a profession I enjoy, while staying close to my loved ones. 

What advice do you have for students applying for a Master’s at UCL?  

Keep in mind that you are the mastermind behind your own project; you need to be autonomous and driven to pursue your ambitions. A Master’s provides structured guidance within a field, but you ultimately decide what to specialise in.  

During lectures, you will be presented with a lot of information across different professional areas. However, don’t expect to become an expert in everything; you will gain much more by choosing wisely where to put your time and effort.  

Moreover, make sure to leverage UCL as a whole. The academic side is important, but it is also an exciting social space where you can develop meaningful connections.  

Finally, don’t worry if you don’t have everything figured out yet. Be prepared instead for rapid changes in your path and embrace the opportunities as they come.

The information on this page reflects the student’s status at the time of publication (April 2026).