Â鶹´«Ã½

What surprised you about Â鶹´«Ã½?

Despite being a small city compared to my hometown, day to day I realise there is so much more to know and explore in it. It is small geographically, but it is so diverse in options. I love that there is always something new to try and to discover and everything is so close by.

What student support services have you accessed at university and how has this helped you?

I have used the wellbeing team. They have supported me by opening a door for me to talk to someone about a medical condition I have. They have helped me establish adjustments and prevention measures to make my time in university as fruitful and easy-going as possible.

The Financial team have walked me through the steps to make all payments and helped me organise these in a way that is more convenient for my family's finances.

What do you do for fun?

I attend gigs, use the social spaces in the different buildings (particularly Armstrong Building and the SU building), and I read a lot everywhere on campus.

Have you joined a society or club?

I have attended the Christian Union for the past two years and I really enjoy that I have been able to meet people from other years and courses that otherwise I probably wouldn't have met. I have made really good friends here and I think these friendships are going to last past university. Also, I have really enjoyed that we have gone on weekend aways together, enjoyed nature, enjoyed fellowship. It has been a really wholesome time that has made me recognise and value a lot more our need as humans to connect with all kinds of people.

Describe your degree to a future student?

It is a mixture of theoretical knowledge (touching on the social sciences), practical application (creative projects) and marketing. It is so helpful to get to know the whole scenario, but it also allows for you to choose which paths you prefer to prioritise and dive into. It allows you to develop your own interests as you can choose the topic for most projects and essays; it gives you a lot of freedom while developing your skills in the field and for research.

What stands out for you about your degree at Â鶹´«Ã½?

It is quite research-based, and I am really enjoying this aspect. The research projects have led me to develop my passion for diving into topics that I had previous but shallow interest on. I have discovered so many new things and I am looking forward to keep on learning and contributing to filling gaps in knowledge. This has meant a lot non-mandatory reading as I have not been required to investigate certain topics but out of personal passion, I have been able to dig into these. Topically, it is worth highlighting the university's huge repository (physical and online) as I have had the opportunity to access insightful scholarship that otherwise I wouldn't have interacted with.

What do you enjoy most about your degree?

I enjoy the eclectic blend of topics, the freedom and encouragement to develop my personal research interests, the opportunity to develop my career from this stage of life, and the support of lecturers and seminar leaders in developing/expanding/deepening my knowledge and interests.

Did you receive funding to study here, if so, how has it helped you?

I have been supported with a yearly scholarship that has allowed for my family to cover my tuition fees; it has been really helpful to our finances.

What was the application process like and what are your top tips for applying?

It was really smooth, I received support from the applications team at INTO Â鶹´«Ã½, they guided me through all the process to apply and made sure I was confident throughout.
My top tips would be:

• Trying to define your interests early on and really aiming for a course that you are passionate about.
• Giving your best/working to the best of your ability rooted in passion and not in anxiety for grades. This will lead you to value every step of the way, prioritise knowledge acquisition over strict outcomes, and will definitely lead you to great results.
• Being honest and transparent in your personal statement, showcasing why you want to study what you want to study. If you are real with yourself, others can identify with your goals/vision and help you in achieving them.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I plan to keep growing in knowledge in both the work field and academic environments. About my career, I plan to have my own communications agency (being independent) as my goal is to help people/businesses to achieve their dreams.

How has Â鶹´«Ã½ helped you realise your future?

About looking forward to academic growth, Â鶹´«Ã½ uni has helped me realise my passion for knowledge was not temporary but it is a trait I have always had and which I want to keep developing for the rest of my life.

Being part of a society has helped me to strengthen my sense of community and realise even more how much we need each other to grow personally and as society.

Career and wellbeing services have helped me to acknowledge that adverse conditions are just an obstacle but not something that can stop me from achieving my dreams and goals, plus they have shown me that there will always be a hand willing to help me succeed.

In summary, Â鶹´«Ã½ uni has helped me to see the future as opportunities and not challenges, as a road to growth.

Why should a student pick this degree?

Because they will be able to enjoy themselves exploring different topics –both of their prior interest and new ones–, developing critical thinking while testing knowledge, creating media outcomes that transmit what they discover, and exploring career paths to strengthen their passion or help them find it.