Ivelina Dobreva
"I came to Surrey to study Psychology having no idea where I was going to take my career. I am now graduating with a clear goal in mind and it is all because of the experiences I’ve had here."
Course
Psychology BSc (Hons)Entry year
2016"Psychology is a very broad course that gives you the opportunity to pursue a career in a variety of different fields. I love the freedom of being able to choose whether to work in business, clinical settings or academia.
The academic staff on my course are experts in their field and are all actively involved in research. They are extremely helpful and students are given the right amount of support and guidance. The facilities and equipment at Surrey are amazing - both the library and the School of Psychology are newly refurbished. During my studies, I’ve had access to blood pressure machines, EEG, Mobile EEG equipment, MRI scanners and even a driving simulator!
During my first year I took part in lots of societies including theatre, writing, and even a bit of debating. I am currently an editor for The Stag magazine on campus and I believe that being part of a community with the same interests as you is vital to your university experience. I have met some amazing people and made a few friends for life.
I lived in University accommodation during my first and second year – both in Stag Hill and Hazel Farm. Stag Hill was great because it meant you were right in the middle of campus - with the library, lake and coffee shops right on your doorstep. Hazel Farm was very quiet and peaceful – I had a lovely park right next to my room, and buses to and from campus ran every 10 minutes!
"I always had someone there to share my experiences with and I knew they would understand."
Living on campus was great because I got to meet lots of people from different countries, learn about their culture and try new foods. It also helped me to settle into university life a lot easier because we were all going through the same thing. I always had someone there to share my experiences with and I knew they would understand. The social aspect is definitely the best thing about university accommodation. I made some great memories living there.
I think the Surrey campus has got an incredible location – it’s 10 minutes away from Guildford town centre, which offers an amazing shopping experience and lovely architecture. It’s also very close to London, so if you ever get bored of the adorable coffee shops hidden in the small streets of Guildford, you can always pop over to London for a memorable experience. Guildford is also surrounded by very beautiful scenery, with the Surrey Hills named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I think this, alongside the welcoming feeling the campus gives, is one of the best things about life at Surrey.
During my first two years at Surrey, my neuroscience lectures sparked such a curiosity in me that they inspired me to pursue a career in it. So, for my placement year, I decided to stay on campus and work for the Brain and Behaviour research group at Surrey alongside my lecturers, who are also leading researchers in the neuroscience field.
We held weekly meetings where both academics and students came together and discussed results from ongoing studies or ideas for new experiments. This really gave me a sense of community and made me feel as if I had found my niche in the career world – I found a place where I felt like I belonged. Looking back my placement year has definitely been my best experience at Surrey so far.
I came to Surrey to study psychology having no idea where I was going to take my career. I am now graduating with a clear goal in mind and it is all because of the experiences I’ve had here. I am planning on doing a masters degree and then pursuing a PhD in neuroscience for which I am truly excited."
Discover more about our courses in psychology, including our BSc (Hons) Psychology.
