Jess Green
"I am now hoping to pursue a career in occupational therapy, which will involve two years of postgraduate study to prepare me for work within the NHS. It is without a doubt thanks to my placement year that I decided this was the career choice for me."
Course
Psychology BSc (Hons)Placement company
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Brighton & Hove"The modules on the BSc Psychology course are diverse and cover a wide variety of fields within psychology, enabling us to gain a concrete understanding of topics. The lectures are taught by academics who are well-established researchers in their fields, so it’s a great opportunity to learn about the most current research being conducted and where developments are being focused. Staff are also supportive and offer guidance to students but do so in a way which encourages you to build on your learning through independent and critical thinking – important skills which are beneficial for your future.
Clubs and societies are a great way to take a break from studying and get involved in the social side of University life. I am involved in the Yoga Society. In my second year, I was a part of the committee and helped to organise sessions and social events. This helped me to develop my professional and organisational skills and it was great to be a part of the success of the society that year. Attending the sessions every week is a key part of my routine, yoga helps me to relax and unwind and I find this is particularly important now I am in my final year with a high workload.
I am also involved in both the Student Ambassador and the Student Life Mentoring schemes at the University. These are both part-time jobs which are flexible and fit around my studies.
"I love the University and it is great to be able to give back and help others."
I see my involvement in these as central to my Surrey experience – they have enabled me to meet so many people and develop confidence in myself and my ability to give valuable support to others. This may be helping first years to settle into their new accommodation, or assisting on open days to ensure prospective students have a great day. I love the University and it is great to be able to give back and help others get the most out of their own Surrey experiences.
My housemates were definitely the best thing about living in University accommodation. We all studied different courses and came from diverse backgrounds, but we just clicked and would do everything together – from cooking and cleaning to enjoying movie nights. It was an amazing year, and four years later even though we’ve been away on placement years or some have graduated, we still all make time to see each other and hang out – so you truly make friends for a lifetime!
For my Professional Training placement, I spent 12 months working with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Brighton & Hove. I was supervised by a clinical psychologist who provided me with a wealth of opportunities to shadow her and learn about the field, which was an incredibly valuable experience. I am now hoping to pursue a career in occupational therapy, which will involve two years of postgraduate study to prepare me for work within the NHS. It is without a doubt thanks to my placement year that I decided this was the career choice for me."
Discover more about our courses in psychology, including our BSc (Hons) Psychology with placement year.
