Leah

What do you like about your course and why?

The lecturers in my department are incredibly inspiring and knowledgeable. We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn from experts in their particular fields which is very unique. The lectures are interactive allowing us to fully engage. I particularly enjoy when we do in-class simulations as we get the opportunity to learn how specific situations play out in the real world. 

The support provided from all of the lecturers in the department is something I have greatly appreciated. I am able to approach lecturers with course-related issues as well as more personal challenges, and they always make time to hear you and help in any way that they can. In year two I was given the opportunity to participate in the Policy School. This was something I thoroughly enjoyed doing and has influenced my future career plans as it allowed me to learn exactly how a policy is developed and then implemented. 

What do you enjoy most about Surrey?

I have greatly enjoyed my time at Surrey. I have been part of the Waterpolo Society since second year which has allowed me to make new friends from beyond my course and also have a break away from my studies. 

Having a smaller cohort than most subjects allowed me to get to know my course mates more personally and made attending lectures more enjoyable. 

Being on a campus has made my experience significantly more easy as everything is readily available and in one place which, especially in my first year, was incredibly convenient. 

Tell us about your placement

I completed a placement year at UKAS which is the National Accreditation Body for the UK. I worked in the External Affairs team and a lot of my work consisted of monitoring policy developments in the House of Lords and House of Commons, as well as in the devolved bodies. I also assisted with organising and attending a variety of different events. UKAS covers a broad range of industries such as trade, AI, tech, food, construction and animal welfare, to name just a few. 

I had the most amazing time on my placement. Working alongside established, hardworking individuals was especially inspiring and has massively influenced my potential career paths. 

Some highlights included attending the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill second reading in the House of Lords and hosting an event at Dover House where I got the opportunity to meet many Scottish Lords. 

What do you want to do when you graduate?

When I graduate I hope to begin a career in policy. I hope to go into tech regulatory policy for a tech company following on from what I have previously learnt during my placement year.