Maja

What do you like about your course and why?

What I like the most about my course is the variety it offers. Combining business and Spanish keeps things interesting, and it allows me to switch focus when I feel more engaged with one area over the other. It also means I've been able to meet a wider range of people across both disciplines, which has made the experience more social and rewarding. 

What do you enjoy most about Surrey?

There's a lot to Surrey that I really like. The campus itself is really green and has a great atmosphere, making it a really nice place to spend time when outside the classroom. I also like how there is plenty to explore around Guildford, with lots of hills and walks that can be quite scenic if you're lucky with the weather!

Tell us about your placement

In my third year I completed a year-long placement in Valencia, Spain, as a translation and SEO intern at two different companies; taking the opportunity to go on placement is genuinely one of the best things I've ever done. 

I worked full-time completing legal translations and learning how to use different programmes such as Smartcat, as well as Screaming Frog, Ahrefs and Google Search Console, with the aim of improving SEO ranking and also exploring content creation in the form of writing articles, making YouTube videos and posting regularly on the companies' social media platforms.

A year later, I still talk about it almost every day. Experiencing Spanish culture first-hand and hearing the language every day made it feel much more natural than just hearing it in a classroom, and being able to use it consistently with native speakers really boosted my confidence over time, both personally and professionally. I really went to Spain thinking I could speak Spanish, and then I heard people speaking on the streets and was humbled immediately, but fear not, placement fixed this problem. 

At the start, being in a completely new environment all alone was challenging and REALLY pushed me out of my comfort zone, but again that's ultimately what helped me grow the most. Along the way, I made some great friends and built meaningful connections that made the experience even more rewarding, and I also managed to travel around Spain during my free time, including the rural and quiet mountainous areas.

By the end of the year, I didn't even want to leave Valencia, and it's definitely become a place I'd consider moving back to in the future.

What do you want to do when you graduate?

I'm still exploring what I want to do when I graduate, but I know I'd like to use my business and language skills in some way. My placement year showed me how valuable it is to work in an international environment, so I'd definitely be interested in roles that involve Spanish or working across different markets.

The skills I've developed at uni like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are highly transferable and will be useful in a range of careers. 

Surrey has also been supportive in this process, offering helpful career talks to see what jobs or masters opportunities are out there and make the next steps feel less overwhelming!

What's your advice to new students?

Personally, I think business management and Spanish is a great course to study. You get the best of both worlds and have so many doors open for you after graduating, whether it be exploring working in a business or teaching English abroad.

My main advice would be to make the most of every opportunity, especially things like the placement year, as they really shape your experience. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, whether that's from lecturers or other students, as it makes a big difference.

Most importantly, enjoy it! The course goes by SO quickly; it'll be over before you even know it, and the more you engage with it, the more you'll get out of it.