Why I chose to study at Sheffield

Why did you decide to study politics at Sheffield?

When I came to the Open Day, I had a good gut instinct about Sheffield and it seemed like somewhere that I could feel at home. I loved the size of the city, as it seemed a good balance between being lively but not massive, as well as the amount of green space. When I spoke to the Open Day ambassadors and lecturers, they all seemed friendly, approachable and enthusiastic.

I attended a mini lecture and found the lecturer, Dr Felicity Matthews, to be really engaging. I thought the course content looked interesting and varied, with a lot of flexibility and options built in.

What was your favourite area of study on your course?

My favourite area of study was feminist scholarship as I thought it offered a different perspective on politics and international relations. The flexible nature of the course enabled me to tailor my learning to this field of research, particularly in my third year choice of modules, whereby I completed my coursework assignments, research project and dissertation from a feminist perspective.

Before starting the course, I thought that British politics was my main area of interest, but I soon realised that international relations was what I found most interesting. The flexibility of the course allowed me to tailor my module choices towards this area of interest.

What is your fondest memory from your time in Sheffield?

I have many brilliant memories of my time studying in Sheffield. It was where I met my closest friends and the city offers everything you could ask for, from great nights out to walking in the Peak District.

What has your career path been since graduation?

I’ve joined the Civil Service HR Fast Stream, which is a graduate scheme working in the Department for Work and Pensions in a HR role, offering specialised HR advice to managers in the business. As part of the Fast Stream, I’ll work in a couple of Civil Service departments to gain a breadth of experience in HR as well as getting my Level 7 CIPD qualification. After completing the Fast Stream, I plan to continue my career in the Civil Service. It’s a great organisation to work for and I would highly recommend applying if you’re interested.

What piece of advice would you offer to new and existing students?

Make the most of your time in Sheffield, even when work feels stressful. The time will really fly and when you graduate, you’ll be questioning where it went! Spend time talking to tutors and asking questions if you’re unsure about anything as you’ll find they’re always more than happy to help. Get involved with societies and extracurricular activities as this is a fantastic way to meet people. If you’re thinking about your career post-university, get some assessment centre and interview practice in if you can. It’s a really competitive job market, but practice and persistence is key.