University of Pretoria - UP Speciality : Sociology
programme: Sociology and Social Research

My experience with the University of Pretoria was extremely positive and transformative. I spent a year at the institution pursuing a postgraduate degree and it changed me in many ways. I was placed in many uncomfortable situations that allowed me to grow as a person and an academic.

My favourite part of my academic journey at UP was without a doubt writing my research paper. I loved the entire experience, presenting my proposal to my peers and mentors, going out and doing Field work and seeing my year’s worth of work printed out on paper.

However, my time at UP would not have been as great as it was without the vibrant campus life, the university has many social clubs that are welcoming to anyone and easy to access. Being a part different communities on campus was life changing as it was something I had never done in my undergraduate years when I mostly kept a very small circle. I think that it is very important that new students find a group or community that best align with them on campus. While academics are important, it is just as important to be surrounded by people that will help and look out of you. Being in a community will not solve every issue that one might encounter in university, but it will drastically improve their experience and their mental wellbeing.

My overall experience at UP has been positive, the only downside is the inaccessibility of mental health services, I and most students had to wait weeks and sometimes months to see a counsellor, something which most students needed during exam seasons and other challenging periods.