The University of Birmingham represented a break from my past tradition of academic failure. The university gave me a chance where other universities did not.

Firstly, I enjoyed my Joint Honours course greatly and believe I benefitted from the dual degree. The ability to immerse myself in two subjects at once was something I shall forever appreciate. I was able to gain experience from both colleges as well as work experience that I took full advantage of, bouncing from NGO support to history lessons in the Black Country. The campus itself was stunning, providing a positive learning experience in the heart of Birmingham.

Issues did however present themselves throughout my 2nd year. The well-being team within my department (College of Social Sciences) did not account for lost hours due to strikes or illness. This affected me greatly due to my debilitating health anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder. Also, while I support strike action and understand that it is a nationwide phenomenon, the university seemed reluctant to institute support for students and left many in the dark regarding coursework and exams. This was a clear violation of what was promised within our syllabus. Furthermore, due to this university being within the Russell Group, many people from privileged backgrounds attended the institution. This critique is more of a personal one as I found the culture clash to be immense once out of the lockdown years.

Overall my experience was mixed but definitely something that I would do again if I had the chance. The people I met and the life experiences I gained are invaluable and can never be replaced.