¿Û¿Û´«Ã½

Life at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½

Why did you choose the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½?

I chose to study undergraduate Psychology at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ because the course and the department are so highly-rated. The campus felt homely and I loved that there was lots of green space. I remember seeing being excited and impressed by the lab spaces I saw.

What are your best memories of your time at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½?

I met my wife on the same Psychology course at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ so I would say that was my best memory of my time at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½!

What were the best things about your course?

Without a doubt, my favourite thing about my course was my final year elective module History and Social Psychology. Following some fairly challenging experiences with statistics, neurobiology, cognitive psychology and even clinical psychology, I was questioning whether I was cut out to study Psychology. But this all changed in my final year. Everything clicked for me when I was introduced to basic ideas from Critical Psychology, Michel Foucault and interdisciplinary approaches. I really excelled in that module and started to carve out a niche career for myself from there onwards.

"My exposure to radical and critical ideas during my final year at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ helped me endlessly in my studies and in research."

Life after ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½

What do you do now and what do you enjoy most about it?

I am currently in my final year of training on the DClinPsy at University of Hertfordshire. I have loved all my placements and found a real affinity with Community Psychology approaches. My thesis is exploring social construction of children and young people’s mental health difficulties through Foucauldian discourse analysis.

How has your time at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ and your course helped you get to where you are now?

My exposure to radical and critical ideas during my final year at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ helped me endlessly in my studies and in research. I recently wrote a chapter in a book all about the social construction of sibling sexual abuse, I wouldn’t have had the skills to do that without teaching from my MSc and I wouldn’t have been able to do my MSc without the academic skills I learned at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½. It’s cumulative. We also had some great teaching on a general psychology module which was all about building a critical toolkit and appraising theory and research in psychology. That was a great foundation for research skills that I have developed since.

What is your advice for students aspiring to work in your profession?

Someone told me early on that if I didn’t achieve a first on my degree that I shouldn’t try to be a clinical psychologist. Well, I didn’t get a first and here I am! That is complete rubbish don’t listen to anyone who says that.

Don’t be drawn into prestige. Don’t put people on pedestals. Challenge taken-for-granted truths. Don’t try to separate politics from your work. Ask for help. Build supportive networks. 

Find out more about our Psychology BSc.