Laura Murrie

BA Psychology

Tell us a bit about your background…
I am an only child and the first person in my family to study at university, so it was really exciting for everyone when I was accepted to study at Strathclyde! I enjoyed the academic aspect of high school, so I knew I wanted to continue into further education.

Why did you decide to study at the University of Strathclyde?
As I would be living at home, being able to commute to university was really important for me to be able to attend. Strathclyde was the closest university to my home town, which was really convenient for me. When I attended the open day, the staff were so friendly, welcoming, and more than happy to have a chat. Strathclyde made a great first impression!

What made you select your course?
I initially applied to study History, however the beauty of the Humanities and Social Sciences school is it allows you choose three subjects in your first year. I really enjoyed studying History, however I decided to keep this as an area of interest, and instead focus my studies on Psychology. The staff in the Psychology department are incredibly helpful, supportive, and encourage all students to make the most of their time at Strathclyde.

What has been the highlight of your time at Strathclyde so far?
Definitely spending some time during my third year studying at Radboud University in the Netherlands! This experience allowed me to appreciate having an international perspective, to study at a university with a strong focus on research, and to live in the oldest city in the Netherlands. I threw myself in the deep end as it was my first time living away from home, but it was absolutely worth it!

What would be your advice for people considering studying at Strathclyde?
I couldn’t recommend Strathclyde enough. You will be taught by great academics, and you will have so many wonderful opportunities offered to you. If you do study at Strathclyde, join a club or two. The Strathclyde Psychology Society has been a fantastic way for students to get to know each other!

What has been the main challenge while studying at University?
Balancing studying with work and extra-curricular activities was a challenge at first, however making a conscious effort to plan out my time at the beginning of each semester helped massively when juggling commitments.

If you could travel back in time to give advice to yourself on your first day at Strathclyde, what would you say?
Have confidence in your abilities- I have achieved things which I would never have considered when I was in high school. Training myself to be confident in everything I do has helped me to achieve my goals more than any other factor.

Have you joined any clubs or societies while at Strathclyde? Tell us a bit more about your experience!
I have completed a Mental Health First Aid certificate, had the opportunity to sit on a review panel for a department within Strathclyde, lived and studied in another country… Also, having a ‘student’ status opens up a number of opportunities for volunteering.

What do you hope to do when you complete your course?
I have loved studying Psychology, and my ultimate goal is to use my Strathclyde experience to make a positive impact on the lives of other people. I chose my classes and experience opportunities to fit around working in the clinical field, however I would also be open to working in research. I have thoroughly enjoyed working on my dissertation, whilst studying abroad opened my eyes to the world of academia. I am taking the next year or two out of education to build up my experience in these domains, and to work to fund further education.