Maddison is a Joint Honours student on the BA History programme...

Tell us a little bit about your background...

I started at Strathclyde as a mature student, having otherwise worked in the aviation industry. I am also a RUK student, coming from London to Glasgow to join the Strathclyde community.

What drew you towards undertaking this degree?

The flexibility of the humanities degree. Without it, I would have never realised how much I loved history, something I wasn’t able to do at A-Level. As well as allowing me to explore academic passions, the degree’s malleable style lends itself to self-development beyond university. Being able to utilise your respective skills in a multidisciplinary manner, I feel, better prepares you for the challenges of the workplace as you can offer up creative solutions. If I had done only one subject the whole way through, I don’t think I would have realised not only these crossovers, but their potential in and outside of academia.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Strathclyde?

Where I spent a decent amount of time in Inverness with my previous job, I fell in love with the nature Scotland has to offer. Therefore, when I left, I knew I wanted an opportunity to live and explore Scotland. Coming to Strathclyde felt like the perfect opportunity to do so – I could work towards something meaningful while enjoying what Glasgow has to offer in both city and countryside.

What is something you had to learn to adapt to since joining your course?

That success is often not instantaneous. I did well at secondary school, that style of learning, following a strict rubric as if it’s a checklist, isn’t applicable to university. While I now know this offers me the opportunity to be original and creative, it took me a while to get used to.

What is the academic support at Strathclyde like?

Second to none. I was incredibly nervous about coming back to university, as with having time away, I wasn’t sure how I’d cope with the workload and the work itself. However, at every point I have always been supported. All the staff members I’ve interacted with have been happy to respond to my emails, set up meetings online and in person and even lend me materials to help my work. Nobody has belittled my questions, and I have always been given the pointers and backup confidence to succeed. I believe the English and History departments’ respective championing has been my greatest tool for success!

What are the facilities at Strathclyde like?

I love all the buildings on campus, but I am especially fond of the library. There’s always lots of quiet working spaces. The amount of materials there and the ability to always find a helping hand means I’ve never regretted a visit! I am also rather fond of the sports centre – it helped me reignite my passion for swimming.

What are your hopes for the future after completing this degree?

This degree has helped me realise how much I enjoy learning, and I hope that I can utilise these skills to deepen my knowledge in History and English. It’s also helped me develop my research and professional skillset, which I hope will be useful for a future career, potentially within policy or higher education!

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this course?

Be open and receptive to the potential challenges at university. Some of the things I’ve enjoyed I would have never expected – had I not been open, I could have missed these opportunities to explore some fascinating areas of humanities. I also suggest being open-minded, because it will help your confidence as you go through. University is never meant to be easy, and you could stumble. But, in my case, I believe my mistakes have helped me achieve more so than any satisfactory bumbling along would have. Be open to mucking up, it is an important part of your learning and could teach you more than you would ever know!