Tell us a bit about your background…
I am from Hamilton and went to Hamilton Grammar School. I studied French throughout school and was ready to move onto the next step. I crashed higher Spanish in sixth year and therefore was less confident in my level of Spanish before starting university.
Why did you decide to study at the University of Strathclyde?
Glasgow is my closest city and so it made sense for me to choose a university there as I could commute from home in first year. I picked Strathclyde because it is a modern, practical university and there is less focus on literature in their language courses than some other universities which appealed to me as I was more interested in learning relevant language which is used day to day.
What made you select your programme?
I knew I wanted to study languages and had already been to an open day organised by the French department when at high school so I had already had the chance to meet some of the teachers. I decided that Strathclyde had the upper hand on other universities I had visited as their language classes are practical and you get lots of speaking opportunities.
What has been the highlight of your time at Strathclyde?
As a languages student one of my highlights has to be my years abroad. Strathclyde gives you the freedom to do two years abroad if you’re studying more than one language and this was a great opportunity for me to experience life in different countries, improve my language abilities by immersing myself in the culture and to make great memories.
What would you say is one of the key takeaways from your course?
Strathclyde has given me confidence in my language abilities and has set me up to continue my career path in my chosen field.
What would be your advice for people considering studying at Strathclyde?
Make sure you take the chance to go along to an open day and speak to some of the teachers. They will be able to answer any of your questions and are all super helpful and approachable!
What has been the main challenge while studying at University?
It took me a while to get used to the independent aspect of university life where you are responsible for your own learning. Just as I was getting accustomed to it, I did my year abroad in France and had to figure out a whole new university and how to organise my classes and timetable but in another language!
If you could travel back in time to give advice to yourself on your first day at Strathclyde, what would you say?
Try and enjoy your time as much as possible and don’t stress! Your degree will fly be so try to make the most of it.
Have you joined any clubs or societies while at Strathclyde? Tell us a bit more about your experience!
I tried out a couple of clubs in first year such as surfing and fencing, however was not a long term member at any club. It’s great to have the opportunity to try out new clubs and societies and see what’s for you.
What do you hope to do when you complete your programme?
I am planning to do a Masters at Heriot Watt University in Interpreting and Translation to further the skills I obtained during my degree.