Georgia
Kitchener

Why NTU?

What inspired you to study BSc (Hons) Psychology (Forensic Psychology)?

"I chose to study Psychology at A-Level and it was a subject I excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed. When it came to picking a subject to study at University, I chose Psychology purely because I felt passionately about the subject.

As Psychology is essentially the study of human behaviour, I knew that it would open lots of doors for me in the future. I had no solid career plans while selecting my university course however, I knew that I wanted to go to university to continue my academic journey."

Why did you choose your course and NTU?

"Once I decided to study Psychology at University my search began to find a course and university suited to me. I have always been interested in the forensic/criminology side of Psychology, mostly inspired by admiring my dad in his role in the Metropolitan Police.

As I wasn’t sure on my exact career path, I wanted to pick an accredited Psychology Course that had a wide range of optional modules for third, year where I could specialise my studies. NTU was one of the only universities that offered a wide range of criminology/forensic-based optional modules - I had these picked out before I even started my first year!

NTU as a University was very appealing to me. I loved the idea of living in the city centre and having everything on your doorstep. When I viewed NTU on an open day I was impressed by the modern facilities and especially Boots Library!"

What’s your experience been like of your course so far?

"The course has been engaging, well-taught and each student is treated as an individual.

My highlight has been the whole of my third year, as I've been able to tailor my optional modules and research project to cater to my personal interests. When you are studying topics in the field that you are genuinely interested and invested in, completing assignments and learning content has a lot more value and meaning.

I have enjoyed the opportunities provided by the school of social sciences and the psychology department including social events, such as the visit to the light show at Wollaton Hall at Christmas."

Have you been involved in any projects or extra-curricular activities that have supplemented your studies run through NTU?

"Throughout my time at University, I have been on the Psychology Society committee. In second year I was the Social Secretary and this year I became the Society President! I am proud of what I and the rest of the committee have achieved over the last two years. Being part of the Psychology Society has supplemented my studies through trips and events, organised based on the wider field of psychology not studied on the course, which aimed to broaden learning. The society has given me the opportunity to make amazing friendships and great relationships with University and NTSU staff. This has made my experience at University personal and I feel very much part of a community.

Being part of a committee for a society within NTSU has made my experience at NTU incredible. I have gained so much purpose through my role and by organising and executing numerous events over the last two years. I will miss it very much and have thoroughly enjoyed my role as a leader within NTSU."

What does Social Sciences mean to you?

"Social sciences to me means to make a difference in people's lives. Social sciences and psychology hold a lot of power in finding explanations behind human behaviour. Research and learning have the potential to lead to an improvement in the lives of a lot of people in a variety of different ways.

My particular interest in social sciences is the implications that psychology can have in understanding and improving the justice system which is a topic I am very passionate and interested in."

Support

What do you think of the support available from tutors and staff at NTU?

"The support from the staff at NTU has been amazing. Throughout my time at university, my personal tutors have been there to support my learning and wellbeing. They are a great first point of call for any queries or worries.

I have made great use of the support the library offer in their academic skills appointments. Attending these appointments has been a huge support in improving my academic writing skills, advice on assessments and interpreting marking schemes to help me work towards achieving my desired grades! I have also used the maths and stats skills appointments for queries on statistics and coding my research project, and to run through my results section. The support from the library team is unmatched and has helped me push myself academically and get the help I needed!"

Outside of the Lecture Theatre

Did you find it easy to make friends and settle in at NTU?

"I found it much easier than I thought I would with settling in NTU. I moved three and a half hours from home in Kent to a city I had only visited once which was very daunting! But it was a great decision and as soon as you get to uni you realise everyone’s in the same boat as you and you are all just as nervous as each other.

I would recommend immersing yourself in the activities NTU and Nottingham Trent Students Union (NTSU) put on in the first couple of weeks of uni as it is a great way to make friends! Also, my best advice is to join a society or sports club that you have an interest/passion in. These clubs and societies host weekly socials and it is a great way to meet like-minded people that have similar interests to you!"

The Next Steps

What’s next for you after NTU?

"When I leave NTU I am taking some time out to travel. Before I came to uni I had a gap year where I went travelling but it was cut short due to covid. After working hard for the last three years I wanted to take some time out to reflect on my time at university and explore different career paths while ticking off some bucket list travels.

When looking for jobs in the future my degree has inspired me to look into areas including offender profiling and crime analyst roles."

How is NTU helping you to achieve your career goals?

"The modules and learning throughout the university have been catered towards career planning. I really enjoyed the Professional Practice in Psychology module. In this module, we were asked to provide psychological solutions to a scenario, mine being equality, diversity, and inclusion at NTU. Completing this research and writing the consultancy report for the assessment gave me an insight into how psychology is used in everyday life and work and how I can use the skills I have learnt on the course in future career paths."

Advice

What top tips would you give anyone thinking about studying your course at NTU?

"Time management is key! As with any university course there is a large workload and learning to manage your time well will allow you to have a perfect balance between work and the social side of uni! The course is academically challenging but very rewarding and sets you up perfectly for a career in psychology or beyond for the future."