Katy Wright

BA (Hons) Geography

What do you like most about the course?

First and foremost, the breadth of the course and the diverse range of topics we cover. I also like how, despite the first two years being relatively broad, in our final year we are given the chance to specialise in certain areas that interest us the most. There are also opportunities to combine studying with more social activities like field-trips, which are great opportunities to bond with other people on the course.

Can you give an example of a piece of work you’ve been involved with recently and what it involves?

One of the second year core modules, ‘Geographies of Global Change’ was a group project, where we had to create a visualisation presenting one aspect of globalisation. This was a new method of assessment and was a nice change from essays and exams. We also had the freedom to choose something that interested us and also got to decide how we would present it. The final products ranged from posters that were created using illustrator to three-dimensional models. Many groups got in touch with different organisations and companies and this offered a more realistic insight into what we should expect when gathering our dissertation research.

What has been your most memorable moment about the course so far?

The field-trip to Amsterdam. It was great to spend time with course mates while studying away from the normal academic environment. The main theme of the module, ‘Geographies of Exclusion’ was extremely insightful and offered much more than a regular study trip.

Do you have the opportunity for any work placements during your course?

Yes. There is a work placement module available as an option in Years 2 and 3. It’s really helped me figure out what I want to do after I graduate. This module also offers guidance in CV writing and interview techniques. Next semester I will be completing the actual placement after attending interviews for the ones I am interested in.

What do you do when you’re not studying?

I play for the University’s football team on Wednesday afternoons and train a couple of evenings a week. The facilities are great and the social side to being on a sports team is what really makes being part of a sports team at Northumbria.