- Helen Tye Talkien
- BA Scandinavian Studies
- Graduated: 2005
- Teaching Art History at a Community College in California
Why did you choose to study Scandinavian Studies in general and at UCL in specific?
I wanted to learn more about my cultural heritage, my mother is Swedish and I have a large extended family in Sweden. I also looked at Hull, but chose UCL because of its reputation and location.
What did you like most about your degree programme?
I loved the variety of subjects: history, literature, languages, linguistics; the fact that we were really studying culture as a whole, not just one aspect of it. (although a good addition would have been art history!)
What was it like being a student at the Scandinavian department?
A lot of fun, it was great being in a small, intimate department, knowing fellow students and faculty well; not being in a huge anonymous department, which is how I perceived history and English to be.
How has your degree been of benefit to you since you took your degree?
Surprisingly beneficial. My first job was in the city selling Eurobonds to Scandinavian insurance companies, so I had direct use of my degree there! Now my specialization in art history is the history of Nordic art so again, of direct relevance in a very different way.
Anything else you want to add about your experience at UCL or your career since leaving UCL?
The more experience I have of other universities, here in the USA, the more I value the UCL experience and model, especially the way a small department like Scandinavian Studies works. Here the contact with faculty is minimal for the undergraduate student; also they are practically spoon-fed, not much is expected of them in the way of independent thought and work. I would like to return to UCL as a faculty member, teaching Scandinavian art history in the department!
