- Will Kelly
- BA Dutch and German
- Graduated: 2001
- Freelance Translator
Why did you choose to study Dutch in general and at UCL in specific
I had lived in the Netherlands as a child and wanted to study the language. UCL appealed as it was a prestigious university in a city that presented many interesting opportunities for a young student.
What did you like most about your degree programme?
The department was very friendly and supportive.
What was it like being a student at the Dutch department?
Everybody knew everybody and the staff were great.
How has your degree been of benefit to you since you took your degree?
Due to my language skills, I was headhunted for various positions in business. I also went on to study a Masters at the Universiteit Leiden, for which I earned a distinction. I have since become a freelance translator (Dutch>English) and have recently finished translating a book on the tensions that exist between politics, law and literature, the theories in which were 'tested' in the poetry of Joost van den Vondel (I also had to translate a lot of poetry). The book is entitled 'Vondel belicht: voorstellingen van soevereiniteit' in the original Dutch, and will be called 'Sovereignty, Inviolability & the Dutch Golden Age Poet Joost van den Vondel'. It is to be published by a world-leading academic publishing house late 2008.
Anything else you want to add about your experience at UCL or your career since leaving UCL?
Having UCL on my CV has been a great stepping stone in my career so far. I have very fond memories of the department and hope my work or study will cause us to cross paths again!
