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Maimoona about to complete her Psychology with Education BSc at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), class of 2020. As a Londoner, she shares her experience of studying in her home city.
What were your first impressions of UCL?
I was excited about the in-depth content and knowledge I would acquire from attending such a prestigious university.
What do you enjoy most about Psychology with Education BSc?
I thoroughly enjoyed the modules. In my first year, I chose a module called the Representation of Education in Film and Literature. The content involved learning about how education is portrayed in films. During the second year, one of our core modules focused on Social and Developmental Psychology. Learning about various aspects such as the self, develop from adolescent to adulthood. Moving to the third year, I selected a module called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) which linked to my chosen career pathway so it was a big plus for me.
As a Londoner, what it is like to study in the city you live in?
I grew up in London so I was familiar with the city centre and I was able to get around easily from classes to social events. As a commuting student, I was still able to have the exciting university experience and I was able to participate in many social events. Travelling by the London Underground in and out of London was good, despite the delays (which were occasional) it gave me time to look and read over my lecture notes on train.
You spent some time as a Student Ambassador...
During my first and second year, over the summer I applied for the student ambassador role. It was beneficial for me as I had the opportunity to enhance my social skills in public speaking as we would show prospective students around the university and answer their questions. The student ambassadors are paid for their services as well which is a bonus to such a rewarding role.
What do you do when you’re not studying?
“When I am not studying, I like to get involved in volunteering as a way of giving back to the community whilst gaining valuable work experience."
I also volunteer at an emotional support helpline which gives me the experience of working with clients who need emotional support and signposting to other services. I've worked part-time at a tuition centre with children from ages 5 to 15 years, which helped me to gain a better understanding of the applications of psychological research to education.
I also attend some events organised by the Islamic Society. Societies are always a great way to meet people from other degrees across UCL and there are many to choose from.
What is the biggest challenge you face while studying?
I found it challenging to keep up with the work. This is because I have always been a perfectionist and so it was difficult at times to achieve the highest standards. However, I received a lot of help and guidance from my tutors and peers from the Department of Psychology and Human Development at the IOE. They taught me how to balance my time and improve my work so I achieved my high standards.
What do you hope to do after completing your degree?
After completing my BSc, I am hoping to stay at UCL and do a postgraduate degree ‘Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions’. This will enable me to get the qualifications I need to pursue a career to work with IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) services.
We received bespoke careers events organised by the department in collaboration with Careers and Volunteering Services. During my second year, I also made an appointment with UCL Careers to get an idea of what options are available for me.
In summary?
I loved it, best time ever.