Molly Smith

Tell us a bit about yourself, and your background
My name’s Molly and I am a part-time student at UCL, in my first year of the MSc Public Policy programme. I studied BA Philosophy at the University of Nottingham for my undergraduate studies, and after a year working in the private sector, decided I wanted to pursue a Master’s in public policy and (hopefully!) begin my academic career.

Why did you apply to the Political Science Department, UCL?
I applied to study at the Political Science Department at UCL as not only did I want to be in London and at the centre of policy making in the UK, but UCL’s programme allows you to both build a strong foundational knowledge of UK politics and policy, whilst giving you the freedom to specialise. They also offer an amazing array of extra-curricular activities to get involved with, from weekly talks, to various academic journals, and the CRIS programme, which allows you to connect and partner with local organisations when writing your dissertation. The combination of the quality and structure of the course, and the extra opportunities around the department and campus ultimately sealed the deal for me!

What do you like best about your course so far?
Surprisingly, I have really enjoyed learning about Quantitative Research Methods, an area I was very unfamiliar with (coming from a humanities background). The course attracts students from all sorts of academic backgrounds, and the teaching accounts for this by structuring modules in an accessible and interesting way, meaning even someone unfamiliar with an area (like quantitative research) can enjoy and learn new skills. I can confidently say I have gained new competencies on this course that will definitely be useful in my career, and which I wouldn’t have had otherwise. 

What is the rest of your cohort like?
Our cohort is made up of people from all sorts of academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds, which makes discussions in seminars incredibly interesting, as we compare policy and politics in our respective countries. The cohort is incredibly friendly and social and the department puts on lots of events that allow us to socialise away from just an academic capacity. Even as a part-time student, you get to know your cohort really well and it’s become a really integral part of the UCL experience. 

What is the teaching and learning like?
The teaching and learning within the department is fantastic. There is a lot to learn and some of the work can seem slightly daunting at times but the lectures are incredibly engaging and give you a good understanding of the content. The seminars really allow us to get to grips with the content too, discussing in detail the readings for that week, and applying it to real-life cases. Our lecturers are always promoting their office hours too, should we need extra help, and there is a lot of support around deadline and exam season.  

What are your career aspirations and how do you envisage the programme helping with these?
I would ultimately like a career in academia, specialising in UK health policy. The MSc Public Policy programme has been crucial for developing my qualitative and quantitative research skills, as well as helping with building on my knowledge of health policy and policy making in the UK. I am also fortunate enough to be a part-time Research Assistant at UCL which complements the course and my aspirations well, helping me to gain experience in the research sector.
 
Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London
Hmmm, I would say: 
(1)    Visiting the British Museum (it’s right on UCL’s doorstep!)
(2)    Getting tickets to the Top Secret Comedy Club for a silly night out on a budget
(3)    Spending an afternoon on Hampstead Heath (this may be best saved for April onwards…)

Who inspires you and why?
One of the reasons I was inspired to go down the health policy route was reading the work of Sir Michael Marmot (a Professor at UCL and the Director of UCL’s Institute of Health Equity). He has been conducting research on health inequalities for over 50 years, and began his career as a Doctor who didn’t just want to ‘fix’ people, but wanted to understand how to prevent people (especially those who are marginalised) from needing medical attention in the first place. His research on the link between socioeconomic factors and health outcomes has profoundly shaped how we understand public health and policy; I aspire to build a career that, even in a small way, contributes to the kind of impact he has made.  

If you could implement one for policy in the world today, what would it be?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I would say universal health coverage, ensuring everyone can access the healthcare they need without financial hardship. Currently, half the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, and billions of individuals cannot afford their health-care costs, or face financial hardship as a result. Universal health coverage would help to address the rampant health inequities visible across all countries and contribute to tackling broader social inequalities.