Student Spotlight: Anoushka Jain

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Anoushka, and I’m in my third year studying Politics and International Relations. I grew up in New Delhi, where I went to high school before moving to London for university

Why did you apply to Political Science Department, UCL?

Before applying, I’d spent a lot of time looking into the professors here, many of them do incredible work with the British government, the UN, and other international organisations. They’re full of fascinating insights and advice. I was also really drawn to the department’s research opportunities, like the Digital Speech Lab and the Migration Cluster. Plus, I loved how flexible the course is, by third year, you get to choose all your modules, and there’s such a wide range of topics, from climate change politics to the strategies of terrorism.

What do you like best about your course so far?

Definitely the flexibility. No two people on my course are studying the exact same combination of modules, which keeps things interesting. The course really moves beyond “traditional” politics and focuses on how we can solve the world’s current problems, something I find much more important.

What is the rest of your cohort like?

I've met some of my best friends on this course, and they've really changed me as a person and expanded my horizons. People really care about their degree, and make an effort, which is more important than you might think! They care about social issues, go out and volunteer, and do interesting things that matter in the world. It's also a super international course, with people from almost every continent, which means there’s almost always someone with first-hand experience of the issues we’re studying.

What is the teaching and learning like?

The professors are amazing; they really go the extra mile for their students. For example, when I got interested in international climate policy, one of my professors who works with the UNFCCC connected me with one of his colleagues so I could learn more about that space. The staff here have really challenged the way I think and helped me grow both academically and personally.

What’s been a highlight of your time at UCL so far?

I've gotten opportunities to do a lot of cool things! I went to COP29 in Azerbaijan, worked on changing the UCL curriculum to be more climate friendly, and worked with some friends on circular fashion projects. I feel like there's so many different opportunities at UCL if you put yourself out there a little bit.

What are your career aspirations and how do you envisage the programme helping with these?

Honestly, I’m still figuring that out! My interests have evolved so much over the past few years as I’ve discovered new ideas and fields. Right now, I’m leaning toward AI policy and platform governance, especially around content moderation and hate speech, something I first got into through a research lab in the department.

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London

One of the best things about London is that you’ll never run out of things to do. I’d definitely recommend checking out the smaller museums, Sir John Soane’s Museum is such a gem, free to visit, and you can learn so much in an afternoon. A picnic at Regent’s Park or Primrose Hill in the summer is another favourite (with friends, board games, and a good book) especially when the baby geese are around! And finally, one of my friends introduced me to Peckham Carboot, which is great for affordable home decor, plus there are so many good restaurants nearby.

Who inspires you and why?

Honestly, my friends! I've met such amazing people at UCL who are brilliant and incredibly kind and make me wish I could be more like them (cheesy but still!) I would not have had the amazing university experience I've had without them, and I'm lucky to have found my people. If you could implement one for policy in the world today, what would it be?

I’d want to tackle global food inequality. We already produce enough food to feed everyone, but so much of it gets wasted, left to rot, or hoarded because of poor distribution and profit systems. I’d love to see a global framework that improves food redistribution - connecting surplus from farms, manufacturers, and retailers to communities that need it most. This could include stronger regulations to reduce food waste, incentives for sustainable storage and

transport infrastructure, and better international cooperation on food security. It feels like one of those problems we could actually fix if we just tried a little harder.