Three years at university has come to an end, but what a wonderful journey it has been. I remember back to Fresher’s week, where nerves filled the lecture hall and there was absolute silence from the students. It only took that week to make friends and create bonds that will be lifelong.

Although change can be daunting at times, BCU is incredible in terms of offering countless amount of opportunities to their students. Alongside retaining great efforts into my academic studies, I have had the privilege to undertake exceptional roles which have made my journey even more worthwhile. During my first year, I volunteered with children who have learning disabilities in Morocco. This experience was truly an eye-opener and it provided an insight to the challenges faced by individuals who have such disabilities. As the main languages in Morocco is Arabic and French, communication acted as a barrier during the beginning, but using physical cues aided in overcoming this. Not only did we get the chance to help children improve essential skills, but we also visited orphans and undertook a feeding the homeless project, both which were indescribable events.

Within the second year, I applied to carry out a two-week placement in China, where we worked in conjunction with Chinese students on a psychology-related research project. As a result, I was not only able to expand my current psychological knowledge but learn about the Chinese culture and gain awareness of their educational system. After conducting our research and obtaining data, results were presented to the leaders of a university in China as part of a conference which was undoubtedly, a rewarding moment. Combined with the academic work, I met some wonderful Chinese students who I keep in contact with until now and have met some again during student exchange at university.

Even though these are examples of international opportunities, I did take part in institutional level events. For instance, I have been a connect mentor, peer mentor, Mental Health First Aider and a Student Academic Leader – some of the opportunities which have helped improve my confidence and create a strong rapport with lecturers and other members of staff. From reading this so far, you may think my university journey has been faultless, but I will give a snippet of the harder and more challenging moments which I can assure every student experience!

First year of university is always important in adjusting to the new environment and familiarising yourself with the workload. Within this year, I tried stick to a consistent routine which enabled me to manage my work and help transition from sixth form to university life. Second year becomes more challenging in terms of the increased workload and numerous deadlines. Different assessment types were undertaken during these years which is beneficial as new skills are regularly being learnt and developed. These are particularly useful if you consider further education following an undergraduate degree.

You may also hear majority of students discussing the difficulty of the final year at university. In my opinion, this was definitely the case. However, I would like to emphasise that the final year is crucial in your personal growth and working independently. This year will challenge you in many ways, including keeping up to deadlines, extensive research and trying to balance a healthy work and social life. A unique aspect of the final year is having the chance to conduct your own dissertation with a supervisor who has an interest in your preferred subject. Having the guidance from your supervisor enables you to feel more confident in your research but are also there when times get stressful. With the endless support provided by lecturers, the journey becomes more enjoyable and memorable. Moreover, the end result of obtaining the grades you want and graduating makes you realise every moment of struggle and every challenge was well worth it – A moment that is not comparable.

A special thanks to the Psychology Department, keep up the fab work!

Students all over the country are currently embarking on their dissertation projects. For many, this can be a gateway into getting more involved in research and maybe even a scientific research career. Ted Fearon graduated from Birmingham City University in 2019. Recently he had the opportunity to present his dissertation research at an international conference. He tells us all about his experience…

A few weeks ago I found myself standing at the front of a packed lecture room in the West of Ireland about to present my dissertation research. Scary or what? How did I get here?

About this time last year, I was trying to access participants for my study, someone I approached said “sorry can’t help. Sounds interesting though, you should present it at this conference”. I didn’t think much more about it until I started running focus groups with people saying how interesting they found it. The more I got into it, the more I felt I wanted to share my findings, so I had a look.

The conference of the European Institute for Outdoor Adventure Education and Experiential Learning (EOE), besides being a bit of a mouthful, is a meeting of educators, academics, practitioners and youth workers. Although not purely a psychology conference, it does illustrate how a psychological approach is widely applicable to many disciplines. Psychology underpins understandings of learning and outdoor experiences are widely used in therapeutic settings as well as vehicles for personal and social development. I have been involved Outdoor Learning in for several years and the conference theme of ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ was a bonus, as my study into gendered behaviour and attitudes in outdoor learning experiences clearly sat here. I sent in an abstract, got back into analysis and thought nothing more of it until when a couple of days before dissertation deadline I got an email saying that my abstract had been accepted.

So there I was, besides the Atlantic Ocean in Tralee, Co. Kerry for three great days of a mixture of keynotes, presentations and practical workshops from outdoor educators of all types. These included around 180 delegates from 22 countries, not only from Europe, but as far afield as North America and Singapore. Speakers and presentation subjects ranged from physical and intellectual disability, race, gender, pedagogy, and the experience of refugee communities, to the wisdom of donkeys, alongside workshops on mindfulness, academic publication, supporting inclusive participation and practical activities such as adaptive adventure on water and land, including surfing and trekking.

While it was a stimulating to watch presentations by familiar names from the literature I’d been immersed in, it was surreal to be introduced over coffee and chat with folk whose chapters and articles I had been reading; talk about impostor syndrome, but everyone was friendly, welcoming and interested in what others were doing. New to me, the world of sport and adapted physical activity was strongly represented, leading me to take part in a practical session of adapting and accessing water sports. Trying to get yourself from a chair to a kayak and even more challenging back from boat to chair without using your legs was a real eye opener. Something I personally found really interesting from APA was the concept of the dignity of risk; how participants with physical or intellectual disabilities are often denied the right to decide to take risks, which are seen as stimulating and fulfilling for others.

A conference is a bit like being at a music festival, with over fifty oral presentations in three days, spread across different rooms, it was tricky working out what to go and see. I was due to give my presentation on the afternoon of second day. This was really useful, as this gave me an opportunity to get a feel for the format and the audience. Each presentation was to be a strict twenty minutes of exposition followed by five minutes of questions; a lot of presenters struggled to keep to time. The audiences weren’t particularly interactive and often had to be pushed for questions. I had built on the presentation I had given during BCU’s dissertation conference, including some analysis of anonymised quotes and I decided to cut this down to be just under twenty minutes. Of course nothing goes to plan; when I introduced myself to the Chair, expecting to be speaking second, I was told that I was straight up and to take as long as I liked. Going first was cool, as I didn’t sit building up my nerves. As the room filled and settled down, I took a minute to check my PowerPoint, took a sip of water as I was introduced and then I was off, sharing my research to a room of about fifty people. It went really quick and seemed to go pretty well, there were nods and eye contact and murmurs, although no questions, despite me inviting the audience to help unpick the quotes. When I finished and the Chair asked for questions, I steeled myself for the long silence, but three or four led to a lively discussion. During the last five minutes of my talk I noticed a small knot of people outside the door, some of who now squeezed in. It would seem that they had come for my presentation, but had missed the beginning because of the ‘earlier than advertised’ start. I thought that there were maybe eight, but I was told later that there were more like twenty; so I guess that my abstract must have chimed with some if nothing else.

Attending the conference was a fantastic experience. At times I was nervous, wondered what I had let myself in for or why I had bothered with the extra work. However, I learnt loads, thought about things from new perspectives and met lots of interesting people. This for me was the culmination of my course; the knowledge, confidence and skills that I have acquired enabling me to take part. I am thankful for the support of Birmingham City University, staff and course mates and particularly the help and guidance of my supervisor Dr Debbie Earnshaw.

My key takeaways are;

For your dissertation do something that you can get fired up about.

Qualitative research is hard- but rich and rewarding.

Go for it, what have you got to lose?

Even the most experienced people are nervous, but audiences are tolerant and welcoming, they’ve been there.

– Ted Fearon, Psychology with Sociology graduate from Birmingham City University

Many students find it valuable to complete a placement year as part of their degree, in psychology and across other subjects. However, a lot of students report that they don’t really know whether they should do a placement, why it would be useful to them or even how to go about it. Psychology student Orlev is currently on a placement year, she shared her experience and feelings of finding her placement.

My second year of university was all about being thrown into the deep end and doing things I never thought I would have the courage to do. I have always seen myself as being quite an introvert but, if there’s anything I have learnt this year, it’s that I have the ability to change that. Obviously, it is a lot easier said than done (and by no means would I now class myself as an extrovert!), however, pushing myself to do things that I never expected I could was possibly the best thing I could have done for myself.

I made the decision to do a placement year, not only because I was unsure of what I wanted to do once university was finished, but because I did not feel as though I had sufficient experience within the ‘world of work’. I wanted my placement year to give me the opportunity to realise what type of things I enjoy doing and what jobs I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.

Applying for these placements was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do – not only does it take up unimaginable amounts of your time (alongside having to complete uni work, and trying to have a social life), but having to face all the rejections along the way is not exactly encouraging. However, just through the process of applying for placements, I already learnt so much about myself, and I definitely learnt the true meaning of perseverance! Although it was hard to see at the time, there was always a silver lining; with each application, I was constantly improving my application writing skills and, most importantly, realising which type of job sector I was more excited about, allowing me to become one step closer to figuring out what it is I want to do in my life.

Although I was very eager to secure a placement, there were plenty of times when I was ready to give up, with the only thing keeping me going being the constant reminder, that life is not always easy and the slight bit of hope that all my hard work would eventually pay off.

After several rejections, I finally got my first interview – which you would think I would have been excited about, but what always seems to happen in life is that even when something good occurs, you always find something else to get you down. For me, getting the email or phone call to say I had an interview came alongside anxieties and worries which I had never experienced before. It was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions at the time, but I kept reminding myself that just by filling out this application form, or just by going to this interview, I would be helping myself in so many ways. Not only was I getting one step closer to finding a suitable placement, I was also becoming more and more confident in myself: by realising and playing on my strengths, as well as learning to recognise my weaknesses and finding ways to overcome them.

By the end of my placement search, I felt very proud of myself – and most of that pride came from knowing that I had spent about 7 months persevering and working on myself, and not necessarily from the fact I’d actually succeeded in getting a placement I was looking forward to.

Most of us in our everyday lives are very quick to judge ourselves (and other people), without realising the difficulties that may have led to each moment. It’s so easy to be critical of ourselves, and we don’t always appreciate that the small things we do can be actually be seen as pretty courageous. Just searching for placements has taught me so much about myself and where I can improve, and I am so looking forward to my placement year, which I’m sure will teach me even more!

– Orlev Yechezkel, Birmingham City University Placement Student

Anna-Symone Bateman returned to BCU for her second year of study in September. Anna-Symone took on the role of connect mentor this year, helping the new psychology students settle into life as an undergraduate. I caught up with her last week to ask about her experience and thoughts, having been on both sides of induction week in the psychology department.

How do you remember feeling on your first day of induction week when you came to BCU in level 4? I was very excited. I was also quite comfortable and I think that was due to meeting some classmates previously at a small BCU meet and greet and met another student who was on my course. I do remember feeling very anxious to meet the lecturers however, but after a while I settled in well.

How were your feelings different on the first day of induction as a level 5 connect mentor? I was still nervous and excited! But for different reasons. I was nervous about new students asking me questions and me not being able to answer them correctly. And I was excited to help students settle in as best as possible so they were comfortable learning at BCU.

What were your favourite activities both as a new level 4 student and as a connect mentor? As a new student the induction period in general was a favourite time for me. The first couple of weeks were filled with activities to get to know people and the campus. I remember the library quiz and campus treasure hunt being particularly fun for me because I do love a new challenge. And as a connect mentor, it was really exciting watching the new cohort working together on their posters and I was impressed by the sheer knowledge they were entering higher education with.

What was your proudest moment as a connect mentor this year? My proudest moment as a connect mentor was being pleasantly surprised with a certificate from the staff thanking the connect mentors for our hard work that week. It meant a lot to me.

Why did you decide to apply to become a connect mentor? And did your experience in level 4 influence this decision? When I started university I always remember there being someone to ask a question, so for me ensuring that the new level 4 students had the same support was essential.

If you were to go back to your level 4 induction again, would you do anything differently? I would definitely get involved in a society. I wish I could have been involved in more socials with other likeminded students.

What was the most challenging aspect of induction week, both as a new level 4 student and as a connect mentor? The main challenge as a new student was getting used to managing my own time, balancing the work I had been assigned for the week and then also being social with new friends. I did however find the balance really quickly and this good practice stuck with me through the rest of the year. As a connect mentor the most challenging part was helping the groups to work together long enough to produce a poster. It was easy for some members to say they would do it later and I was nervous they wouldn’t do the work to the best of their ability, but the majority of the year did really really well!

– Anna-Symone Bateman, Level 5 Psychology Connect Mentor at Birmingham City University.

Ashleigh Bryant recently graduated from BCU with a B.Sc. in Psychology with Criminology. Studying at university presents a lot of opportunities and chances to explore new things. Ashleigh explains how she made the most of her time as a student…

University is an individual experience for every student, it certainly includes both highs and lows but after 3 years of studying Psychology and Criminology, I am full of mixed emotions after finally graduating from university.

My university experience has been an emotional one. I began my journey by moving into student accommodation just before the start of term during my first year and that is an eye-opening experience itself! Although I decided to commute for my last two years at uni, it didn’t affect my social life. I have made lifelong friends from both my course and student accommodation during my first year and have made so many amazing memories. I have definitely lived the uni life, with more nights out than I can count and the hungover 9am starts but it’s all part of the fun! If I have any advice for new students, it’s to make the most of every opportunity you’re given during your time at university. Through all the sleepless nights and 6am starts in Level 3 coffee pod, it really is what you make it and it can be the best 3 years of your life. There have been so many opportunities at uni to get involved with other students, I have been a Connect Mentor for the first year students and addressed any questions they had about university by sharing my own experiences with them. I also took the opportunity to be trained as a Mental Health First Aider as mental health is a subject I am very interested in. This job role has helped me engage with students from all different courses and helped me establish great relationships with many of my lecturers. I am so thankful for the support I have received off the lecturers in the Psychology team, everyone is very supportive.

Third year can be daunting as everyone gets stressed because it’s time for your dissertation, but it has been the best year of my life. It’s important to keep a balance between your social life and your academic work, it’s okay to take time out of writing your dissertation to go have fun with friends, it’s all part of the experience. It is also important to focus your dissertation topic on something you are passionate about because this is the biggest project you will do during your time at university. My dissertation focus was on mental health problems in students and is something I have enjoyed researching. You may feel like your dissertation is never ending but the sense of achievement you get from finishing a project you are passionate on, is really the best feeling.

Now I’ve finally graduated and had time to reflect on the last 3 years I have realised that it’s okay to not have your future planned out straight after uni. When I first went to university I was certain of my career path, wanting to study to be a Clinical Psychologist but over the last 3 years I have worked incredibly hard and now I am having some time out to go travelling and to make new memories and learn from new experiences. When I get back I will decide what to do, whether it be a Masters or a full-time job, but it’s important to know it’s okay not having every step of your life planned and taking on challenges will lead you to new opportunities.

– Ashleigh Bryant, Birmingham City University Psychology with Criminology Graduate

Olivia Hanlon recently graduated from BCU with a B.Sc. in Psychology with Criminology. A major part of every psychology degree is the research project completed in the final year. Designing, carrying out and reporting your own research study can be challenging, but it is also a chance to really explore your passion and learn more about whichever area of psychology you love. Olivia offers her advice for taking on the psychology dissertation….

Things I Wish I’d Have Known Before Starting My Psychology Dissertation

Writing a dissertation is said to be one of the hardest tasks you’ll do as a university student. Having just completed mine in May 2019, I can definitely confirm that this is true. After many months of stress and sleepless nights, the day arrives to hand in. At this point, you find yourself reflecting on the last few months and how you’ve handled the project. Before starting my dissertation, I didn’t know what to expect. I had an idea of my research area, but had no idea how, why or when I was going to do it. Luckily for you and anyone else who is starting their dissertation at BCU, I have some words of wisdom that I wish I’d have known before starting it this time last year.

You’ll make mistakes

Being a perfectionist is a blessing and a curse, you want everything to go right and that’s not always the case. This is especially true when you’re conducting your own research (and specifically if it’s qualitative, like mine was!). You’re going to make mistakes and sometimes, things won’t go how you planned them, but that’s OK. Learn from them and continue on the right path. If you think you’re having issues or you’re not doing something correctly, then have a meeting with your supervisor. They can straighten up anything you’re not clear on. Don’t always assume mistakes are bad either, it may be that you needed to make it so that your study is better!

Don’t ask course friends how much they’ve done

I often made this fatal error, and so did everyone around me. It’s pretty self-explanatory but please don’t start asking course friends where they’re up to, especially nearing deadlines. Every project is completely different and you will all make progress at different rates.

It’s OK to take a break

Being organised and focused is great. However, if you don’t allow yourself time to relax and take a break, it can be extremely overwhelming. Allocate yourself a few hours whenever you feel you need it to do something you like, it could be reading a book or just sleeping! The best ideas will come to you while you’re doing something you like, so see this as a productive way to spend your time.

A lot of work you do won’t end up in your final write up

As a Psychology student who conducted qualitative focus groups, I did hours of group interviews and transcription that didn’t end up in my 10,000 word write up. It’s annoying, yes, but it’s necessary. Take it one step at a time and don’t get too caught up in putting all your data into your final write up. While the word count seems a lot at first, you’ll find yourself struggling to keep within the limit by the end of your discussion.

You’ll read like you’ve never read before

I honestly can’t count the number of journal articles and books I read over the 10 months of preparing, conducting and writing up my dissertation. This is one of the reasons why you should only choose a topic you find interesting, the reading will seem fun. However, I have to admit, it will be boring at times. Think of it as broadening your knowledge, trust me when I say, by the hand in date you’ll be an expert on your topic area!

Your dissertation will interfere with everything else you have going on

Whether you like it or not, your dissertation will interfere with your whole life. From your home life to your relationship. During my final year, I basically taught my mum all about my topic area and she still talks about it now. Since I did my dissertation on sexual consent, it was always a conversation starter (which I loved!) so even when you don’t think you’ll talk about it, you will.

Some tips:

• Meet up with your supervisor regularly (and email them if you need help!). They’re all there to help you and without them, you’re not going to succeed. I can’t thank my supervisor, Keeley, enough for the support she gave me during the whole project.

• Organise your time, this way you won’t be struggling to meet deadlines.

• Keep on top of other work too, modules that aren’t related to your dissertation may come as an after thought when you’re focused on writing up but ensure you prioritise other modules when it’s needed. After all, they all make up your final mark.

A few photo snippets of my life during dissertation:

As much as I got stressed about getting things right, and doing well, my dissertation was actually an enjoyable and unforgettable experience. It’s also nice over the year as you build up a relationship with your supervisor. Getting to know a member of staff on a more personal level really adds to your university experience, make use of them and their expertise, they know what they’re talking about.

Trust me, it’s worth all the hard work once you’ve completed it. This is exactly why you should put all your effort in and strive to create the best piece of work you’ve ever done.

Good luck as you start this journey; enjoy every moment. It’ll be over before you know it.

– Olivia Hanlon, B.Sc. Psychology with Criminology Graduate, Birmingham City University

It’s often said that university is not only a place to learn and develop new skills, but also a place to grow and discover who you really are and what you can achieve. Laura Fogarty has recently finished her second year studying psychology with criminology at BCU, here she explains how her time here has influenced her…

In 2015, after a severe episode of postnatal mental illness. I decided that I wanted to do something with my life and find something positive from what had ultimately been the most distressing time of my life. Shortly after leaving a mental health mother and baby unit, I applied for an access course. I had decided mental health nursing was the career I wanted to go into so went for the health access course. It was soon 2016, I had a baby in tow, I was a single parent and I was about to return to something I had struggled with throughout my life, education. To say I was scared is an understatement. The year flew by and before I knew it, I was attending open days at Birmingham City University.

I kept my options open and decided to attend a Psychology open day too and something just felt right, almost like a sense of belonging. One of the lecturers, Professor Craig Jackson did lecture at the open day, it was on personality disorders and this opened my eyes to a whole different area. After talking to the lecturers and getting more information, I decided that I had found my home for the next 3 years (and possibly longer), finding I was actually destined for psychology with criminology.

I worried so much about fresher’s week, I was certain I could not attend because I was 28 and everyone was going to be young and not want to mingle with me. How wrong was I! That week I made more friends than I had in a lifetime and they were all ages, from all different places, I even found students who were parents. Although, the night life side of events was not my thing and I skipped it, I still got involved and made friends with people on the psychology with criminology course and not to forget the free domino’s pizza.

I really struggled in my first semester. I found change difficult, juggling being a single mom to a 2-year-old, running my own home combined with university work really took its toll. I remember visiting my personal tutor, who really encouraged me to keep at it and keep going. She pointed me in the direction of the centre for academic success, and I also got a peer mentor to support me with my work. After the first semester, things started to fall in to place and my grades were improving. Asking for help and going to see my personal tutor was the best thing I did.

Fast forward to second year and I had found my feet, I applied for a position as a student academic leader and started working as a student ambassador. I was juggling life like a pro, and I even started my graduate plus award. Before I knew, it I was doing activities such as walking on glass and volunteering to get my awards. Things my mental health had taken away from me previously, I was now able to do. I was recently awarded with the graduate platinum award. One of the things that really helped me was being open about my past struggles, and not being ashamed of who I was. I was able to tell my lecturers and personal tutor if I was having a bad day and they were all so understanding and still are. If my concentration has fizzled out and I had missed something, there was always a lot of information on Moodle (the university’s online platform). I really believe this had a knock-on effect on my grades because they were better than they had ever been. I was also utilising all the resources on campus too, so if there was a workshop I was there. Who knew, I’d even begin to enjoy statistics and do well in it.

At the start of second year I took part in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training and now have been supporting students within their own mental health difficulties for 12 months. When I was offered the role of MHFA co-ordinator, I couldn’t believe that someone actually believed in me. It’s a role I absolutely love and to use my own lived experience of mental health to support others has been amazing. Seeing students I have supported go from strength to strength is so rewarding. Before I knew it, I was winning awards with my right-hand woman Laura Gee. I met Laura Gee on the MHFA training, and she has since become one of my closest friends and support systems. I also won runner up student academic leader of the year recently.

One of my fondest moments was being asked to be part of the ‘I AM BCU’ campaign, where I had to do a photo shoot for the whole day. Modelling really isn’t my strong point but meeting amazing students that all came from different backgrounds, really made me feel a sense of inclusion. Whilst shooting I was asked to do a video for ‘I AM BCU’ which is now on youtube, which is crazy because before coming to university I was such a nervous wreck now I’m really confident and being a psychology student has really helped bring out who I am.

Sometimes I feel like I live in a bubble and have to pinch myself because I can’t believe I have gone from someone having barely any qualifications and being somewhat lost in life to now looking into a master’s in health psychology after my 3rd year. I really hope that I give hope to other students that absolutely anything is possible. I never dreamed I would be nominated for student of the year or inspirational student of the year 2019. This year my plan is to work hard and smash my dissertation, I will also be starting a new role as a peer mentor facilitator for student minds so that I can run groups for students experiencing mental health difficulties.

Everyone always asks me what I want to be when I graduate and to be honest for this moment, I am just enjoying my time here at BCU, putting my all into my work and enjoying new experiences. If you would have told me 5 years ago I’d be about to go into my final year at university, I think I would have fell on the floor laughing. I am so proud that BCU has supported me in getting to this place and really welcomed me with open arms. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t change it for the world. If I can do it then anyone can and if I had any advice for new students, don’t be scared to be you, utilize all the support on campus if you need it and enjoy every minute.

– Laura Fogarty, Psychology with Criminology Student at Birmingham City University

The online M.Sc. in Psychology at BCU offers students who completed their undergraduate studies in another field the opportunity to pursue psychology. Gemini Katwa completed her M.Sc. in 2018, here she shares her experience….

I had completed my degree in Applied and Human Biology and graduated in 2009, I was then self-employed for eight years and in 2015 I began working in a children’s residential care home. Whilst working I had thought about going back to University for postgraduate study, since I enjoyed learning. In particular, I wanted to pursue a career in Psychology. I constantly contemplated returning to University and completing a Masters in Psychology, I was going to return after a long time, as a mature student, however I was confident in my skills, combined with my hard work ethic and a genuine interest in understanding the mind and behaviour, I was ready to start looking at courses. There were lots of different options amongst all the Universities, it was quite confusing at first, however, I spoke to the British Psychological Society, prospects and also the University admissions team to gain further information. I was thrilled to find an online distance learning course at BCU that suited me, I could do my Masters without having to physically attend University! I took the courage and I applied. I waited nervously for some time for a sign of acceptance, eventually it arrived, I was accepted, I was overjoyed and looking forward to starting my next chapter in life, it was all starting to fall into place. 

The course information was released soon after my acceptance, I read through the introductory information and refreshed myself on the basics of Psychology. There was a list of books I purchased, however the library does have good access to these books. Within the first week of starting the course, all the lecturers and students introduced ourselves on the online forum and the students also set up a Whatsapp group. This was an important tool to have because doing an online distance learning course, it’s very easy to become unsociable.  The support and advice shared though this group chat was a life saver! There was continuous support from my colleagues at all hours of the day no matter what the question was (university related of course!).

I was very eager to get stuck in, the full course content was accessible online, with an online forum for each topic of each module. I contributed to all of these, which helped to build additional writing and critical feedback skills. There was excellent online support from the lecturers and other students. Assessment time was approaching, I continued to work hard all term, spending hours at the computer, writing, researching, reading journal articles and books. The full-time course is very intense, it was very easy to slip into an unhealthy lifestyle, I had at some point forgotten that the outside world still existed. So, if you are starting an online course, remember to make time for friends and family and get away from your desk to keep healthy. I used to go for short walks and take regular breaks which helped me refocus. It’s also a good idea to walk away from your current work for a while, it helped me to digest my work and look at it more objectively again. I submitted my assessments, and nervously awaited results day.

The assessment marks were released, I had done much better than I thought which I was pleased with. It was time to start the second term, I was prepared for the intensity, there were three modules and the dissertation to complete. I was delighted to find a topic of personal interest for my dissertation, I had contacted my supervisor early on and hoped this would be the project I could work on. Luckily, I got my first choice, I had completed the proposal and completed my ethical application. I made regular contact with my supervisor who was very supportive. I continued to contribute to the online discussion forums, worked on the assessments and supported my colleagues throughout. I submitted my final three assessments and I was ready to take a holiday with some friends to help de-stress.

I felt refreshed and ready to take on the final part of this course, it was time to knuckle down again and focus my attention on my dissertation. I was aware of my weaknesses and strengths when completing reports, and when I needed that extra guidance I communicated with my supervisor. I could now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although there was still so much to complete, I had kept to my plan to ensure that I’d complete it on time and to the best standard I could possibly give. It was time, I had submitted my dissertation and I cried. I did it, it was over, I had so many mixed feelings, but more than anything I need to sleep! 

A few months later, the final results were released, I was emotional, and I was delighted with my results. My supervisor had discussed with me quite early in the year about publishing my Masters dissertation research, we worked on this for a few months, and I was over the moon that my research had been accepted for publication in PSYPAG, I was now an author! 

Recently I have been communicating with my supervisor about completing a PhD building on from my Masters research project. I have thoroughly enjoyed completing my MSc. at BCU, the support from lecturers and students is above and beyond. To those embarking on the M.Sc. at BCU,  there is an incredible journey that awaits you, so best of luck to you!

– Gemini Katwa, M.Sc. Psychology graduate, Birmingham City University

Laura Gee began her degree in Psychology at Birmingham City University in 2017. Since joining, Laura has become an active member of the department in a number of different roles. Here she shares her experience so far…

Walking into the big world of university at the age of 30 was very daunting, I was a mom, a wife, had my own hairdressing business and was as old as most of the lecturers… I surely wouldn’t fit in…how wrong was I?!

At school I wasn’t very academic, hence not attending university straight away, but due to a health scare I decided now was my chance to follow my dreams of getting a degree. I firstly attended an access course which made me realise my love for psychology, which I had never studied before. Also, I realised I had got potential, boosting my self-esteem! The first day of university arrived, I had my bag packed and my pass ready, it was like returning to school. I even took a back to school photo, a very strange feeling. Walking into the psychology department at BCU, I felt welcome instantly and knew I was in the right place.

I had no need to worry about fitting in. Everybody was so lovely, staff and students alike. From then on, I thought to myself, I am going to make this worthwhile and show people that I am more than a just a hairdresser, and that I can do it. The opportunity arose to become a student academic leader (SAL), this was a great opportunity that I have continued with. Being a SAL got me speaking to more students and passing on any concerns to lecturers also gave me a rapport with staff. This role was my starting block to making university a great experience.

Further opportunities soon arose and I took on the role of becoming a psychology peer mentor. During my first-year peer mentors were mentioned to us and I decided to use the service during the second semester, I wished I had done so in the first semester! They are a great team who are there to help go over your work and check its at its best. In my second year I decided to pay this back by becoming a mentor myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this role as I was able to help people achieve their highest potential and improve my own skills at the same time. Plus, it’s a paid position which was a bonus!

I also became a student ambassador during my second year. Ambassadors are undergraduates who represent the university in a variety of situations. We work on Open Days, Careers Advice Events and school visits, and deliver presentations and supported workshops, using our experience of student life to help and enlighten young people who are thinking about university. This role gave me the opportunity to become a connect mentor during induction week for the new starters in psychology. I loved this role, sharing my experiences with new students and making friends myself with other psychology students I may not have otherwise crossed paths with. These roles have all given me opportunities to develop personal and key skills and develop my CV with work experience that will make me more attractive to future employers.

During my time at university I was offered the chance to take part in an Adult Mental Health First Aid course, which I snapped up as I am very interested in mental health and knew it would be a good move to further my career after university. After taking part in the Mental Health First Aid training course I was asked by the course leader to become a volunteer, as is everyone. The course leaders organised a group to make plans as to where we were going to go next with the initiative. A few students attended, and some very good ideas were contributed but I could see that the leaders were struggling to run this alongside their university positions, so a friend and I stepped up and began to take over and grow the initiative, becoming the Mental Health First Aid coordinators. At first, we did not really know where to begin, we just knew that we wanted to be able to support students with their mental health. After sitting down and brainstorming we came up with many ideas including training further volunteers (we now have over 200), volunteers creating a profile that service users can access, lead volunteers who delegate service users to appropriate volunteers plus much more. This resulted in the programme being run successfully and us receiving funding from the university. We didn’t stop there, since then we have attended many events, ran our own and helped many students get through university life. The initiative is going from strength to strength by helping students with their mental health through being there for each other. University life is a big change for many students and having a listening ear and someone to chat to helps people to do well. Our work with Mental Health First Aid was acknowledged by us winning the Mental Health thrive award 2019 through west midlands combined authority, we were so shocked to win and did not expect it but it has really opened many opportunities for BCU MHFA.

Talking of awards, I was also very shocked this year to be nominated for an Extra Mile Award. The Extra Mile Awards is an annual event run by the University in partnership with Birmingham City University Students’ Union. The awards recognise the achievements of the University’s most exceptional staff and students. I genuinely didn’t think I would win and went along to the awards to enjoy the event, so was shocked to be announced as the winner of the Inspirational Student of the Year for the BLSS faculty. Winning this brought to my attention how far I had come at university and how much I had changed for the better during this journey.

I don’t plan to stop here! My final year is approaching, and I have taken on the role of psychology school representative which is the next step up from a SAL. Mental Health First Aid is still going strong and Laura and I are looking for apprentices to take over our roles next year, so the initiative can continue. I have realised being a bit of a swot is pretty cool and is really getting me places, even the university wrote an article about me, which was published on the BCU Websites and social media. Deciding to study psychology at BCU was one of the best ideas I have ever had, and I am so thankful for all the support from the psychology department. So, a few tips for the newbies… be yourself and push yourself. If you open those doors to furthering yourself more will continue to open, if you want it go get it!

– Laura Gee, B.Sc. Psychology student at Birmingham City University

Back in March our very own Raluca-Maria Parfenov attended her first research conference to present her dissertation research. Raluca is a final year psychology student at BCU. Under the supervision of Dr. Stacey Bedwell, Raluca conducted her research project investigating the effect of having a sibling diagnosed with autism on emotional development. Here she shares her experience….

I have always been terrified of public speaking, but I knew I had to overcome it when I was faced with the opportunity of presenting my dissertation at the Undergraduate Conference organised by the British Psychological Society (BPS). There are very few conferences fully represented by undergraduates’ research studies, thereby, I am very delighted and grateful that I was accepted to present my dissertation study at the BPS Conference in Scotland, at the University of the West of Scotland. The application process included sending a concise version of the study’s proposal, and the approval came in a couple of weeks. 

The welcome and opening address was started by the Head of Psychology of the University of the West of Scotland, Prof Jim McKechnie, who wished us a warm welcome to the conference, expressed his pleasure of attending that day’s future presentations, while also naming this opportunity an important step towards future achievements after graduation. Following Prof McKechnie, we had the honour to listen to this year’s President-Elect of the BPS, Mr David Murphy. He expressed his excitement regarding the variety of the topics to be presented during the conference, while also presenting his academic and professional journey. His final message implied the fact that even though one’s path will not be as initially planned, in the end, it will get where it supposed to through perseverance and dedication. 

After the opening speeches, the first part of undergraduate presentations started. Due to the big number of participants during that day, there were almost eleven different presentations at the same time in different classes. That was very unfortunate for those who wanted to attend multiple presentations, but could not due to the fact that some were in the same time, or the break between them was too short to move from a class to another. However, I truly consider that each of them was equally important and interesting, and the fact that there were some many presentations that is the most important aspect. I had the opportunity to assist the presentations of the studies in the “Clinical Psychology” category, which included research studies based on self-compassion, the impact of Bell’s Palsy condition on patients’ wellbeing, and perfectionism. All of them brought up strong support, organised methods, and interesting findings. 

A lunch break followed, during which a future fair also took place. During the Future Fair psychologists from a range of divisions, including educational, forensic, and occupational, talked about their professional paths, while also representatives from different Universities advertised their offered postgraduate courses. It was a great opportunity to listen to interesting professionals stories, get information about different courses, while also forming networks. After the break, the second, and last, session of undergraduate presentations followed. During this session, I had my presentation as well, about the influence of individuals diagnosed with Autism on their siblings’ level of empathy and pro-social behaviour. I felt like my heart was pumping out of my chest the whole time before actually starting my presentation, which was my first time doing that. However, from the moment I started speaking and saw that the persons present there were paying attention and were interested in my topic and study, everything became so even-tempered. I received great questions after the presentation, especially regarding the future implications, while also a number of positive feedbacks and encouragements. It was a great moment, and I felt that even though I am just an undergraduate student, my work was appreciated. The conference ended with a closing address. 

This experience helped me to slightly overcome my fear of public speaking, gave me some experience regarding academic research presentations, gave me the opportunity to form networks, and to present my study, about which I am very passionate about. Thereby, I truly recommend to anyone to apply for the next year’s BPS Undergraduate Conference, or to any kind of conference, because it will definitely be a helpful and relevant experience. 

– Raluca-Maria Parfenov, Final Year Psychology Student at Birmingham City University.