Studying at Bristol

The University has a good reputation, particularly for Engineering. I was also attracted by study abroad opportunities. The department has strong links with industry resulting in placement opportunities through their Industrial Scholarship Scheme. The content of the Civil Engineering course at Bristol appealed to me more than others, due to the broad nature of the material covered, without the restriction of specialising. The research undertaken at Bristol enables specialist units to be offered in areas such as Earthquake Engineering.

I have a variety of interests in both the built and natural environment which the degree caters well for while developing and enhancing a variety of skills. Previous work experience with Arup in 2008 helped to confirm my career aspirations as I really enjoyed this and worked on several interesting Pavements and Geotechnical based projects. I aspire to a challenging and rewarding future career in Civil Engineering with opportunities to work overseas. This degree will equip me with the skills and technical knowledge required to achieve my ambitions and to be able to develop sustainable solutions to help meet future needs.

Following completion of my A- and AS-levels my career choice was undecided. I grew up in rural Derbyshire and decided to move to nearby Nottingham to gain work experience and also to build on my savings to help finance my studies. It did take me a few years to decide which degree to study but I was able to make a well informed decision as a result of research and experience gained. It had always been my intention to go to University, I am in the first generation in my family to do so and I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision.

I took A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics with Statistics and Physics in addition to AS-levels in Literature and Fine Art. I also have 11 GCSEs.

There are few mature students studying Civil Engineering. Entry is very competitive and requirements are high. The course involves a lot of group work, particularly in later years which helps students get to know one another. I find many don’t realise that I am older until I mention this and it hasn’t been an issue.

Adapting to life as a student following full time employment was difficult at first. Joining societies helped a lot as I met students from a variety of years with common interests who I could relate to. Alongside my studies I work for the University as a Senior Resident. This work fits well around what can be a hectic study schedule and provides subsidised accommodation. I have made many new friends while working in this role which has helped me become settled here and I feel a valued member of the University.

I joined a variety of societies at first. I am still a member of a few including the Explorers society. I enjoy walks in the countryside surrounding Bristol and weekend walks further afield including locations such as the Lake District and Yorkshire. I am also a member of two Engineering societies which arrange social events and employer talks throughout the year.

Don’t be deterred if like me you find there are few mature students taking your subject. I would recommend my subject to anyone regardless of age as long as you are prepared to put in the work required.

I wanted to be in the south of the country and not far from the coast; Bristol ticked those boxes. I also knew that Bristol was in the top ten in the league tables, and I knew that it had a good reputation. It was important to me to try and get into the best possible university that I could.

I have always been passionate about History, which is the only subject that I would have gone to university to study.

I had left school age of 16 and went straight into work, which was retail. I have worked in retail for all of my adult life, but I did not feel it was the career that I wanted to be in. I managed to gain the core GCSE subjects: English, Maths and Science, but decided that I wanted to study at a higher level.

At the time of applying I was studying for an Access to HE qualification, and I also had the three GCSE that I have previously mentioned.

There are only about seven mature students on the course, which has around about a hundred students in total. Mature students tend to gravitate towards each other in the first few weeks. However, once the ice is broken with the younger students you’ll find that they are just as easy to get along with.

It took me a while to feel confident in my ability to study at undergraduate level, but this is common in most people to start with. I made a number of friends in freshers’ week, who are still close friends two years later. I did not realise how important the reading was in the first year, which is something I got to grips with the following year.

I belong to the chess club. I decided to join because I felt that with two jobs and the course that I needed to take my mind of my responsibilities for one night a week.

Never feel that you are told old to go to university. Sometimes the life experience that you have will aid your university life, and of course it will also be an advantage for your CV. The good thing about Bristol is that the academics are helpful, insightful and friendly, which can be a big help when you may need some help with a certain aspect of your course. Make sure to work hard at your studies, but just as important is that you enjoy what you are doing.

I came to Bristol via an Access to Science course which enabled me to apply to the veterinary degree with pre-Veterinary year. Not all Universities in the UK have veterinary degrees and those with pre-Veterinary years are even less. Bristol Veterinary School is highly acclaimed and has a reputation I wanted to be part of.

The very simple answer is "I love animals"; however this standard simplistic response never feels adequate enough. Science and medicine have always interested me to a point of fascination and I have an innate love of life that I want every animal's experience of it to be the best it can. Fulfillment of this for me this starts with a healthy individual free from disease, parasitic burden and pain. I want to be qualified to provide this to the best of my ability and education.

By the time my GCSE results came out I was already working on a YTS scheme as an office worker for a shipyard. I stayed in administration for over 10 years, the later years as a medical secretary and found myself married with a house, horse, mortgage and bills to pay for. I had wanted to change my career for a long time so it was very much now or never and I went for the now and haven't looked back. I'm the happiest I have ever been and wish I had done it sooner.

My GCSEs were A-C, office qualifications such as Word Processing, NVQ in Business and Administration, some in-house training qualifications all related to office work and administration. My route to University started with an Access to Science course.

There are a small number of mature students. There are about 120 in the year in total and naturally there are micro groups that have formed. We do tend to have a lot in common and some younger students have gravitated towards us. They are great but they could out party me even in my younger days!

Having never been to University before I had no idea what to expect. I will always remember my very first lecture, a Biology Department lecture as part of the pre-Veterinary year on Neurophysiology. The lecturer lost me 30 seconds in and I sat through the whole 50 minutes grasping very little whilst having a mid-life crisis! I felt completely out of my depth and in complete awe that I was actually there. It didn't take long to get a grip of it all and I'm looking forward to continuing my studies.

As a veterinary student I don't find a lot of time for clubs and societies, but it's fantastic how many there are at Bristol.

Don't worry, don't panic, relax and just let yourself take it all in. I felt for a long time like an imposter but now I'm here to stay until I graduate!