While researching which universities to apply to, I came across a YouTube video from a professor who emphasised the importance of gaining work experience through internships or placements. This massively narrowed down my search, and I focused on universities that offered sandwich placements and had great industry connections – that was by far the most determinative factor when choosing where to study. 

Loughborough ticked every box: the sandwich placement, the opportunity to study abroad, the university campus life, and the sporting facilities. When I went to visit on an open day, I was hugely impressed by the campus, and the introductions from the professors.  

I chose to study Politics and IR as I was interested in learning about domestic and international politics at a time where what I was learning from textbooks and the political reality were poles apart. And, to be honest, I also knew that I wanted to enjoy my university life and get stuck into extra-curricular activities, and this degree provided enough breathing space to pursue that.