Transcript for the Student Panel – Opportuntiies at Leeds video embedded on the Undergraduate offer holder day online events and recordings page.
[Four students are sat around a round table with microphones. One student, Nathan, starts speaking].
Nathan: Welcome, everyone. My name's Nathan, and you're joining us for today's student panel. And today, we're going to focus on all the opportunities you have if you come to the University of Leeds.
So, looking at placement years, study abroad, societies and the reasons why we really like Leeds. So, first of all, I'll introduce you to the other panelists, and I'll start off with you, Mateus.
Mateus: So, my name's Mateus. I'm a second-year medical student coming from a foundation program.
Kezzie: Hi, my name's Kezzie. I'm a fourth year Law with Hispanic Law student.
Fatema: Hi there. I'm Fatema. I'm in my second year doing International Business and Finance.
Nathan: And I'm Nathan, and I'm a Maths and Economics student currently doing a placement year.
And so just for context, a placement year is a year where you get to work in an industry in a role, and basically you can gain experience and you learn what it is to work a corporate sort of life. And it's a great way to learn what you like, what you don't like, and maybe what you want to go into in the future.
So, my particular one is in educational engagement at the university. So, I work on projects to help get underrepresented groups into the university, whether it be ethnic minorities, whether it be women in STEM, boys in Psychology, so many different things.
They are a great thing to do and it's one of the opportunities you can have at Leeds with practically most courses minus a few. Kezzie, you've done something that's kind of an alternative to placement years, which is a study abroad. And first of all, where did you go and do you want to tell us a bit more about that.
Kezzie: So, I went to Valencia in Spain and that was part of my degree as a compulsory year abroad because I do Law with Hispanic law. So, I studied Law in Spanish there. And yeah, that was what my year abroad was.
Nathan: Where abouts in Spain was it?
Kezzie: Valencia.
Nathan: And how was it moving to a different country, kind of acclimating to a different culture and accommodation? How did you get all that sorted?
Kezzie: So, you first got given feedback reviews for the countries, cities that you were looking at, and that's available for all of the countries and cities and towns that the University of Leeds has as options.
You can also do an optional year abroad so it doesn't have to be within your degree. And so again, they have a wide variety of places they can go. And these feedback reviews will sort of say about the uni, the course and accommodation and sort of help you where to look for accommodation and how to do it.
So, I personally sorted my accommodation before going, but you can also set up a hostel when you first get there. You can look at accommodation yourself.
So, it's just about sort of adapting to a new environment. I obviously had the challenge of the language barrier.
Nathan: Did you learn in Spanish?
Kezzie: Yes, I learnt in Spanish, but I did A-level Spanish before. But you don't need to have a really high level of language before going somewhere. Like some places only require you to do GCSE language for going and again, some other ones, especially optional ones, they’re in also English-speaking countries.
Nathan: I think I know people who've gone to Australia, Canada. In Sweden, I think they teach in English. I even know a guy on my course, who’s gone to Mexico and bear in mind he studies Maths at the university and he's gone on to study Cultural Studies in Mexico.
Kezzie: There's so many opportunities in that sense. Yeah, you really don't need a language. My friend who I lived with in Valencia, she was studying English in Valencia, and her degree was English. So, it just shows that you don't have to have a language in your degree to be able to do it.
Nathan: And then some people that I know combine what we both have done, and they’ll work abroad. So, you have the opportunity to do that as well as should you find a company that you really want to work for and apply for.
What's interesting about kind of your experience moving to Spain is that you've got a similar one haven’t you Fatema, but the other way round. You’ve moved to Leeds, do you want to tell a bit more about how that was for you?
Fatema: Yes. I'm an international student, I come from the Middle East, specifically from Oman. So, I came to Leeds. They were like lots of, you know, lots of reasons why I picked Leeds.
I would say the main one is because Leeds is known to be a student friendly city, and then it's one of the top 100 universities in the world. I'm based in the Business School and it's one of the UK's leading business schools.
So, they were like, you know, the main reasons for me to pick Leeds. But I think it's worth mentioning that I am an international student on a fully funded scholarship from my government where I could pick any university, I could go anywhere, but I chose Leeds, and you know, if I went back in time, I would still pick Leeds. The main reason for that is because of the unlimited opportunities we have here in Leeds.
Nathan: How was it meeting new people? So obviously you’re coming from a different country where maybe not many people come from of course – what was it like meeting new people? How did you go about doing that?
Fatema: So before coming to Leeds, we actually had a WhatsApp chat with the students who are already in Leeds, so, we got a chance to know their experience. You know what they're studying, accommodation, which is an important thing, of course. So already knew some bits before coming to Leeds. But when I came to Leeds, of course adapting a new environment, especially the weather here.
So, I think it went very well, smoothly because I had a lot of support here in Leeds. I had a great personal tutor during my studies, because I did my foundation year here. So, I had a great personal tutor, she very supportive and I honestly when I feel like I'm burnt out of my studies, and things like that, I went to her once and cried with her. So, like she was very open to hugging me, comforting me, very, very supportive, to be honest.
And honestly, she knew my personality because I was very, you know, a social person, and I'm still a sociable person obviously. So I told her my, you know, my thoughts, my ideas. And then she encouraged me to actually have jobs here in Leeds and have an impact at the university.
Nathan: So, did you say you've got jobs here in Leeds?
Fatema: Yeah, so that's varying, from part time jobs, voluntary work or like engaging with societies, So I have lots of roles here at the university, let's say. So I work as a student ambassador, so I work as a Link to Leeds ambassador and I'm the first Oman ambassador since this scheme launched in 2012. That's really good on my CV right?
But yeah, basically at Link to Leeds we basically deal with prospective students. We help them with their, you know, inquiries, if they have any questions, you know, accommodation, our own experiences here in Leeds.
Another thing that I work on is I would say is the sustainability matters. So I am a student Sustainability Architect at the University where I work with the Sustainability Service in here. We also have Gair Wood, which is actually a site, the massive site for only, you know, tree planting and discovering the impact of climate change on trees.
But basically what I do now is that I'm leading the project of organizing the student Sustainability Research Conference for the 12 Yorkshire Universities, which is really amazing because I get the chance to provide the students with a well organised platform where they can, you know, showcase their findings, what they've explored and then, you know, feels related to sustainability. So we can collate fashion and sustainability, things like that.
Nathan: What’s nice actually about as well is, on campus I think you can see sustainability on a smaller scale and with the sense that you've got the sustainability garden but you've also got like, they’re big on nature, the bunnies, the rabbits. I have to mention them. For viewers who you haven't been to campus, we have rabbits on campus who just do their thing don’t they. And am I right in thinking they've got vegetable patches, I’m pretty sure, in order to feed the bunnies? Which they keep them going, which is great.
It's definitely something to look out for at the University and also to add on, Fatema, does more than the average student. That isn’t normal for a student to do that much stuff.
You mentioned being a Student Ambassador and kind of that part-time work. Mateus and Kezzie, how has that been for you? Because I understand that you're also Student Ambassadors.
Mateus: Yeah. So, the Student Ambassador role is really good because I study medicine and at times the timetable can be quite full. It can be quite full on. So balancing my time and work is quite hard. But with the Student Ambassador role it allows me to choose the shifts I want to take on.
So then, let’s say Wednesdays I might have the afternoon free. If there’s a job out there, then I can take it. And obviously cost of living goes up and everything, and you know there's things to buy.So, the money is really helpful too.
The Student Ambassador role is really nice as well because you get to interact with other students too. I know me and you [Nathan] have worked together one time.So, we've been able to help students and if they have any questions about getting into university too, it is really nice to be there because are doing a job, but you're also helping out a lot.
Campus tours are always really fun to showcase the University. I feel like a pro, telling everyone about what this place is, when it was built, all that stuff. It’s really fun.
Fatema: And you get to discover places at the University that you didn't know about.
Nathan: I was about to say, I discovered St. George’s field on campus the other day, which is behind like the engineering buildings. I was in shock. I've been in this university now for two years and four months, I’ve counted, and literally didn’t know it was there until last week.
And what I like as well is that on top of the Student Ambassadors role, where you can pick your shifts, proximity to the city means that you've got a whole city's worth of kind of places that you can maybe work at should you want that part time job to go alongside studying, which I think is a big plus.
Kezzie: Yeah, I think the uni is really good at providing opportunities, not just with the Student Ambassador role, but obviously you can work in the student union and that's really good because you can get a part time job that fits your hours better and I also know someone that is doing a job helping a professor at the university to do research. So she does about a few hours a week and she gets paid to help them do their research.
Nathan: So that's really good. It’s really nice as well, because especially as you mentioned, Mateus, with today's cost of living, it's just nice to make yourself a bit more comfortable, earn a bit more.
I understand as well Mateus on top of your Student Ambassador role and amongst other things you're also a mentor for Insight to Uni?
Mateus: Insight Education, yeah. So essentially they're a company, there’s many organisations that university is linked with. And one of the ones that I got involved with was Insight Education, which aimed to provide mentors for Black Heritage students.
So for me as a Black Heritage student, I didn't have a mentor. I didn't have no one to really guide me to university. So then the aim of this organisation is to be there to provide for these students in sixth form.
So what we do is we're partnered up with two sixth formers. They'll be year 12, they’ll be halfway through year 12, and then you'll be partnered up with someone who wants to do a similar course as you, and obviously I had them and then you just talk about specific things. So let's say they're asking for help, how to get into university, how to revise and obviously you get money, you get paid for it as well.
So not only are you able to help them really well, but I think a benefit of it is I've had emails from them being like, I finally got an interview offe, I finally got an offer to university. And you do feel so proud.
I feel so proud every time. I'm always like, oh my days. So it's just really nice because it's just one of those things, because it even strengthens my skills as well.
You know, it would be great for my own skills because when I want to go into a field and I can say, you know, I'm great working in this aspect. I'm great at teaching a specific thing. So it's just a really good job.
And the way that university offer it is just so helpful.
Nathan: Fatema, I understand that you've kind of been on both sides of a mentoring scheme as a mentee and also as a mentor. Do you want to tell us a bit more about yours?
Fatema: Of course. So, we have lots of mentoring schemes at the university. In my first year, I was a mentee, so I started as a mentee, I built a mentoring scheme. So, I was paired with someone from the industry, who was already working in real life, things like that, after graduation. And then you get the chance to pick the topic that you want to discuss with them, let's say, how to land a job after graduation, you know, tips on CV's, interviews, more information about specific industries. So yeah, that was really beneficial.
And then in my second year I became a mentor, and that was part of WELS. And WELS is basically the Women Leadership Society. So I am a mentor with them where I am actually mentoring a first-year student right now, and I teach her more about the opportunities we have in Leeds, how to get help when needed, how to navigate the city itself, how to make friends, topics that we need actually, as you know, new people here.
Nathan: Yeah, Women in Leadership Society, so that’s one of the 300 societies we’ve got here at the university. Kezzie, which ones have you taken part in since you started?
Kezzie: So, in first year, I took part in the tennis society and in second year I took part in my academic society, which was Law. And they have three sub societies which are negotiating, debating and mooting. And I did the negotiating, which is basically when you are paired with someone to work with and you get given a scenario which you're acting on behalf of your client and the opposing team are given a separate scenario which are separate things that their client wants and you have to get to an agreement basically, and you are judged on how you work within the team and how you sort of hold your ground, but also compromise on things. That's something that's really strengthened my skills in that area.
Nathan: Do you think that's kind of been a way to practically apply certain things that you might learn on your course as well.
Kezzie: Yeah, definitely. Because I think in Law we do a lot of essays, we do problem questions which are more application. But this is a really good opportunity to apply this knowledge in practical life before getting a job because it really will help you get that job to show that you've strengthened these skills.
Nathan: Yeah, yeah, definitely. I think one of the societies I want to give a shout out to, Mateus knows what it is, I’ll let Mateus say which one it is.
Mateus: Shout out to the Swiftie Society.
Nathan: Yeah, the Taylor Swift Society is a definitely a pure example of the breadth of societies that we have at the university and how they can be so niche. Like I know that there’s a Warhammer Society, Quidditch Society, which apparently a lot of unis have, but you can get into quidditch at Leeds because I'm sure our Quidditch team is amazing.
Mateus: There’s a caving one as well. I watched videos of them on YouTube and there are people caving. I'm like, wow. But the University of Leeds also has a Caving Society. So, there’s such unique societies.
Nathan: And then also you've got the ones which I think some people might say, I wouldn’t say basic societies, but the ones you’ll expect at university so I'm in the Maths Society, because Maths student, but one misconception I like to debunk is the Maths Society doesn't actually do that much Maths in it, it's more of like a social space for people who all do the same course. And it makes it nice because it means that when you're in lectures and stuff, you see people who you've met in the Maths Society. This starts a conversation, which is really nice.
And within that we have a football and netball team and that’s something I think Leeds is really good for, you can go to stuff, I was going to say entry level as if it was a job, but like a beginner level, and because we've got our social teams which are, I'm sure they're good, but it’s not like they’re varsity level or something, which is really nice.
Fatema, I know that the Women in Leadership Society, haven’t you been an award-winning society as well?
Fatema: Yeah, so we're actually currently organising the conference, which is called the Empower Conference. And last year it was the largest student led conference in the UK. That was a big thing. I'm currently also in the subcommittee organising the conference for this year. So I'm currently basically part of the Sales and Treasury team and mainly my work there is focusing on, budgeting the conference, making sure that the money we have actually goes with the goals that we've set, but also the sales side of it, ticket sales, making sure that we maximise the attendees.
But I also work with the corporate team, reaching out to other societies, like other universities, letting them know they’re welcome to come here and join us in Leeds. But also, employers who can come and showcase the opportunities they have in their own businesses and companies. So, lots of things going on around the conference.
Nathan: What's nice with societies is there can be the fun ones that you do and they can also be great for when you look at the skills that you learn, especially if you want to join a committee. And they are a great way to find a safe space for different people. We've got the 93% Club, which is for people who went to a state school. We've got the Commuting Society for commuters. So, meeting people who are going through similar things at university, which is really nice.
But on top of that you've got Leeds itself as a city. You've got societies that unlock so many things, but you've also got Leeds itself. How did you guys find coming to Leeds, obviously from different countries, but also different cities which might have had different vibes and different sizes? Because for me coming from Manchester, although I felt Leeds was smaller, I kind of preferred it. It was a bit less crowded, which was nice, and it was very student centric. How did you find it Kezzie?
Kezzie: Yeah, I think it just depends on what you like. Like some people will like that buzz about a really crowded city, sort of thing, and I think Leeds has that city buzz. But as you say, I think it's quite open. Yeah, it doesn't feel too crowded. It feels big, but it also doesn't feel too big. I come from a city a lot smaller than Leeds, so I was really excited at the thought of going somewhere with a lot more going on.
Nathan: Did you find it a bit overwhelming at first or were you kind of just embedded in and you were actually okay?
Kezzie: No, I didn't find it that overwhelming. I think sometimes when you come from smaller places, the thought of a bigger city is more exciting. But yeah, as you say like, it’s not crowded. It's really nice.
You've got so many things to do. The university is really close to it, which is what I liked about Leeds because it has the campus feel, but it's also only a 5 to 10 minute walk to city centre.
Nathan: I think we can say that it's actually a hybrid - it’s a campus and a city university at this point really?
Kezzie: Definitely.
Nathan: Yeah, I agree. Mateus, how was it for you coming to Leeds?
Mateus: So, I come from a small town, and we don't really have much. Some would describe as boring, but we didn't even have an arcade. So, coming to Leeds I was just so excited because, you know, there will be new things, there'll be more interesting things to do. And then I was always worried about how crowded it could be because I didn't really like, I've never really liked cities where there's so many people walking and it just feels like everyone is everywhere.
But then coming to Leeds, it feels like there's a lot of open areas. It doesn't feel necessarily like a city, but it’s quite open, it’s calm as well. So coming from a town, that was quite calm. I'm in Leeds now, which is quite calm as well. So for me it's been really nice and there's a lot of things to do, so I'm not bored.
Nathan: I completely agree with that. Fatema, what would you say is your favourite place in either Leeds, the city, or on campus?
Fatema: What about both?
Nathan: I’ll let you have both.
Fatema: So, I would say for the university, I would say my favourite spot would be Esther Simpson, because it's one of the newest buildings and it's part of the Business School. So, not biased at all. Yeah, Esther Simpson, it's really nice, a new building, but then there are two trading rooms in there and they're amazing. Honestly, for me, as a business student, I need that.
Nathan: And does that introduce you to the idea of like stock markets?
Fatema: Exactly. How to trade, how to earn money. So yeah, I think the trading rooms actually they're filling the gap between, you know, practice and theory, because we need to apply what we're actually learning, the knowledge that we were studying ,in real life scenarios. So having the trading rooms is really amazing.
But when it comes to the city, I would say I really love how the people are friendly. If you need support, if you need help, that'll be there for you. But even the staff members, you know, at the university, they're really supportive, really friendly. I don't feel I'm away from home, to be honest, because I feel like Leeds is my home now.
Nathan: Despite the fact that you're like a flight away from home?
Fatema: And I think Leeds is warm isn’t it? In temperature?
Nathan: It’s still a great city, but not warm.
Fatema: No, it’s really cold isn’t it?
Nathan: Yeah, Kezzie, what is your favourite place? I know that you've got quite, you know, it's quite a common favourite place. Not that it’s basic, but it’s common.
Kezzie: Yeah so, I mean, aside from my most common one, I really like the Cafe Nero’s on campus. The business school one I really like, because they're also really good workspaces and yeah, I love that.
And then if you cross the road from Parkinson, my favourite food spot is Bakery 164, which if you do come to Leeds, you will soon figure out that that's where many, many people go on their lunch break and the queue will be like out the door. But yeah, t's popular for a reason.
Nathan: It’s nice when the sun's out and everyone’s sat on the steps to the Parkinson building, which for reference is a big white building, you’ll see it from anywhere. I completely agree with that, but I've still never been to this day actually.
Kezzie: You haven’t been to Bakery 164?
Mateus: Neither have I.
Fatema: Same. We should, you know before graduation.
Kezzie: Yeah, this isn't common, everyone's been there.
Nathan: Oh gosh. Moving on...
I liked what you said Fatema about the, practical application, like with the trading rooms. And I also liked what you said about Esther Simpson, because there’s so many spaces on campus that you can go to study in, even if you don’t study in that school, if that makes sense?
The School of Mathematics, has an amazing study space, but you don't have to study Maths to be in there. So, you've kind of got a whole, you've got access to most of the buildings on campus and most of the areas to study.
On the practical application aspect, I liked what you said with the trading rooms, because I also did a module that helped me with practical application. So I do Maths and Economics, which you think, how do you apply that? But I did a module called Mathematics in Schools where I taught mathematics to students and I also did something called a discovery module. Have any of you done any?
Fatema: Yes, I did.
Nathan: So, discovery modules, for reference, are modules that you can do outside of your course. So it can be, you could learn new a language, you could do something in Geography even. And mine was in Educational Policy and politics. I thought it sounded really interesting, but that really helped me decide what I want to do in the future as well. So, I definitely say to people watching, definitely look at the option for discovery modules if you can do them, because it's a great way to do something that you wouldn't usually come across.
Yeah, and there’s another option if you don't have discovery modules available to you. Normally your school have like volunteering opportunities. So for example, I did something called Support Through Court, which twice a month I went to court and I offered free advice to people that were representing themselves on their own in court who didn't have access to legal aid and things.
Nathan: Oh wow.
Kezzie: So that would be like providing emotional support to them, could be providing just administrative support with like the court documents. So that's a really good opportunity if you don't have that.
And the discovery modules, I think they're both really good waysto go outside of your degree and do something different. It’s such a great combination with discovery modules and then placements, study abroad and depending on your course as well, I know Mateus, you don’t have access to discovery modules really, but because you do medicine and you'll be on placements and getting that practical application to your subject. How has that been for you as an experience, like studying and also having placements?
Mateus: Just a quick note, we have intercalation, it’s kind of like a discovery module where we take out a year and do a specific area.So it's kind of, we still get the joy of that, but being on placement, it's so fun because obviously we learn a lot of the theory and a lot of the core conditions, but it's so different when you're sat there next to a patient and they're telling you how they feel and really expressing how much they do need help. And it's so nice for you to be there. And it really does make you feel like, okay, this is why I've come to study this. And being on placement it’s just really such a great way to put it into practice. So I've really enjoyed it.
I've learned so much as well. There's been so many skills that will carry on into the future, working with specific GP's and they give me tips and it’s just having those connections as well. It's amazing.
Nathan: That’s one thing I like to say to people as well. Coming to university, I think there’s this preconceived notion that you come to study, you graduate, you get your job, kind of thing. But it’s also about the skills that you learn along the way, the people that you meet. Like talking about societies, you meet so many different people. That's great for people skills.
Just like when you write an essay, you get skills from that. Like there's so many different things to get that from. And I think it was you, Fatema, who told me about the Careers Service and how they help you kind of consolidate those things?
Fatema: Definitely. The Careers Service...It's my best service at university. I feel like I'm a workaholic, so I need this. So in the Careers Service we have career consultants, career advisors, they help with CV's, job applications and you go on placement, internships, whether they are summer internships or in-term internships, studying abroad, things like that.
They really help with everything, you can have, you know, like mock interviews with them or one to one appointments. And they have great peer support assistants in there, who are just like other students, but they're trained to give advice to the students. So, lots of opportunities there. And I've used them a lot, to be honest. A lot.
They helped me to get my summer internship with the university, because like so last year I did my summer internship with the University - it was a Leeds International Summer School Social Assistant.
So that was my position. We welcomed around 400 international students, which was like the highest number that the university ever welcomed. So they helped me through my application and then I had a group interview. I never had that before in my country, I didn't know that was.
So I booked the interview, they explained the whole thing for me, what was going to happen, lots of things. But then we also have Job Link, you know, which is in our union LUU. So they also help connecting students with employers.
Nathan: That's really amazing. That's so nice and I think the employability service that I've come across, they’re really good with kind of showing like the extent of what you can do. Although we’re talking about how great Leeds is as a city, they really open, up opportunities to say, oh there’s this opportunity maybe in Newcastle that’s become available or this opportunity in Sheffield.
And that's one thing is what I like about Leeds in terms of location, is you can unlock the north as well. You've got access to Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, York and that’s definitely something that's good about Leeds, especially if you're looking to for opportunities, whether it be job opportunities or whether it be just to go to different places really.
I'm going to ask you two this as well, Fatema and Kezzie, you both work on the Uni Buddy Scheme, don’t you? Do you want to explain what that is a bit more, because I think that's something that all people watching would definitely be able to utilise?
Fatema: Yeah, so basically as ambassadors, we actually have ‘uni buddies’ and basically, Uni Buddy is a platform that connects ambassadors with prospective students. So, we help them if they have any questions and inquiries, if they want to know more about our experience. You know, how life is here in Leeds, the city, modules, things like that.
We get tons of questions, don't we?
Kezzie: Yeah, yeah. It's really helpful if you have a more specific question that you want to ask or if you want ask a general question like how's student life? Like you get more of a personal response. And you can ask about modules, exams, any question you have, study abroad, placements, but you know, you can expect that we don't know always the answer. So sometimes we can point to a link where we will have all the information there that might have been harder to find.
Nathan: It's nice as well because it gives them a bit of a head start, like I had a student the other day asking me about, societies and Give It A Go. This is something we were talking about earlier Mateus, which is like Give It A Go - the opportunity to try out new societies without committing to buying that membership, which is a great opportunity, that they offer at the start of the Semester 1 and Semester 2.
So, I was telling a student about it and they were like, ‘I literally didn’t know this’ but it’s nice that the prospective students can have the opportunity to learn more before they come to university and then they can feel the most prepared.
Kezzie: Definitely. And you can ask sort of, what should I follow? Like, for example, I would advise following the Leeds Union Instagram page because that will have the Give It A Go sessions, or it will have different societies advertising what they're doing and then you don't miss anything during Freshers Week.
We also have a Facebook group called Leeds Student Group, which is where you can post literally anything. You can ask, if you have a spare room in your house or if you're looking for housemates, if you're selling something, if you're selling a ticket, like you can post virtually anything on there.
Nathan: So that's also a really good thing to know before coming in. That's going to be my final thing is to make sure you prospective students make sure that you prepare yourself for uni and go onto those groups and try to meet people from your course before you start, because then it really does help with getting a head start.
So, as we've just said, you can access Uni Buddy through the uni website and Link to Leeds, which give you the opportunity to chat to students from different courses and different countries.
You can chat to them online, join student life webinars and follow them on socials.
So, I'll just finish off by saying thank you very much to Mateus, Kezzie and Fatema for joining me today, and talking to us about these options at the University of Leeds.
We hope to see you in the coming year. Thank you.