Harry enjoys the strong sense of community within the School and the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded individuals with common interests.
“The only place I could see myself studying was the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at Reading as I feel part of a community of faculty and students who share a passion for tackling issues that the world is currently facing. This is reflected in how modules are taught and the informative discussions that arise from them.”
Harry benefitted from the flexibility to explore a range of optional modules offered in his course, providing him with valuable insights to expand his knowledge.
“I chose modules that allowed me to explore topics ranging from hydrology to agriculture and opting for a course that takes into account the most up-to-date climate research and provides me with the space to develop my own views on sustainability, is one of the best decisions I have made."
A key factor that attracted him to the course was its focus on career development and he has greatly benefitted from the chance to complete a professional placement which has helped him expand his own network.
“Compared to other similar degrees, Reading provides experiences that are highly relevant and in-demand across all sectors of the economy.
From the first year of the programme, students are encouraged and supported to gain industry experience. I undertook a placement between years which helped me build my professional network, and understand how the knowledge gained from my degree was valuable to businesses.”
The university provides plenty of social and green spaces, which offered ample opportunities for Harry to meet new people and he values living within a community of students on campus.
“Reading is a great place to be based as I found that the campus made it easy to make new friends with its plethora of social and green spaces and it has many transport links making it easier to stay connected with loved ones. Living on campus during the first year also means you feel like part of a community which can be invaluable if it’s your first time away from home.”
The university also has an exclusive job portal for students, which makes it easier to find work and budget accordingly. This helped Harry to manage his finances better and reduced his stress levels.
“I found a job through the Campus Jobs portal that’s exclusive to students, which helped with my stress as it made it easier to budget.”