First year student Abigail talks about her experience of the flexibility she has found in studying Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences. Her enjoyment of the the Core modules and how it's felt joining the LANS community.
"I decided to study Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences because my interests span across a broad range of subjects, and I desperately wanted to continue studying a variety of subjects to follow not only what I enjoy but to also leave my options for the future open. I didn’t want to choose a singular subject and neglect the enthusiasm and inspiration I find in others, and the LANS course allowed for this.
Going into my degree, I had decided to major in Criminology, with this field of work looking like the most likely outcome of my future; alongside LANS, I had applied for pure Criminology courses. However, since studying multiple subjects, I have changed my major to Drama and Theatre Studies and have since realised that it is this line of work I aspire to follow. This exemplifies the invaluable flexibility the LANS course offers as, without it, I would not be able to now be studying what I truly love. The course enabled me to discover this and also facilitated the change.
In addition to this, the LANS core modules offer vital skills not provided in my previous academic studies – skills I was keen to gain due to the application to real-life scenarios and ones I view as incredibly important for future success. Not only do these core modules address skills for personal growth, for example engaging in a transformative reflective essay, but also they tackle more business-focussed elements. The focus on making real world change is also something I love about these modules: our semester two module asks us to create a real-life campaign in response to a social issue and having my studies work towards making a real difference in the world is something I value immensely. This aspect of our studies holds great importance and is something very unique to LANS.
I am incredibly grateful to be studying at the University of Birmingham too. The university has been very welcoming, with great efforts made to help me settle in with practical plans put in place to help students meet new people despite current circumstances, societies altering events to be effectively implemented online, and offering a wonderful campus with a friendly atmosphere. In addition to this, living in Birmingham has been a great experience so far; my time exploring the lively, vibrant city centre has been highly enjoyable and the city offers an excellent active nightlife, even with restrictions. I’m looking forward to experiencing the city and nightlife in full in the new academic year. My advice for prospective students would be to keep an open mind and go for it: immerse yourself in university life, in what the city has the offer, in society events, in the countless opportunities offered by LANS through schemes like the cultural programme - anything and everything. The LANS community is a wonderful thing to be part of, with all efforts made to create a supportive atmosphere and to encourage us students throughout our academic journeys."