Isabella Avanzato

How did you know that the University of Birmingham was the right choice for you?

When I came to the Open Day with my family, I loved the campus and could definitely see myself studying at the University. The Vale especially seemed like such a nice place to live. I also really liked how - coming from London - Birmingham is also a big city with lots to do - from going clubbing to vintage shopping in Digbeth!

Why did you choose to study your course?

I studied Government and Politics at A-level, and it was my favourite subject, so I decided to continue it at university, alongside International Relations. It's a really broad course, and I think it's very useful today, in order to better understand global challenges and political issues that affect society. I also really liked that at Birmingham for BA Politics and International Relations, I could pick modules that were coursework-based, rather than exam-based, which I prefer.

What is student life like for you?

I have around 6 hours of lectures and seminars a week this year, so I make sure to plan my time well for independent study and my dissertation work. I really like studying with my coursemates in cafes, in Selly Oak or Muirhead tower on campus.

I am currently the Kit Rep for the Cheerleading society, where I have made lots of my friends! We have training two to three times a week in order to prepare for xpLosION (Birmingham Lions’ big American Football game) in the first term, and competitions in the second term.

With my friends, we often go charity shopping in Harborne, to concerts at the O2 Academy, and enjoy Birmingham’s nightlife at pubs and clubs in the city and Selly Oak. We also hold our own events at home, like birthday parties, Christmas meals, and movie nights!

What's your favourite memory of university life so far?

This Christmas, we hosted a Christmas meal at our house. We went to The Soak first - a pub in Selly Oak - for a drink before helping with the cooking, and got all dressed up. We also did a Secret Santa exchange and did a little Christmas quiz to end the night. It was really fun to spend time with my housemates, as we are often all quite busy during the week!

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?

Try to say ‘yes’ to as much as possible and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. There are so many new opportunities to join in and so many people to meet! Birmingham is a great place to do this as it’s such a huge, supportive community where you can really grow over your time here.