Charlotte’s journey through social sciences at undergraduate and then master’s level highlights the power of academic freedom, real-world experience, and personal growth.

Balancing a rigorous BSc (Hons) Social Sciences degree with a professional placement, an MSc, and leadership on and off the football pitch, her time at Bath was both enriching and transformative. Her story reflects just how many opportunities and directions a single course can offer.

That moment when I knew what I wanted to study

I’m from Eastbourne, and originally studied biology, chemistry, and psychology at college — quite an unexpected path to where I ended up!

At an Oxbridge taster day, there was a talk on humanities and social sciences that just clicked. I went home, started researching courses, discovered Bath, and booked an Open Day.

As soon as I arrived, I turned to my mum and said, “I have to come here.” It just felt right. The campus had such a great atmosphere, the course content sounded fascinating, and the opportunities beyond the classroom were exciting.

After the Open Day, I attended a more in-depth Offer Holder Day, which was insightful and helped me understand the practicalities of the course — I learnt more about what assessments would look like, and what lectures would involve. I also got to meet some of my future coursemates, which made starting that much easier.

A course showcasing a wealth of expertise

I was especially intrigued by the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of the course. There were core modules in research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, but we also had the freedom to explore our particular interests within the course framework, under the guidance of experts in their field.

In my first year, I engaged with topics like policy, development, and humanitarianism. That variety helped me figure out what I was passionate about, while the research focus gave me a solid foundation.

The variety of assessment styles — like essays, reports, briefs, and group work — was a valuable part of my learning at university and has been usefully applied in my career since. Lecturers were insightful with feedback on drafts, and deadlines were communicated well ahead of time. That structure made such a difference.

One thing I hadn’t anticipated was the impact of the lecturers. I hadn’t looked much into their work beforehand, but once I did, I was amazed by the range of expertise available to me. It was inspiring to hear them speak about their research, about the places they’d worked, and the people they’d spoken to. Hearing about the lecturers’ first-hand experiences deepened my interest.

Taking social sciences out in the field

For my professional placement, I chose to combine both a research internship and a volunteering opportunity. The latter was teaching English to students in Kuala Lumpur, through Building Bridges Beyond Borders, while the former was through the Mitacs Globalink research programme. I did both placements remotely due to COVID-19.

During the Mitacs research internship, I worked on a project focused on barriers preventing indigenous communities from participating in environmental governance frameworks. Both experiences helped shape my interests and added real depth to my academic work.

To begin with, I didn’t fully grasp how many career paths there were in this field. But, closer connections with lecturers and exposure to their research — as well as a study trip to Jordan, where we spoke with different stakeholders — completely opened my eyes to the plethora of opportunities.

After finishing my undergraduate degree, I completed another 12-week internship with the Bristol and Bath Brussels Office before starting a role at UK for UNHCR.

I found the internship role through a University of Bath platform. It appealed to me because of its international connections and the chance to lead a research project. It felt like the right bridge between university and a full-time job. That role helped build my professional confidence and gave me experience using my research skills outside of academia.

Onwards to a master’s

I found out I’d been accepted for my first job with UK for UNHCR during my first MSc residential. I’d received my offer for the MSc Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development course a few weeks earlier, had the interview, and then started the job in September. It all happened very quickly! Although it is challenging to be working and studying at the same time, each aspect fed into and enhanced the other.

I currently work in fundraising. What’s been fascinating is seeing how many of the topics we discussed during my master's take shape in the real world. During the course, we explored fundraising from the lens of researchers, international organisations, and even refugee perspectives. That mix helped me make sense of what I do now with greater awareness.

I started in the Supporter Care team, handling donor queries and admin tasks. I then moved into Community Fundraising, working with supporters taking on marathons, bake sales, and other fundraising events. Now, I’m in Direct Marketing, focusing on postal appeals and TV adverts. It’s more project-management-focused, and I enjoy the responsibility.

The MSc had been on my radar since my first year at Bath. I think I found it while researching the lecturers, particularly Professor Jason Hart and Dr Katharina Lenner, who led the programme at the time.

The MSc made me more conscious of the broader ethical questions around fundraising in the humanitarian sector. It encouraged me to think about how we engage supporters, the narratives we use, and the impact of those choices on the people we support.

Staying in touch with my cohort, who work in a variety of roles in the sector, helps me stay grounded in my work and keeps me thinking about the bigger questions.

Appreciating the campus and the beauty of Bath for study

Bath itself added so much to the experience.

I appreciated that everything was on one campus. It gave the place a real sense of energy and community. The city is beautiful and felt safe, and I liked how walkable it was.

Whilst the top floor of the library was my go-to during deadline season, I also enjoyed working in cafés and the Virgil Building in the city centre.

Outside academia, I got involved with football. I’ve played all my life, so joining the university society was a no-brainer and it quickly became a massive part of my uni life.

I played for the second team, then captained the first team in second year, and became Social Secretary with one of my closest friends. In final year, I was Chair, overseeing all the women’s and men’s teams, intramural leagues, and futsal. I continued to play football in my final year and went on to win the Sports Personality of the Year Award. It was full-on, but I loved it.

Being involved in the club taught me a lot: project management, stakeholder engagement, and team coordination. I frequently worked with university staff and helped run events, all of which helped build the confidence and organisational skills I use today.

If I had to sum up my time at university in a few words, I’d say enriching, transformative and energising. I tried to make the most of every opportunity that came my way, and that’s why my memories are so positive.

Whether through the course, internships, extracurriculars, or the people I met, Bath gave me so much to be thankful for, and I will always treasure my time there.