A Slightly Scenic Route To An Academic Career by Dr Nicola Gale
James Blackhall
1. My Life as a University
of Leeds Student
James
MA Theology and Religious Studies
Candidate
BA (Hons) Theology and Religious
Studies
2. About Me
Achieved a 2:1 Degree in Theology and Religious Studies
from the University of Leeds.
Studying MA Theology and Religious Studies at Leeds.
Have part time work with Education Outreach as a Student
Host and an Education Outreach Fellow as well as managing
activities for International Students
During my first and second year at university I ran my own
Health and Wellbeing business
I am a political activist and very involved with on campus
politics
6. Budgetting and Finance
Making sure you spend a reasonable amount- shopping
around,
Getting a part time job helps- I work flexibly and earn an
average of £200 a month.
Also helps to improve CV and make friends while at
university
7. Life After Leeds
Continuing to work in Student Recruitment
Start to begin working in the health and fitness industry
again
8. Making the most of first year
Join as many clubs and societies as you can
Speak to everybody! You’ll never meet so many people
again
Do as many things as you can- I went rock climbing, started
a fitness business with the universities help and ran for an
election in my halls
Enjoy yourself
Introduce where I’m from Berwick as between Newcastle and Edinburgh pointed to on map
Decided on course by looking at various prospectuses and other information on the internet, asking tutors for advice and attended 3 university summer schools including a theology specific to see that it was defiantly what I wanted to study. The most useful sources of help were open days and summer schools as you got a taste for the universities you was looking at and able to see for yourself if they are the university for you
Was attracted to Leeds for 2 main reasons: the course being research based suited me as I didn’t want to simply learn in an academic enviroment but wanted to see the difference religion makes in communities and also was blown away by the gym!!
Before coming to uni I had had a couple of voluntary jobs including working for a church based project that helped me to understand some of the issues I’d later study on my course
The transition from A Levels to university study was ok however it is far more independent: I decide when to work and how to do it nobody telling me when I need to do things- meeting deadlines without teachers prompting you etc
Best parts of my course- trsoc of which I’m the treasurer on the committee (discuss with next slide); get to go out and independently research right from first year when I visited a Mosque to research how they work in the community- not just learning in a classroom!
As I study an Arts based degree I spend a lot of time in the library- lower contact time but higher expectation to do wider reading etc
Lived in Devonshire Hall for most of first 2 years of course
Moved into private accommodation for 3rd year
Was catered- first year. Self Catered second year
Leanring to cook (see picture) not always successful but great fun learning
Challenges- financial, emotional through health issues- university help allowing me to continue
Planning to do a masters hopefully at either Leeds or Durham- undergraduate has helped me see my potential to do this
Plan to do charity work/ continuing to work in the education sector helped by skills I have gained through student hosting and working with international students
–visit them important to have seen them in person to know if you’d want to be there.
Ask for advice about where you are wanting to go, study etc. it is big decision
