Sarah Ball BA Geography, 2013

Hi, I'm Sarah Ball and I studied BA Geography within Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Southampton.

University for me was also about gaining independence and I have been able to achieve this, particularly at Southampton, by having the opportunity to study abroad.

Q: Why did you choose to undertake your studies in Geography at the University of Southampton?
I chose to study Geography at Southampton for two main reasons: the course and the campus. The course was the most flexible out of all the ones I looked at; offering a good range of choice between both Physical and Human Geography modules, as well as the chance to study some optional modules in other subjects. The topics on offer also looked the most interesting. The campus here is green all year round with a river running through the middle and the facilities are excellent. There are also loads of fantastic societies to get involved with and this helped me in making my decision to come to Southampton.

Q: What did you enjoy about studying Geography at Southampton?
I enjoy the variety of topics you can study; from retail to sand dunes, to health and disease to ecology. It is also brilliant to be taught by lecturers who are real experts in their field; having done a lot of research or worked in the areas they teach. I have been very well supported by the Geography Department and have met some great people which has helped to make the course even more enjoyable.

Q: What have you been able to achieve as a result of studying at the University of Southampton?
Ultimately you do come to university to get a degree, and I have certainly achieved that, even managing to attain a grade above and beyond what I was hoping for. But University for me was also about gaining independence and I have been able to achieve this, particularly at Southampton, by having the opportunity to study abroad in Germany for 5 months as part of the European Erasmus programme.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
Having had the chance to live abroad whilst doing my degree, I am now planning to find a job in Germany to fund taking a language course to gain a language qualification. I am also interested in the areas of food security and development and am considering working for an NGO or studying further with a view to then work for an organisation like the UN.