Olivia Howe

This degree has enabled me to explore psychology from many different perspectives and find a path that I am passionate about and truly enjoy. Before university, I was working within in the adult mental health services and was inspired by the dedication and compassion of the professionals around me. Their influence motivated me to pursue an education and career that would deepen my understanding of the human mind and allow me to make meaningful differences in people’s lives.

I chose to study at Edge Hill because it had the most welcoming campus that I had visited. It is not only beautiful but also feels like a close-knit community. The university felt like a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment, with plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with people from a range of different courses and backgrounds due to how integrated everything is. My experience during my degree has only confirmed that impression.

Psychology is a subject with such variety. I had the opportunity to explore so many aspects of the field, some of which uncovered unexpected personal strengths, before deciding what I enjoyed most.

I was given the opportunity to conduct qualitative evaluation and analysis for an intervention project focused on vaping in primary schools. This came about during my third-year module ‘Applying Psychology to Lifestyle Behaviour’, I enjoyed the content so much that I reached out to my professor, Dr Andy Levy, to offer my support on any future projects and this opportunity arose. This experience has allowed me to network and gain valuable insight into public health and has ultimately led me to continue my involvement in the project by studying on the MSc Health Psychology.

Resilience, adaptability and research skills. These are the three key skills I have gained during this degree.

The moment I got my dissertation grade back was the most memorable part of my degree. It was such a significant and emotional milestone. I got the grade that I wished for, concluding my years of hard work and marking the beginning of my postgraduate education.

My favourite thing about Edge Hill is the campus. It is not only a great place to study, but the greenery and wildlife on campus kept me grounded throughout my degree and offered so many lovely places to study, relax and spend time with friends.

The student support services in the catalyst have also been fantastic, sending me in the right direction whenever I have needed help with anything at all. Many of the academic staff members have also been more than happy to help me when I was struggling, even if it wasn’t their direct responsibility to do so.

I will be continuing at Edge Hill university to study the MSc Health Psychology. In the future, I hope to become a psychologist.

Take full advantage of all the opportunities offered to you, this would be my advice to anyone considering studying psychology at Edge Hill. The course offers internships and study abroad opportunities which are great for personal and academic growth and would be a shame to miss out on.