My BNU Story: BSc (Hons) Intelligence Analysis and Management
My BNU Story: BSc (Hons) Intelligence Analysis and Management
During their studies, many students get to take part in exciting internships. We spoke to Sophie, who has just started a placement at UNIQ+.
Why did you apply for a place at BNU?
COVID-19 brought me to university as applications were closed for the RAF in the roles I was interested in, so I had to look elsewhere. Higher education was unappealing, and I planned to leave when applications reopened. But I found myself enjoying my degree too much to leave!
Can you tell us a bit about your degree programme?
I am studying BSc (Hons) Intelligence Analysis and Management. This degree has opened my eyes to new perceptions of our world and the significance of geopolitics. I enjoy the flexibility and encouragement to explore areas of personal interest. My lecturers ' diverse careers expose us to unique insights and perspectives within teaching, and the hands-on approach within group work makes learning easier and more enjoyable. We have been lucky to have had many guest lecturers and visits to companies who have shown us the broad range of careers this degree can benefit for and what work is involved within a typical day.
What are you doing in your internship at UNIQ+
UNIQ+ Research Internships are aimed at undergraduates from under-represented groups who would find continuing into postgraduate study challenging for reasons other than academic ability. During this internship, I have had the opportunity to work with inspirational people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I have been following the conflict in Ukraine since before the invasion and wanted to get involved in research around it, so when I came across the UNIQ+ research project ‘Europe through the eyes of Ukrainian youth’ with the University of Oxford, I applied, not expecting to be picked. I was shocked when I was selected.
The project is under the supervision of Dr. Marnie Howlett, a Departmental Lecturer in Russian and East European Politics in the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) and Oxford’s School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA). It follows a typical DPhil timetable experienced within the University of Oxford and is designed to give interns a taste of what a postgraduate degree is like. Each day is different, mainly consisting of research and analysing transcripts. Compulsory lectures and dinners are held at various graduate colleges for interns to network with current and past DPhil students. The project is flexible and tailored to an individual's strengths and areas of interest, which makes it very beneficial for experience to explore potential postgraduate course subject areas.
How do you think your experience so far at BNU has changed you?
Coming from a disadvantaged background, I was told throughout high school that I would never amount to much if anything. Yet now, I enjoy higher education, and I am achieving things I didn’t think possible. My time at BNU has shown me that my background does not define me, and my time at the University of Oxford during this internship has inspired me to continue with higher education and pursue a master's degree.
