I chose to study British Politics and Legislative Studies
at the University of Hull because of the placement year
as the primary reason. Being able to go to Westminster
and work in an MP’s office or for a Lord for the whole year is an opportunity
I wouldn't get at any other university in the UK.
I'm hoping the year in Westminster will give me
the life skills that I need to go on into the workplace,
especially if I want to work in Westminster again.
Writing speeches, working in an MP’s office, dealing with casework,
I think for a year will be incredibly important.
Working in Westminster and travelling down there
to meet the MPs and meet the current placement students
is really going to set me up in terms of what to expect come September.
Getting to talk to them,
see what they do in their day to day role, working as a Parliamentary Assistant,
but also really get a hands on experience of what an MP’s job actually is.
I think in terms of a politics course that offers
this level of experience, you really can't ask for much better.
You know, for somebody like me who's interested in British Politics
specifically, for somebody who wanted
experience working in politics,
the BPLS course just offers that amazing opportunity.
It's still surreal to me. You know, I'm down here
walking about in the corridors of power.
I just really can't ask for a better course.
As well as
my day to day chores supporting the MP,
I've paired up with the Head of Diversity and Inclusion, and I've now been tasked
with the opportunity to start a women's network for BAME women.
So having that opportunity to start a forum
for a highly under-represented group has just been a dream come true.
There's a catch 22 at the moment where you've got to have experience
to get experience, and if you go on this course and you're
instantly, you've instantly got a year of experience, I think you're
already slightly above people in terms of afterwards
and you've got more job opportunities, I think,
because you do so many different things.
So you've got a lot of different experiences under your belt and the about the
a lot of people wouldn't be able to say they did whilst they were at university.
For us, it's always
good to get someone new in the office, a new member of the team.
I've got to say it's been nothing but a positive experience for me
having these placements in my office.
The university are there, have been there all through this process,
dropping me emails, sometimes dropping in with a call to check on how I am
these are all important things, especially when you're thrown
into an institution like Parliament.
Having that support on hand is absolutely essential.
And yeah, I'm really grateful for it.