Lucinda Murley

BA Geography

What has been the highlight of your time at Exeter?

The highlight of my degree was the close community that is the University of Exeter. From the first day of first year there is a real sense of community. This covers everything from meeting new people in halls of residence to academic inclusivity. This community spirit was epitomised during my second year field trip to the Bay of Naples. This trip brought together both the strong student community and the teaching staff. It allowed you to enjoy unique experiences with friends, and expand your personal fields of academic interest with the help of lecturers. This field trip was highly memorable and something I shall always look back on with fond memories.

What will you miss the most about University?

I will miss the freedom that university allows. You learn to live independently with all the highs and lows that entails. But also, you have complete academic freedom to learn and explore your own interests. It is this freedom that I shall miss the most. I am looking forward to starting my career once I finish my masters, but I will also appreciate the freedom to learn and explore what university has taught me.

What did you enjoy about your particular programme?

I particularly enjoyed my final year dissertation. I was able to decide from the very beginning the topic and area of research I wanted to explore. This allowed the dissertation to be personally engaging and made the whole process more enjoyable. What is more, the large and complex nature of dissertations allows for a great sense of accomplishment at its completion. I can honestly say I worked diligently throughout my degree, and dissertations are an excellent way to demonstrate key skills in a manner that is personally engaging and highly topical.

What advice would you give to current and future students?

In the words of one of my first year lecturers, ‘learning is not linier’. It took me three years to truly grasp the meaning of this statement, but it is definitely true. My advice to current and future students would be to appreciate the challenges of university and accept that there will be rough patches and assessments that do not go your way. However if you overcome them, your performance will improve and you will learn to better deal with these situations. If learning was linear, then it wouldn’t really be learning.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

Next year I will be attending the University of Edinburgh to complete a masters in Carbon Management, and will then aim to pursue a career in environmental consultancy.