The first thing that attracted me to study at Stirling was the beautiful campus and its location. I immediately loved the atmosphere and the amount of green space around the university. For my background, Stirling is really well located for getting out into the mountains to pack QMDs for my mountain leader award, but also for other outdoor activities I’m interested in like kayaking.
Another thing that attracted me to Stirling to study my degree was that in addition to the outdoor education side of the course, there was also the environmental science element. There is a lot of freedom in choosing the science modules you study, so I really enjoyed following the modules I chose, which allowed me to learn new information that interested me in a wide range of topics related to environmental and biological sciences. .
A huge benefit of studying at Stirling is all the opportunities that can arise throughout your degree and student life. Personally, for me, many of them are due to my involvement in sports teams such as women’s rugby, mountaineering and kayaking. For example, as part of the kayak club, I was able to complete my basic training in safety rescue delivered by British Canoeing which is an excellent qualification to have personally as a kayaker but also professionally too!
The three outstanding features of this course are the opportunity to undertake a work experience module and also to complete the Summer Mountain Leader award as well as a first aid qualification. The work experience module was really a huge benefit of this outdoor education course as it gave me the chance to independently find a relevant volunteer opportunity in the outdoor sector and gain more experience as an outdoor instructor, all of which counts towards my degree. The Summer ML award is also a great opportunity built into this course and another big reason why I wanted to study here in Stirling.
As far as my future career is concerned, my studies here at Stirling will have a really positive impact on whatever I decide to do. As I mentioned, the ML award and first aid certificate really impact my ability to start or apply for outdoor jobs upon graduation. Completing them while studying my degree really improves my resume, especially since those are two things outdoor education employers will be looking for. Having experience of the internship module also gives me a good idea of the type of career I want to pursue. Having the environmental science knowledge behind the outdoor educational practice is also going to be very beneficial as this is also another career path I could choose.
I would definitely recommend any prospective students considering Stirling to come to campus and attend an open day. I found this to be a great way to not only see the campus in person and take a look around, but also get the chance to speak directly to staff members and also current students to any question I had.
As I approach my third year, I am so glad I decided to study here in Stirling. I really like the way my degree is structured so that I can easily balance my academic and personal life. I’ve made some great friends and memories so far and can’t wait for the next two years!