Rebecca Noble

Why did you choose Kent?

I came to an Applicant Day and really enjoyed it. The lecturers were all so enthusiastic – really keen – and sold the subject very well, although I had enjoyed history at GCSE and A Level, of course. The campus is really beautiful, and I liked the city of Canterbury too.

How is your course going?

It’s good. The first year was very enjoyable but I’m having to work harder in the second year – it’s not necessarily that the work is tougher but there’s a lot more reading. The modules are very enjoyable, and I’ve noticed that in seminars people are more confident and contributing more so we’re having more debates and discussions; we’re really getting to unpick everything.

Do you have any favourite areas of study?

I prefer early modern history and this year I’m really looking forward to British History, 1260-1820, Russia: 1855-1925 Reform, Revolution and War, Conflict in 17^th century Britain – and the module on the Vikings too.

What is the teaching like?

The teaching is very good and the lectures are so interesting. PowerPoint presentations are kept to a minimum which means you make your own notes rather than just copy things from a screen, so you have to process the information that comes directly from the lecturer, and that helps it stick. The seminars are very enjoyable too – it’s great to get into a student-led discussion, with the leader prompting to help you develop your own ideas.

What is the level of support like in your studies?

Everyone is approachable, and I’m really lucky because one of my lecturers is also my academic adviser. If I need any help with essays they’re happy to assist, and if they’re available they will arrange a face-to-face meeting rather than just email. And when I do ping them an email they get back quickly. The Student Learning Advisory Service is really good too –they can help when you’re first writing essays, and show you how to reference things. The History office will always point you in the right direction, and there’s an undergraduate support officer too.

Where will you go for your year abroad?

I’m hoping to go to Canada, to Ottawa or Calgary, for a study year. I’d like to experience a different lifestyle and look at history from a different perspective – I think it will enhance my learning and show how wide the field of history is.

What kind of career do you hope to follow when you graduate, and why?

I’m not sure yet exactly what I’d like to do, although I’ve talked to the Careers and Employability Service and got tips on how to enhance my CV. I feel drawn to advertising, publishing or retail – I’m people-oriented and don’t want to be in an office all the time; I’d like to travel. I think going abroad for a year will really help ­– give me an opportunity to branch out. I do know that I’m already gaining a lot of transferable skills – essay-writing, learning how to carry out research, how to communicate effectively – and you certainly learn about deadlines and time management when you’re writing essays.

What is the accommodation on campus like?

Very good. I was in Turing for my first year, in a house with 11 other people. I loved being on campus – you could just roll out of bed and into a lecture. And there are so many different options, from rooms to flats and so on, ensuite or not – a good choice.

And what about the campus facilities?

Excellent. The Library is good – I know they’re doing a lot of building work at the moment but they’re very good at letting you know when and where. But I use it mainly for writing essays; a lot of the reading can be done online, and there’s Moodle too [the University of Kent’s virtual learning environment] which has reading links and is so useful. Then when you’re not working there’s the excellent sports centre – I do classes as well as sessions there; the choice of eating places is great too – and some of them are quite tucked away so you almost discover them by accident while you’re wandering around.

What do you do in your spare time?

I work as a History Ambassador, working on Open Days talking to prospective students and promoting the School. That’s great because you get paid! I also go to London quite a lot – with the fast train it’s so easy.

Any advice for students coming to Kent?

University is different to school – you’re not spoon-fed – so you need to learn independence. But everything is there for you so be proactive and if you need help, ask for help – you’ll get it. You don’t know who you’ll meet so take every opportunity you get. And when you go out, Canterbury offers so much more than the usual student attractions so explore the city and make the most of your time here.