Course
BSc Computing Systems
Why did you decide to study part-time?
I applied successfully for a place on the Kainos “Earn as you Learn” apprenticeship scheme.
This meant that I could continue to work towards my degree whilst working full-time and gaining real industry experience.
How would you describe yourself to someone who’d never met you?
A 23-year-old Product Consultant, tech community leader and Corgi mum with a strong work ethic and quite a sunny personality.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I’m currently in the midst of co-founding a tech company dedicated to helping women with chronic pain conditions and reducing the gender pain gap.
What obstacles or challenges did you overcome?
I think for many part-time students, as the workload gets heavier you must learn to balance your work alongside your studies.
I was determined to take on a very ambitious final year project and I’m proud that I was able to complete said project to a high quality whilst managing a career change, a start-up accelerator program and a puppy that wouldn’t stop eating my skirting boards.
How has your life changed since beginning your study – if you didn’t take the opportunity, where would you have been?
I think about this question all the time and how glad I am that I decided to take a non-conventional route through further education.
I’ve discovered so much about the career I want and the job’s where I really shine, gained so many incredible experiences and met so many amazing people.
I simply can’t imagine a life where my career was only starting to kick off 5 years later than it already has.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
I think my favourite achievement has been leading the “Corgi Undergraduate Women in Tech” community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The community was very young when I took over as the committee chair, and I was determined to continue supporting our community of undergraduates as they struggled through a very difficult year.
Thankfully, we’ve not only sustained but grown the community substantially, all whilst providing learning and networking opportunities to help our members kick-start their careers.
Completing my degree has also been a huge achievement for me, especially when I think about how much I’ve learnt and grown since I started this journey in 2016.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
In the next year I plan to focus on my new role as a product consultant and on growing our start-up. After this I plan to do some travelling whilst working remotely and see where things go from there.
At this point in my career, I have no long-term goals other than to end up in a job that I love where I feel confident in my own abilities.
Why would you tell a prospective student to study part-time?
Studying part-time gave me the freedom to work in the industry, build my confidence and earn a salary all whilst working towards my degree.
Whether you’re a more practical learner, supporting a family or looking to accelerate your career, a part-time degree will enable you to achieve your goals.