Samiha Begum
Degree: BSc Social Policy
Where are you from?
I’ve grown up in London and spent my whole life studying here!
Why did you choose to study your degree?
I grew up during the 2008/09 recession and spent many lessons at school asking my teachers questions about the changing policies that were happening at the time and who they’d affect. When I was 13, my geography teacher told me that I should study policy at university and that ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ would be the perfect place for it.
I was always interested in politics, but more interested in change and how to achieve positive social change in society with a specific interest in understanding how to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable groups. I considered social policy to be the most important aspect of governance and knew that studying Social Policy at degree level would give me the ability to study on a macro level a range of different areas with the opportunity to specialise.
What did you enjoy most about your degree and being at the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳?
You are right in the centre of any huge events or changes. The world changed a lot in the three years I spent at university, and with every policy change, election or crisis I felt like I had a front seat with leading commentators, professionals and academics to help develop my own understandings of it.
What are the benefits to studying in the Department of Social Policy?
You gain a very multifaceted understanding of a range of policy related concepts in the U.K. and internationally. BSc Social Policy is very robust, and specifically in relation to research methods, you leave with a wide range of specialised research skills that not many other undergraduate degrees can provide.
Another great benefit is that the Department of Social Policy is home to the leading researchers on the topics you study. A lot of the government or central reports I would study for my dissertation or summatives had the biggest contributions from my lecturers and on reflection, that is pretty amazing.
What are the benefits to studying at a London university?
London has an amazing ability to connect people and places. It’s a hub and there are so many opportunities available to you when you do study in London. Of course, socially it’s a great place to be and despite never lasting that long, London in the summer is one of the best places to be.
What have you done with your degree since graduation?
Since graduating, I worked as a researcher at the Institute of Race Relations. I worked with a range of different stakeholders including lawyers and community groups to carry out different research projects including on housing and police custody. In September I am due to join the Government Social Research Service on the Civil Service Fast Stream. My class peers from ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ who work in the Civil Service have told me how well suited Social Policy graduates are to the Civil Service so I am very excited to get started and contribute. Fun fact, I still keep in contact with my ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Academic Advisor, Professor Lucinda Platt and she played a big role in advising and supporting me throughout the application process for this job.