Bryn Wilkes

Why Loughborough University London?

As a former Loughborough undergrad student and a two-time sabbatical officer at Loughborough Students’ Union, I knew all about the London campus before master’s study even entered my mind. Once I started thinking about postgraduate study, Loughborough University London was the first place to come to my mind because I knew how much hard work had gone into making the project a success. And, of course, it’s Loughborough!

What have you most enjoyed about your programme so far?

In the Institute for Diplomacy and International Governance, the faculty staff make a real effort to offer as much real-world experience to the students as possible. In addition to the lecturers’ own stories and lessons from working in the field, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the lectures of the practitioners who have been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

What attracted you to the programme?

While I enjoyed studying Sport and Exercise Science at the Loughborough campus, it was clear to me by the end of my degree that it wasn’t where I saw my career going. Politics, particularly across borders, has become more and more attractive to me in the last few years. When I read the specification of Security, Peace-Building and Diplomacy, it became clear that the modules would be teaching me the knowledge and skills to go on and make a difference in a world that really needs it in the future.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Well, as I said above, I would like to enter the world of politics. I’d love to believe that security and peace-building will be less necessary in five years’ time; but, if it’s still as key or more so, I certainly hope that my postgraduate degree can put me in a position to make a difference.

What advice would you give to prospective students looking to study at Loughborough University London?

Don’t treat Loughborough University London like any other university. What I mean by that is that the delivery of content, the compact campus and the cross-curricular work provide a unique experience here. When making your decision about whether to study here, make sure you take into account what Loughborough University London offers specifically, as well as the usual parameters that you would use to compare universities.

List at least one thing you wish you knew before arriving on campus

This is a tough one for me to answer given that I was in a rather uniquely informed position, given my background. On that subject, however, I know that many students didn’t realise the extent of the Loughborough Students’ Union offer here, or even that there was any presence at all. I’d certainly have a look at what LSU can offer you that makes your experience here more than your course.