Northampton’s ‘friendly feeling’ helped me to get a first!

Date 9.07.2018

Fresh out of Sixth Form, Hannah Platt, followed her heart and joined the University of Northampton. She’s now 21 and about to graduate with a first class degree in History. Here’s her story…

“Thinking back to when I started thinking about going to university, I had my ‘short list’ of four universities, but Northampton always had that ‘something’ about it. I came to visit a couple of times, on an Open Day and an Applicant Day. The thing that struck me was how friendly everyone was, I mean everyone, from the people who met and registered me, to the students on campus and the lecturing staff.

“That particularly warm and welcoming atmosphere stood out a great deal compared to other universities, it was really comforting. The course itself was another unique aspect, on the BA History course, we study a fantastically broad spectrum of History; from the start of the early modern period in the 16th Century, right up to 20th Century communism and fascism movements. There’s something to take from every module, even the ones I was less passionate about in terms of the period we were studying, the classes were still captivating.”

Alongside her studies, Hannah found time to become a Course Rep during her first and second years. Course Reps are elected by fellow students, to represent the student voice for each course – sharing positive feedback about the course, but also bringing student concerns to the teaching staff.

“Being a Course Rep was important to me as I was the voice of others. It helped me to develop my communication skills and helped me to be able to be more focused on other people’s needs too. Great skills to take with me as I think about life after graduation.”

In her third year, Hannah was one of fifteen, students who took a trip to Vienna with the Students’ Union History Society; visiting historical sites of importance in the City, which were connected to modules she had studied.

“The trip to Vienna was extremely valuable. It was ram packed of intellectually stimulating visits to museums and other key sites, but what was clever was how there was something that we could link to pretty much all of the modules that we have studied over the past three years.

“We visited the Museum of Military History, the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, which was packed full of exhibitions from the Habsburg Empire through to the Second World War.”

Hannah will be one of hundreds of graduates who don their caps and gowns to collect their degree certificates at the Royal & Derngate theatre this week. Talking about her first class honours degree, she said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw my result, I had to keep refreshing the student information page to be sure!”