Madalaine Caiger Brown

• Year of study: Third year (2025/26)

I chose to study at the University of Northampton because of the supportive learning environment and community feel. What particularly stood out to me was that lectures are delivered in a classroom setting – this helped me get to know my classmates and lecturers better, making it easier to engage in discussions and seek support when I needed it. Also, the modern campus is unlike other universities I’d visited and allows for more opportunity to interact with students from a variety of courses.

Another reason was the wide range of student support available. In addition to the excellent and approachable teaching staff, the University provides extensive resources, such as subject-specific academic librarians, free access to all course reading materials, and 24/7 campus security. The extra-curricular activities provided by the Students’ Union offer a space to make friends or have some downtime, which ensures students feel both academically and personally supported.

I’ve always been passionate about human geography and felt that the course would explore a wide range of topics across all different subdisciplines. My first year provided a rounded introduction to geography and helped me identify what I’m most interested in, and the mix of compulsory and chosen modules in the second and third years allowed me to explore these further, all whilst gaining wider knowledge across the subject.

My studies have played a significant role in preparing me for my future career. A distinctive feature of the course has been the third-year module, Career Planning and Employability, which develops practical skills alongside academic knowledge. This has enabled me to think critically about my future goals, and identify the steps required to achieve them.

As part of this, I completed a mock professional job application and interview with the University’s dedicated careers team, who we’ve worked closely with throughout – as a result, I feel prepared and excited to transition from education to employment. Beyond the academic knowledge, I’ve developed essential skills such as communication and self-reflection, which will place me at an advantage when I graduate.

As part of my degree, I completed a 30-hour placement with the City of London Corporation within their Epping Forest department, which provided me with valuable insight into the world of work and how to apply my academic knowledge. During my time there I rotated between several teams, including environmental crime investigations, conservation, surveying, and public engagement. This exposed me to a range of roles, and my responsibilities varied between office-based and fieldwork settings.

While working with the investigations team, I developed an understanding of criminal procedures, including how cases are prepared and progressed. Within the conservation and surveying teams, I contributed to habitat mapping and developed my practical surveying skills, directly applying my degree knowledge. In addition to this, my time spent with the public engagement teams enhanced my communication, organisation, and IT skills, as the role involved supporting event organisation and community-focused initiatives.

Overall, my placement enabled me to experience a variety of professional roles within environmental management, helping me to identify future career possibilities and increasing my confidence within workplace settings.

Going into my placement, I was nervous of what to expect, but the experience has become one of the key aspects of my degree. The preparation provided from University staff to succeed, and the encouragement to reflect on my experiences, has been invaluable. As well as developing my practical skills and confidence, the process gave me clarity of my career aspirations, as I was able to recognise my strengths, identify areas of growth, and understand how my degree can be transferred after graduation.

It also helped me progress further and strengthened my professional connections, but what I found most important was the career motivation and excitement it gave me. Having gained first-hand experience across a range of roles, I now feel equipped with practical insight and a better understanding of professional development.

To any student about to begin a placement, my tip would be to take a deep breath and jump right in. When starting something new it’s ok to feel nervous – you’re not expected to know everything, you’re there to learn and grow. Make the most of every opportunity, ask lots of questions, and engage with different members of the team. The more open-minded you are, the more you’ll gain from it. Ultimately, a placement is what you make of it, so stepping outside your comfort zone will help you develop both professionally and personally.

The advice I’d give to any undergraduate interested in this course is to be proactive and demonstrate a willingness to learn. It’s only when you reflect on your journey that you truly see the progress you have made.

Choosing to study geography at the University of Northampton has been the best decision. It’s been more than just obtaining a degree – it’s been rewarding, and empowering and has enabled me to develop both professionally and personally in life beyond education.