Davina Binji

Why did you choose to study your degree at Swansea?

Having studied Geography at A Level, I found that the subject was particularly interesting to me, but I preferred the human topics over the physical. Realising that I was able to study the aspects of geography that I enjoyed was a key motivator in selecting the degree. Due to the pandemic, I hadn’t attended any University open days, but previously visiting the city of Swansea made it stand out as somewhere I would be content with being.

What is your favourite thing about your course?

Now I am in my final year, I love the flexibility of the course and that I can choose what I want to study. I was never keen on doing things like GIS work using the computer, which was compulsory in previous years of study, but now I am in control of my modules and can select the ones that interest me the most, which I feel makes my performance improve.

How have your lecturers supported you through your studies?

In my experience, lecturers are always happy to assist with any questions that you may have.
They are happy to discuss any queries after a lecture has finished but are also extremely contactable via email. They are also happy to go through exam marks with you and give personalised feedback, so you know areas for improvement in future assessments. My dissertation mentor was particularly brilliant during my dissertation study. If I emailed him with any concerns, he would promptly respond to me and was always happy to arrange a Zoom call or an in-person meeting to discuss progress.

What are your favourite things about Swansea (the city/area)?

I am from the Midlands, so being near a beach is completely alien to me… my nearest beach is probably a 3-hour drive from my house. Having a beach just across the road from the campus is amazing, and something that I’ve never had readily available to me. In the warmer months, visiting the beach is great! The local restaurants around Swansea are amazing, with my absolute favourite Chinese takeaway being located here… I will miss it when I graduate!

Did you apply through Clearing? If yes please can you tell us about your experience

Yes. I had initially applied to do a completely different course when filling out my UCAS application. However, after submitting my application, I realised that the duration and location of my chosen course may not be right for me. Although I was accepted into a university that I had applied for on results day, I decided to decline the place and go through clearing instead. When I phoned Swansea University, the lady I spoke to was extremely helpful and guided me through the process of being accepted – and then I was able to deal with things like selecting accommodation, but overall it was an extremely easy process and not something to panic about.

Have you undertaken any field trips as part of your course?

In second year, geography students were given a choice of where to go on a field trip as part of a module. I selected to go to Berlin and it was an absolutely brilliant trip. As we were travelling there by coach, we were also able to spend a night in The Netherlands on the way there, and in Belgium on the way back. I made friends with classmates on the course, and we are still close. The visit to the Jewish Museum was a particularly striking activity, and the food in Berlin was incredible.