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Verity Bissett-Powell

English and History Joint Major, Graduated 2004

Lancaster University can fulfil the majority of students' wishes. The historic city is friendly and manages to accommodate fun-seeking undergraduates while retaining its traditional character. If stressed from exams or in need of an alcoholic detox, a short direct train journey can take you to the Lake District. However, the majority of students are satisfied within the city, with its numerous cafes, shops, bars and clubs. The uni itself is also fantastic socially as it has nine colleges, each boasting their own bar and because it is a campus you are instantly welcomed into a close-knit community.

I am frequently challenged regarding my choice of doing a dual honours degree and while I am eager to defend my decision to students, I do of course accentuate it on my CV! At the end of the first year, having studied three subjects, a lot of students who were initially planning to do a dual honours switch to single majors. It had never occurred to me to do so and I do not regret this decision in any way. The main urban myth surrounding the dual honours degree is that the student is doing twice the amount of work. However, if you choose your modules carefully the two subjects can complement each other beautifully thus easing the workload. Another reason students see a dual major degree as difficult is because the individual essentially straddles two departments. Conversely, in my experience this is not a hindrance at all as you receive double the support from academic and clerical staff (you also have two departmental graduation parties twice the quantity of free alcohol!).

I hate to use the cliché but I guess time really does fly when you are having fun. Now, looking back I do not know where the three years went and I would, naturally, love to do it all over again. I am not sure that I would make many changes, maybe drink more in the first year, or work a little harder in the second year but I know that in my third year I would definitely try harder not to take it all for granted.

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