Paul Ovenden BA English and History

Hi, I'm Paul Ovenden and I studied BA English and History within Humanities at the University of Southampton.

... it has lived up to my hopes, with excellent, informed teaching, lively discussion and the very best resources with which to work. Indeed, I have enjoyed it so much that I would love to go back and take two or three more subjects!

After one year working for Barclays Bank I decided that banking was not the career for me and instead chose to go to university in order to study history and English.

A wide variety of topics

After careful deliberation I eventually decided upon Southampton University, mainly because I was impressed with the sheer variety of topics on offer. I have not been disappointed; from focusing on the study of history itself, to specific chapters in history, such as Music and Resistance, The Northern Ireland Troubles, and the British Welfare State, I have been able to study broadly.

Excellent teaching and resources

For my final-year special subject I was lucky enough to be able to study my passion, Modern Ireland, and it has lived up to my hopes, with excellent, informed teaching, lively discussion and the very best resources with which to work. Indeed, I have enjoyed it so much that I would love to go back and take two or three more subjects!

Personal development

When I came to University I had no idea what to expect and hadn’t considered the opportunities outside of the lecture theatre. However looking back now I can see that the experience has developed me, not only as a student, but also as a person. I have met hundreds of fascinating people, continued working for Barclays part-time, written a novella, worked as Sports Editor of the Wessex Scene, and done three weeks of work experience at the Sunday Telegraph.

I am currently in the process of applying to work in the diplomatic core at the Foreign Office and I know that the academic, personal and intellectual skills I have learned during my time at Southampton will serve me well in whatever I do in the future.