Sam Oakley BSc Geophysical Sciences, 2019

I was sold by the professionalism of NOCS and the relaxed and open nature of Highfield campus. There was a very welcoming atmosphere here on the open day and that’s continued to be present for 3 years since.

Why did you choose to come and study at Southampton?

I was sold by the professionalism of NOCS and the relaxed and open nature of Highfield campus. There was a very welcoming atmosphere here on the open day and that’s continued to be present for 3 years since.

What is it like studying at Southampton?

It’s intense but in a good way. It’s been easy to enjoy the course material while maintaining the productive feeling. There’s never been any circumstance where I haven’t felt safe studying here. There’s so much variation in where and how to study around campus to suit all needs.

What have been your Southampton ‘highlights’ (best experiences) so far?

Being part of Connaught F.C and competing in the intramural football league. The Brittany fieldtrip in the summer of second year also stands out doing actual geophysics outside in France. Top highlights have been with the people I lived with and have shared my experience with since first year.

How has your time at Southampton helped you to grow as a person?

I’ve become a lot more willing to get involved in things that I might have previously been intimidated by. I’ve become a lot more meticulous in my coursework.

What are you enjoying most about your course?

The practicality of the material being taught. Learning about geophysics in lectures is good but actually taking it out into the field is truly eye-opening.

Do you have the opportunity to study modules outside of your core subject area?

Yes, there are opportunities to make my course more physics based and can also go into a more geology skewed course or even dip into areas like archaeology.

What is the city of Southampton like to live in?

Southampton has everything you need from a city. The bus service is key to getting around and is very reliable. There’re countless opportunities to get out and have a good time on a night out. It’s so difficult to get bored around Southampton it’s just a matter of getting out and doing what you want.