From clearing to Law with a foundation year

My first year at Durham University has been filled with making memories, support and overall a very positive experience. I applied through clearing after there was a mistake with my initial results and the support at the university was incredible and welcoming: I made the right decision coming to this university.

I was initially disappointed about not going straight into first year of law at Durham but the foundation year has been amazing where I have made great friends, learnt a lot about myself and what I want to get out of my degree and best of all the foundation programme gave me the opportunity to travel to the Czech Republic as part of the course to partake in a poster conference to present my research: a unique opportunity that has been a highlight of the year. All the staff around campus have been supportive with them genuinely wanting the best for you at university, if you ever need advice or guidance about anything minor or major there is always someone available.

Coming from a small mining town I was curious as to what student life at Durham would be like and during the year there have been many opportunities to get involved within the university from college fashion shows, sports, volunteering, and college balls or celebration days making it a great atmosphere.

I participate in three Team Durham sports, five societies, and also I’m a student ambassador. I hope to get more involved in volunteering and I am going on an internship to Fiji supplied by the university next summer! One of my favourite things about the university is how it feels like a community and you can walk into the city centre and be bound to see a few familiar faces in Tesco or queuing for Flat White Kitchen. There are some traditional Durham Uni things like the purple quarter zips, the DU nicknames and the collegiate settings that I miss when going home. Honestly, I could not recommend this university enough, it is not just about getting a degree at the end of it here but about making lifelong friendships and accomplishments. My only wish was that the first year had not gone by so quick!

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Lilly Scott

Lilly (she/her) is a first year law student from the north east of England staying at Josephine Butler College but did a foundation year last year. Part of three Team Durham sports: powerlifting, running, and boxing (Vice Captain of boxing) and volunteer in sports as well as societies and community events.