Athanasios Dimadis

Choosing Surrey

I had already studied my BA in Modern Languages at Surrey, so I knew that the team in the School of Literature and Languages was amazing to work with. I also studied Philosophy in Thessaloniki, Greece. I really enjoyed working with languages and I wanted to take my knowledge a step further, plus a research-based programme is also good preparation for a PhD.  Surrey has decent rankings in their language-based programmes and hence it was one of my top picks; I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.

Life at Surrey

Surrey is a small and quiet but the proximity to London makes it a best-of-both-worlds town. As a serenity appreciator and a committed concert goer, I found my silver lining here.

I spend most of my time at the library as you can find your colleagues there and socialize, or share some insight and angst. I also enjoyed some of the many social including the Hive, the Hideout, Hillside and Lakeside, and of course Wates pub.

I’ve been an active member of the No Wave music society. The weekly socials were something to look forward to and they kept me sane during the more intense periods of studying! I’ve also attended some events held by the Film Society.

Surrey for me has been about the little things- sharing a cake, having drinks, spending time with friends at the lake. If I had to pick a single moment though, I’d pick my undergraduate graduation, because you get to see your tutors and your classmates once again!

Living at Surrey

Living in University accommodation was very practical for me because renting off-campus is more complicated for students from abroad. My accommodation was also in the Stag Hill campus so the location was as convenient as it could get. Flatmates are sometimes hit or miss but I had a great experience with mine, because they were mature students too and we had many things in common.

Employability

Thanks to my time in Surrey, I now have a better understanding of my capabilities and my goals for the future. Apart from the many opportunities to hone up my skills and the knowledge I gained, I also connected with people in the industry I am planning to follow.

After I graduate, I am planning to take a break from studies and focus on a career based in languages. I am also considering a PhD programme later.

My advice to future students would be: if you have the means to study a masters, do it. Honestly, it shapes you as a person, changes the way you think, and helps you figure out things. You will also get the chance to meet amazing people and, in terms of career, the support is fantastic and you can get in touch with companies and recruiters in many occasions.