Kelly Sarigianni

Why I chose Surrey

I’ve always been fascinated by human nature. As an undergraduate, I explored the psychology of people within business settings – are individuals ‘resources’ or people searching for drive, growth, accomplishment and satisfaction at their workplace? This led me into a career in coaching and HR, working with staff to unlock their full potential. I soon realised that I wanted to investigate more into the human mind and people’s development – and that’s when I set my sights on a psychology masters.

I discovered the MSc Psychology (Conversion) course and was impressed to see it was accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). I was also struck by the University’s rankings and the beautiful green campus, which became catalysts for my decision to study at Surrey. And that’s where a great new chapter began!

My course

I really liked the diversity of students on the course. Everybody had different backgrounds and each one added a certain value to my lectures. Because of this, I got to see psychological issues in different contexts.

My lecturers were very helpful and approachable for questions. They always let us know about job opportunities, including internships and volunteering experiences, which was incredibly helpful. My personal tutor was also fantastic! She gave me academic and personal guidance and support throughout the course, and positively reinforced my performance.

I had the chance to represent my cohort as a course representative. It was great seeing how staff used our feedback to address any academic concerns and develop a better experience for us on the course. There was a student-oriented culture where we were the focus and source of development.

"My lecturers were very helpful and approachable for questions. They always let us know about job opportunities."

My life at Surrey

I loved being woken up by bird song in my accommodation at Manor Park. Being close to Stag Hill campus, I usually walked to my classes, taking in the beautiful green spaces to get me motivated for the day ahead! It was great having Surrey Sports Park on my doorstep – I spent a lot of my time there and its location made fitting exercise into my schedule a lot easier. Guildford was also right next to campus, so I could pop into town in between or after classes.

Sadly, I had to return to Greece and complete the rest of the course online, due to the pandemic. I was so grateful that I got a chance to make new friends and interact with students from all around the world before I left! Despite the changes, I was incredibly fulfilled by my student experience and was impressed by the University’s response to the pandemic.

My career and development

As an undergraduate, I worked closely with students, helping them overcome academic challenges and guiding them to develop their talents by being involved in student activities. It was so fulfilling, so I knew something in this area would be the perfect career choice for me.

I now demonstrate all my knowledge and experience through my current role as an Admissions Counsellor at the American College of Greece. Part of my job is to inform prospective students about all the opportunities that an international academic institution offers and how they can take advantage of these opportunities to grow in a holistic way.

My advice

• Study hard and start thinking like a scientist.
• Access careers support to find out what you can do after the MSc and what qualifications you’ll need if you want to go on to further study.
• Get work experience! Internships and volunteering are excellent ways to investigate different professional settings and to better understand what the ideal career pathway is for you.

Find out more about our psychology (conversion) course.