The importance of community in the School of GeoSciences

MA Geography students and staff smiling for a group photo on a model boat.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Summary

Fourth-year student Ellis McLaggan shares how it felt to be supported throughout her studies by both staff and her fellow students, as well as how she contributed to the GeoSciences student community through her Community Champion role.

When people think about university, they often focus on lectures and assignments. Looking back on my time in the School of GeoSciences, it is the sense of community that stands out most. The friendships, support networks and shared experiences have shaped my university experience just as much as the degree itself.

University can often feel overwhelming, especially during busy periods of coursework, exams and dissertation deadlines, but having a supportive community around you makes a huge difference to the student experience. It helps students settle into university life, build confidence, access support when they need it and create friendships that last beyond graduation.

My friend and I with completed dissertations

Help is at hand

What makes the GeoSciences community so special is the number of people who work behind the scenes to create opportunities for students to connect with each other and feel supported. Academic staff, Student Advisers, Cohort Leads, Student Representatives and societies all play an important role in making the School feel welcoming and inclusive. Cohort Leads and Student Advisers play a huge role in sustaining the sense of community within the School. They organise events throughout the year that give students the chance to take a break from academic pressures and spend time together outside the classroom.

Some of the most memorable cohort events from this year included a Mario Kart competition and an end-of-year quiz. These events might seem simple, but they create opportunities to meet people and form new friendships outside of the classroom.

As the Undergraduate Community Champion for Geography, I had the opportunity to contribute directly to the student community. Through organising career events, barbecues and wellbeing activities such as therapy dog visits, I saw first-hand how valuable these opportunities were for students. Even a short event between classes could help students meet new people, reconnect with friends or simply take a break from academic pressures.

Ellis and a friend with two therapet dogs

Therapet event

Our wider community

The sense of community within GeoSciences also extends far beyond School-run events. Student societies play a massive role in bringing people together and creating friendships across year groups. The Geographical Society in particular is a huge part of student life within the School. Throughout the year it organises social events that allow students to meet others with shared interests and build connections outside of classes.

These relationships can be particularly valuable for newer students, who benefit from advice and encouragement from those further along in their degree. The annual ball is always one of the most highly anticipated events of the year and gives students a chance to celebrate everything they have achieved throughout the year.

Learn more about the Geographical Society

A large crowd of people in formal dress at the Geographical Society Ball.

Geography Ball at Ghillie Dhu

Out in the field, together

One of the most unique aspects of studying within the School of GeoSciences is the role that field trips play in shaping the student experience. Fieldwork is such a central part of many GeoSciences degrees and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of university life. Spending long days working together in the field naturally brings students closer together.

Whether it is helping each other with data collection, travelling together or simply unwinding after a long day of learning, field trips create friendships and shared experiences that strengthen the School community in a way that classroom teaching alone cannot. My third-year field trip to Athens was undoubtedly a highlight of my time at university. Spending time learning alongside classmates outside the traditional classroom environment created friendships and memories that will stay with me long after graduation.

Athens Field Trip

As I approach graduation, it is not only the knowledge and skills I have gained that I will take with me. The friendships and experiences that have come from being part of this community have been equally important. They are what transformed my time at university from simply earning a degree into an experience I will remember for years to come. For current and future students, the School of GeoSciences offers far more than an academic education. It provides a community where students can build friendships, support one another and create memories that last long beyond graduation.

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