In 2021-2022 our very own Lucy Roberts (Classical Studies with an International Year) gained a place in the Study Abroad competition to spend a year studying at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

There she had a chance to study topics as diverse as the History of Hell, ancient Babylonian legends, the Roots of Patriarchy, Legal Advocacy in Ancient World and many others. She enjoyed her time so much and did so well that she was included in the Dean’s Honor list (with those at the very top of the grade scale) for each one of her four terms. We are so proud of Lucy but also very happy to have her back with us for her final year!

Here is what Lucy had to say for herself:

"Doing a year abroad was something I was incredibly excited about and yet deeply nervous for. Moving to America alone, having never been there before, and starting at UCLA was amazing. Being so far from home, with an 8-hour time difference certainly made me more independent, I couldn’t rely on my support system at home to immediately solve any issues that arose, which meant I had to have faith in myself. The school was beautiful, and the people were incredibly passionate about being there which made me proud to be there too. Having studied abroad was an opportunity I was incredibly lucky to have, and something that has enriched my life in so many ways; not only academically, but with new experiences and friends from all over the world. One thing that really impacted me there was the emphasis and acknowledgment of first-generation students. I had never realised what a big deal it was for me to be the first in my family to go away to uni, let alone to do a year abroad at the #1 Public University in America. My favourite part of the American school system was the opportunity to take classes from various disciplines such as gender studies, communications, and modern philosophy which I found so enjoyable."

For more on what Royal Holloway has to offer in terms of opportunities to study or volunteer abroad check: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/studying-abroad/royal-holloway-students-studying-abroad