Tag: Student stories

From India to Bristol: career growth and learning as an international MSc student

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Blog post written by Srishti Anand

Image of Shrishti standing next to a some of the university gardens around Clifton campus

My name is Srishti, and I had the privilege of studying for my MSc in Business Analytics at the University of Bristol from 2023 to 2024. Coming from India, this was not only my first experience studying abroad but also my first time living in a new country. Adjusting to a new environment and culture was initially daunting, but the supportive and nurturing atmosphere at Bristol quickly made it feel like home.

Even before arriving in Bristol, I had secured the role of General Secretary for the Bristol Indian Society, which became a meaningful way for me to stay connected to my roots while building a sense of community in my new home.

Soon after settling in I joined TEDx Society as Co-Lead for Speaker Curation and Development, and I was honoured to serve as the Course Representative for my programme. These roles were more than just titles—they became integral to my experience, allowing me to engage deeply with my peers and contribute to the vibrant campus life.

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My SME Internship: Ellie – Disability Inc. 

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Hi, my name is Ellie, and I’m a PhD student in the Life Sciences Building. I carried out a 4-week SME internship in a social enterprise, Disability.Inc., which is part of a charity called WECIL. 

The internship was in the workASSURED team, who aim to remove in-work barriers for Disabled staff by providing recommendations about reasonable adjustments. I initially shadowed meetings with staff, their managers, and their HR contact and I worked with a colleague to write-up the recommendations reports. By the end of the internship, I took on my own case, which definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but also showed me how much I’d learnt during my internship.

Ellie, a wheelchair user wearing an orange jumper, is smiling at the camera. She is sat on a pier next to crashing waves.
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My SME Internship: Gunjan – PANDEK

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Hello, I’m Gunjan, studying an MSc in Marketing. I had the incredible opportunity to intern as a marketing and copywriting specialist at PANDEK in Bristol. 

My transformative internship experience

A photo of Gunjan in London

This SME internship was a perfect fit for my career aspirations, focusing on marketing strategies and content development that aligned seamlessly with my academic background and personal interests. 

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My SME Internship: Helen – Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre

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Hi, my name’s Helen. While studying for my History MA, I undertook an SME Internship at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust.  

The Trust is a non-profit charity which maintains the bridge, educating the public on its historical significance. During my internship I worked at the museum and visitor’s centre on the Leigh Woods side of the river.   

A photo of Helen, smiling outdoors in the sunshine.
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My SME Internship: Max – The Education Company

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Hi, my name is Max. I graduated in 2023 with a Physics BSc. The SME Internship Scheme gave me the opportunity to source a 4-week internship at a small/medium company I found interesting. 

A photo of Max, smiling outdoors.

In December 2023, I interned with The Education Company as a data analyst. The Education Company provide insights to the education industry – my role was to see how Python could be integrated into their analytical techniques. 

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My SME Internship: Ollie – Rebellious Co

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Hi, I’m Ollie and during my second year studying Politics and International Relations BSc I completed an internship with Rebellious Co in Bristol. 

Rebellious Co. operate informal “Rebel Meetup” events for entrepreneurs working all over the world who were born in Bristol. Their aim is to use entrepreneurship as a vehicle to disrupt the status quo. I met the founder Ash at the Bristol chapter, where I suggested the SME Internship idea. 

Ollie, smiling outside in the sunshine, wearing a white shirt, with a backdrop of lush green trees and blue sky.

My role was to research, develop, and add a syndicate investment model to the existing community system. This work aligned with my interests in start ups and venture capital and helped me hone my skills.

I also supported Rebel Meetups globally. This included finding event sponsors, editing slides, and joining town hall events with global meetup hosts. 

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Five unexpected transferable skills a PhD can offer for your future career

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It is a common misconception that choosing to do a PhD narrows your career pathway to the world of academia. However, for many of our alumni, the skills and experiences they gained during their research degree have led to a range of diverse and exciting careers outside of academic research.  

A new series of postgraduate research alumni profiles, supported by Research England’s Enhancing Research Culture funding, showcases this diversity. Alumni stories from across Arts, Engineering, Science, Health, and Life Sciences reveal the breadth of skills and experiences a PhD can provide.

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My SME Internship: Emilia – Action on Poverty

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Hello, my name is Emilia, and in my final year of studying French and Spanish I completed an internship as a fundraising assistant with the charity Action on Poverty.

The charity supports vulnerable communities in East and West Africa. It works to tackle poverty, injustice and inequality. I completed this internship working for around 10 hours a week from January to May.

Emilia sitting on a rock, smiling, with a city in the background.

I found that this worked well and allowed me to balance working and studying. The internship was entirely remote and was a great introduction to working remotely.

I learnt that a lot of charities are now entirely or partly remote, so that they can cut down on office costs. 

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My experience taking part in Not Impossible microplacements

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Hello! My name is Archie and I have been participating in the University’s partnership with the work experience platform Not Impossible.

My experience with Not Impossible started with an email entering my inbox, with the promise of microplacements due to the fact I was from a widening participation background.

Their system creates short-term, 1:1, one-hour to one-day, work placements with Bristol and Bath employees smart-matched to you – within your sector, using an online skills and interests tool and psychometric tests that identify shared motivations, reasoning skills and personalities.

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Start-up stories: FixMyTek

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FixMyTek, formerly known as FixMyCrack, is one of the exciting student start-ups the Basecamp Team had the pleasure of working with during their early days at the University of Bristol.

Since then, they’ve grown into a thriving tech repair business, and we’re excited to catch up with them in the blog below as they share their journey, their mission, and what’s next for FixMyTek.

Some of the FixMyTek team inspecting a device.
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