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Graduate Success In Geography

Abi Kan graduated from the University with a 2:1 in Geography BSc Honours and explains how her degree at UH helped her go on to great things.

A degree to help get a job

Following Abi’s degree, she gained a place at Cambridge University on their PGCE course: “My degree gave me a superb geographical grounding. This, in combination with my love for geography, is what I feel enabled me to gain a place at Cambridge.”

Abi continued: “I was slightly apprehensive at attending such a prestigious university and wondered how I would match up to my fellow trainee teachers, but I didn’t have to worry.”

During Abi’s PGCE at Cambridge University, she won the ‘Charles Fox Award’ for her end of year 10,000 word assignment. This award is presented to one PGCE student from all subjects for the best dissertation. She said: “I was totally shocked by this outcome but strongly feel that my degree at Hertfordshire gave me the grounding and support I needed to do so well on my PGCE.”

Abi also found that her geography degree gave her a great deal of fieldwork experience, a contrast to her friends who gained their degrees elsewhere, where they were not so fortunate. She added: “Hertfordshire is a brilliant University; the staff are approachable and they really care about the delivery of the course.”

University experience and advice

Abi describes her University of Hertfordshire experience as exciting, interesting, rewarding and hands on. As advice to students starting on the programme that she completed, Abi said: “Keep up to date, do the extra reading, throw yourself into the course and do not be afraid to ask questions – that is how you learn!”

Current role

Abi is Head of Geography at Birchwood High School in Bishops Stortford, where being a head of department encompasses many things. Abi explained: “As well as line managing staff in my department, improving results, running Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level geography programmes, I ensure geography teaching is kept up to date, relevant and exciting to our students.”