Hi I’m Becca and I am the Widening Participation Officer at the Royal Agricultural College. I have a degree with honours in politics. As a student I really enjoyed learning about international politics and tuition fee policy. During my time as a student I worked as an ambassador, which allowed me to get involved with outreach work and other university activities. I also spent a year as the Academic Sabbatical Officer of my students’ union.

After graduation I worked for the University of Warwick’s Widening Participation Office coordinating a Gifted and Talented Programme for selected secondary school students from all over the country. The four year student programme I coordinated was philanthropically funded. During my time at Warwick loved the experience of assisting on Summer Schools and organising large scale national events.

Post Warwick I have increased my knowledge of the role of a teachers and school staff and of working in the higher educational sector. Before commencing work at the Royal Agricultural College I worked for the University of the West of England, Bristol.

I feel very passionate about higher education I believe it is the key, which allows you to open any door you wish to aim for. If you have the academic potential to excel at university then barriers should be minimised to allow you to reach you potential and goals in life.

In my spare time I enjoy going for long walks across the Cotswolds, travelling to different parts of the world and horse riding. Finally even though I have gained my degree I still develop my learning of international and British politics.

Hello my name is Charlotte. I have always been passionate about the British countryside and it's wildlife, and for many years was involved in its conservation. Too often, working in that field (excuse the pun), I heard that tired old complaint against farmers and their intensive farming methods and how they had damaged the countryside. I had grave doubts about this sweeping statement and decided to come to the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester and gain a farmer’s perspective, so I signed up for the Graduate Diploma in Agriculture.

It’s been fantastic! With plenty of farm/estate visits, and supporting theory, it has really exposed me to the farmers’ view of the countryside and the wildlife it supports. I am aiming to work to bridge the gap – which really shouldn’t be there – between all the different interest groups involved in the management of the countryside.

I opted to study full-time so it’s been very intense, but I’m delighted to have made time and to have been selected to become a Student Ambassador. My work as an ambassador gives me the opportunity to talk to prospective students, children, young adults and their parents about the positive experience I’ve had, and the unique opportunities studying at the Royal Agricultural College provides.

Hi, my name is Chris and I am a Student Ambassador here at the RAC.

I completed my A levels and then decided to move on to higher education. I am in my first year studying Business Management. I have learnt more here than I ever thought was possible.

I live off campus with other students also studying at the RAC. I have made so many good friends. As I went to a public school and had never really lived away from home, I thought that moving away to university was going to be a big, and daunting step. I have found there is a lot of support available to you as a student, and I can honestly say that choosing to come to the RAC has been the best decision of my life!

Hello, my name is Fiona. I am currently in my second year at the Royal Agricultural College studying Rural Land Management. This course contains a range of different areas all to do with the rural sector. These include law, business, agriculture, valuation, environmental management and farm business. All of these play a key part in the world of business today. I was always interested in property and land, despite not coming from a farming background; I have found this course very easy to settle in to. The course is very hands on, and we have a lot of our lectures out on the college farms, putting what we learn into practice. I struggle with learning and writing, however because we go out into the field a lot, I find I learn much more through this style of teaching.

I decided to go to university to study a subject that I have always been interested in. I am from an army background so have moved around a lot. This is where my interest in my course came about. I wanted to learn more about rural land and have always enjoyed going to country estates. There is always going to be a demand for rural chartered surveyors because the increase in demand for farming is growing.

As a Student Ambassador I attend various university open days to discuss with prospective students the courses we offer at the college. A lot of people feel that because we are an agricultural college you have to come from a farming background to study here. That is not the case. We also work with primary and secondary schools, talking about university and the importance of learning. We do various activities with them, it’s fantastic to see them enjoying themselves whilst building their confidence and understanding what they can achieve.

Hello, my name is Lisabeth and I am in my first year at the Royal Agricultural College. I decided to study at Higher Level because my aim is to become a chartered surveyor; therefore I need a professional qualification which is accredited by the RICS.

Living away from home is a fantastic experience. So far I have found university life very independent, yet it provides a supportive network which is an excellent transition into the world of work.

In addition to other activities I take part in during my spare time, I am a Student Ambassador for the college. My role helps to ensure young people are aware of all the opportunities available after school, whilst helping to contribute to my university costs.

After doing my research I decided Higher Education was the best option for me, and I have never looked back since.