Grace's Story

What is your current role?

I’m currently in a graduate role in financial services, and my rotation just now is focused on supporting the financial reporting work. A big part of my role involves managing the relationship with our external auditors and helping keep the audit process running smoothly. I also organise key governance meetings and coordinate the reporting timetable, which has given me a real insight into how everything fits together behind the scenes.

Why did you choose to study your programme?

I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to study when I applied for university. I’d always loved maths and science, so I applied for both Mechanical Engineering and Physics at Heriot-Watt because I couldn’t quite choose between them and I knew the university was highly ranked in both. I ended up accepting my offer for Mechanical Engineering but then I made the decision to transfer to the Physics course for the start of second year.

Did you take on any part-time work, internships?

Before my final year, I was awarded funding to do a summer research project in the Physics department. It built on the skills I’d learned from previous projects and gave me more confidence going into my final year. It was really hands-on, a lot of fun, and it gave me a small taste of what it might be like to pursue a PhD.

What did you love about your programme?

The Physics department is quite small and really close-knit which I loved. I got to know my lecturers really well and they got to know me too, which you don’t get at most other universities, and that had a really positive impact on my experience. In later years, because the cohort is smaller, you get to work closely on real research projects with actual research groups which was a great experience.

Did you use our career services?

I used the Career Services towards the end of my time at university and also after I graduated, as I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after graduation and wanted to explore options outside of physics. They were really helpful in preparing my CV and practising interview questions to build my confidence.

What’s your favourite / most memorable moment from your time as a Heriot-Watt student?

One of my favourite experiences was going on residential trips with students in the Physics department and some of our lecturers. We did a mix of learning and team-building, but mostly it was just a really fun weekend. It was a great way to get to know people across the department and feel part of the community.

What extracurricular activities have you gotten involved in?

I joined the dance club when I was in first year and even got to compete, which was a lot of fun. It was a great way to meet people outside of my course while doing something I really enjoyed. I also went to a few events run by the Physics Society which helped me get to know students in other years.