Nicholas Bartlett

An alternative path

I attended Goldsmiths as a mature student, following a quite non-traditional pathway due to previous life experiences.

I enrolled onto the Integrated Psychology degree with a foundation year, as I was very curious to learn about the different factors that influence human behaviours.

I was not disappointed, as I was able to further my knowledge across the different modules, learning about biological, cognitive, and social processes that influence and shape our behaviour.

Supportive and passionate staff

As I hadn't been to university before, I only had stories from other people's experiences to go on, so I was initially apprehensive about workload, deadlines, and doubted my ability about being able to complete a degree.

These doubts disappeared the day I started, as I saw how experienced, adept, and supportive staff were.

Their passion and availability and want to help certainly shaped my uni experience most positively, and this was consistent throughout my four years here.

Developing confidence in an inclusive environment

Studying at Goldsmiths not only helped me to increase my knowledge but also helped in terms of confidence, communication, and how I conceptualise things in general.

It is a very inclusive place where everyone is made to feel very welcomed and at home. I cherished my time there, with both my peers and the staff.

Engaging and fun lectures

I particularly enjoyed the application of this knowledge in the Forensic Psychology module where teaching was of a very high quality (as it was across all the modules), making lectures very engaging and fun to be a part of.

Learning about the different psychological mechanisms behind investigative interviewing, eyewitness reliability, as well as the potential biases within criminal justice system processes, was truly fascinating.

A foundation for the future

Goldsmiths helped me to better think in a critically reflective manner, make theory practice links, and overall gave me a starting base of knowledge that I was able to add to after graduating.

These skills helped me in my current role as an Assistant Psychologist, and I have now been accepted to undertake the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy).

None of this would have been possible without my experiences at Goldsmiths, as well as the level of support I received from staff.

Advice for future students

Enjoy yourself. Find what piques your interest and embrace that but also be open about other perspectives too.

I loved the breadth of knowledge that was on offer across all the subjects (even statistics - with a great team of staff to make difficult concepts digestible).

Staff and students were very approachable and relatable. Making the most of this was beneficial in terms of having a network of other students who were having similar experiences to you, and a faculty of staff that really care, which is evident in their methods.

Favourite spots around campus

Goldsmiths is such a lovely place, and I enjoyed the many times of sitting on the grass studying, chatting with friends, or simply taking in the scenery.

They have good food options, but there are also some wonderful spots around New Cross that made my uni experience feel closer to home.

I often enjoyed visiting Rose's Kitchen and Cummin Up to indulge in my favourite Caribbean dishes.