Yulia Yovcheva

What were you doing before you came to study at City St George's?

Before I came to study at City St George’s, I was in my small but beautiful home country, Bulgaria. I was born and raised there, and after I graduated secondary school, I moved to London to pursue my dream of studying Psychology abroad.

How did you develop an interest in your course/subject area and why did you choose to study this course?

Ever since I can remember, I have always been interested in observing people and analysing their behaviour. I was fascinated by how every unusual behaviour has a logical explanation behind it.

During my early teenage years, I struggled with my mental health, and this is when I became truly interested in psychology. Learning about psychology helped me get through this difficult part of my life easier. After that I was convinced this is what I wanted to pursue in the future.

Why did you choose to study at City St George’s?

I did my research, and City St George’s Psychology programme really stood out to me. I was particularly interested in the modules offered like Clinical, Biological, and Social Psychology. I loved that there is the option to decide whether to complete a year-long placement or a year abroad while studying the course, rather than having to choose before applying. I was intrigued by the teaching approach and all the research facilities.

This is when my mother, my sister, and I made the spontaneous decision to fly all the way to London from Bulgaria and attend an Open Day of the university. The moment I entered the campus, it felt like love at first sight. The motivating atmosphere, the genuine people, and this beautiful city sparked a real interest. This was the moment I realised that City St George’s was exactly where I wanted to study.

What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?

I think there is nothing better than doing what you are passionate about. It’s just incredibly fulfilling and it changes everything. I feel like one of the best things about studying psychology is that you develop a better understanding of both the world and the people around you, and yourself.

I have learned so much about cognitive processes, brain structure and function, and human perception. Generally, I believe this course is not only interesting but also very helpful in life, valuable both professionally and personally.

What is your favourite thing about studying at City St George’s?

My favourite thing about studying at City St George’s is that , as a student, I have endless opportunities to experience new things every day. There are all kinds of networking, social, and sports events. I get to meet people from all around the world and be surrounded by young and motivated individuals.

How will these experiences help you with your future career?

My time at City St George’s has prepared me for my future career by providing me with valuable academic knowledge and practical experience. Along the way, I made a lot of true friendships and connections within Psychology, which I believe will be helpful in the future. My university experience has shaped me as a person and helped me become more independent and confident in my social skills.

Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?

Naturally, as an international student, the biggest challenge I faced was moving abroad and leaving all of my friends and family behind to follow my dreams. I think a lot of international students feel that way, but I am grateful to experience homesickness, because it reminds me that I have people back home who care for me and support me.

What kind of things are you involved in outside of your course?

Outside of my course, I work as an Events and Marketing Student Ambassador. The role includes representing City St George’s to prospective students, parents, and visitors at events, both on and off campus. It is a great way to balance working and studying at the same time, and I think it is a great opportunity to get more involved in the university community and meet new people.

A new thing I recently got involved in is being a volunteer trainee in a mental health listening service charity organisation. It is a great way to apply what I have learned in psychology so far in a real life setting. This way, I will gain experience in mental health that would help me further on with my career.

I am also taking one of City St George’s language courses in Spanish, and I am currently in an Upper Intermediate level group. I hope I get to keep broadening my knowledge about the Spanish language and culture.

What do you plan to do after you graduate, and how has City St George’s helped prepare you for this?

For now, my plans after I graduate are to study a master’s programme in Clinical Psychology. My goal is to become a therapist working in a clinical setting, helping people with their everyday life struggles, and treating patients with mental health difficulties.

Thanks to my university, I had various opportunities to speak with and learn from successful people in the field of Clinical Psychology. This has strengthened my understanding of the mental health field and helped me decide what my next steps would be after I graduate.

What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?

My advice to anyone considering studying this course would be to be prepared that psychology is not all about human behaviour and emotions. There would also be a lot of Statistics, so it is important to have that aspect of the course in mind.

Overall, psychology is a very science-based subject, and it can be more challenging than it seems like. However, it is very interesting and rewarding, so I highly recommend it.