Paul Bruce

» Why did you choose this course?

I chose it because I enjoyed all the outdoor activity stuff. It also has the management side of it which is useful.

I was at another university last year studying finance and hated it. I looked on the website and found this course. I was always into scouts and was a scouts leader so chose this course to further what I know.

» Why did you choose Buxton?

It's a nice, small university campus, compared to the other university I was at, because that was massive and you didn't get to gel as well as you can here. It's a lot better here in a personal way. I came to an open day and just liked it.

» What do you find most interesting about the course?

The practical side definitely.

I do enjoy the theory side of things too, I found philosophy really interesting but the practical side is good, you get encouraged to go off in groups. You get to go rock climbing which I really lke. I'm not so much into the getting wet part of the course in the water. I'm really looking forward to going mountain biking next year.

What do you like most about the course?

I like how the course modules overlap with other courses, you find that you can be doing a marketing module and have some of the spa students in it too. It helps with living too, as you make more friends and become part of different groups.

» How do you find the lecturers and the support on your course?

I would say the first semester was pretty good, and although the second semester took a while to get going with the room timetabling problems we had, they were soon resolved, as I'm a student representative that goes along to meetings where student views are raised.

If I'm unable to go to the meeting I'd email my views across. Any problems, like what we had are identified and resolved pretty much straight away. So student representative meetings are definitely a good thing to have.

Overall, the support is great, especially the careers and student advisory service who take time to talk through your options. Everyone supports you.

» How has your experience been so far?

I'm loving it at the moment. Doing all the practical side of things. Lots of the people on my course go out rock climbing and hiking outside of the University because we enjoy it so much. We're looking to do the highest peak in England in three weeks time.

What's been your highlights?

My highlight would have to be going on the winter skills in Scotland with the third year students. That was a good week. We went wild camping in Wales too... which was fun... I'd never done it before... It's where you hike halfway up a mountain and camp in a tent. It was right next to a lake too, was really good.

» What do you want to do after you've finished your course?

I would like to be an outdoor instructor. Ideally I'd like to go freelance but you need to have a good reputation and it takes a few years to build that up and I'm getting older.

I'd like to go into teaching that would be my ultimate goal. I'm seeing one of the career advisers this week to discuss my options. They really give you a lot of help. I've found being at this University they make things accessible. I think they need to make funding options that are available to you more clear but apart from that it really good.

My original plan was to spend 15 years in outdoor instruction and then go into teaching later down the line.

» What would you say to someone thinking of coming to Buxton?

I'd say definitely do the first year in halls. You make loads of friends and it's not far from here, just down the hill. Next year, me and eight lads are going onto live in a shared house, it's going to be good!