A day in my life as an English BA(Hons) student

A person wearing a black sweater and a baseball cap smiles at the camera, with a tan brick wall in the background. The person is adorned with a blue and green beaded necklace.

Bruce Hird

English BA(Hons)

Hi, I’m Bruce and I study English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Huddersfield. Here’s what a typical day looks like for me.

Starting the day

I always start my day by packing my bag with everything I need for the day ahead. I’ll usually take my laptop, but my notebooks and pencil case come in handy depending on what classes I have that day.

I also pack a charger and some spare headphones, in case I need to watch or listen to any resources during my classes. I live close to campus, so walking to class while listening to some music always helps me get through the groggiest part of my morning.

Study time

After attending classes, I like to spend at least an hour a day dedicated to studying. Whether it’s researching for an assignment, writing an essay or just catching up on any notes I missed, studying in small chunks is how I retain information best.

As a neurodivergent person, finding ways to get my brain in gear while facing a difficult assignment is always a pain, and burnout is inevitable. If you’re like me, breaking things down and planning ahead is a great way to get on top of any work that feels like it’s looming over you! Though, if you feel like taking notes is too much for you on a particular day, watching recordings of lectures and seminars is a good way of slowly getting on top of work while also being gentle with yourself.

Interior view of Bruce bedroom with a wall calendar featuring an owl, a row of decorative figurines on the windowsill, and a view of Huddersfield through the window. — My desk set up in my accommodation.

As an English student, I have to do a lot of reading and audiobooks can come in handy when I can’t get my hands on a physical copy of a set text, or any essential reading for an upcoming class. Another study hack I enjoy is changing where I study every day.

Some days I end up at the library, whereas another day I might be in the cafeteria or a silent study area like the 24-hour computer suite. I also like to take something with me, usually a plush to act as a study buddy for me. It helps to keep me calm and de-stress while I work on assignments.

A laptop open on a desk displaying a web page titled — Varying where I do study is one way I keep motivated and engaged in the work.

Always remember to take breaks

My daily study sessions don’t tend to last over an hour, so after doing some work, I like to walk into town and let my brain focus on something else for a while. Sometimes, I can trick my brain into going into study-mode at a cafe in town. Like I said, a change of scenery is a great way to help your brain relax and find a comfortable flow.

I walk through campus to get home, it’s a familiar route and the scenery is something I’ve always enjoyed about the Queensgate campus too. It’s easy to navigate and it’s a nice walk after a day of studying and attending classes. If I’m feeling particularly motivated, I might do some extra studying at home, but I’ll be honest - this is pretty rare. Self-directed learning can be difficult for me, but knowing I’m on a course that I enjoy and feel passionate about helps to motivate me little by little.

View of Huddersfield's Sparck Jones, a historical mill building, next to leafless trees and a modern street lamp, under a cloudy sky. — My view on the walk home through campus.

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