Robert Noblet-Stone

My RAU experience

My decision to study at the RAU followed a visit with my parents on an undergraduate open day. After only a few hours I had decided that this was the university where I wanted to study.  I instantly took to the layout of the university and preferred the smaller environment the campus offered.

The most enjoyable aspect about studying at the RAU was the people I met. I was lucky to be placed with very likeminded people in halls in my first year, and this handful of people have become lifelong friends.

What I gained from the RAU 

I undertook work placements at various landed estates back home in Lancashire.  These were immensely helpful and confirmed that Estate Management was the routine in which I wanted my career to go.  I gained invaluable experience seeing first hand the day to day running of an estate and how they operate, and where my studying could be applied in real world scenarios.

My current role is as an Assistant Estates Surveyor at The Duchy of Lancaster, based at Lancaster Castle.  The Survey is a diverse mix of agricultural, commercial, residential and sporting tenancies along with commercial and amenity woodland.  My course was extremely useful for my current role, providing me with the fundamental knowledge which has allowed me to develop my understanding of the industry.

Had it not been for a successful one week work placement whist studying at the RAU, I would not have this job now, which I love!