Sebastian Kilpatrick

My RAU experience

I chose to study Rural Land Management at the RAU because I had studied countryside management at school, and became interested in the management of rural areas. This course covers many interesting aspects of the subject, such as contemporary issues like food security, and I have enjoyed trips to farms, Seizencote (a heritage property trip to an estate in the Cotswolds) and to RAU Swindon campus. 

As the RAU is quite small it makes it more personal which is unique compared to other universities because of this the relationships you will form with both students and staff will be really close. The Student Hub helped me with a diagnosis of dyslexia, which in turn led me to get a tutor and useful apps on my laptop to support my studies.

What I gained from the RAU 

I did my work placement year at home in Somerset, working for Tom Trouton Dry Stone Walls.  I learned to become a dry stone waller and helped deliver dry stone walling courses at The Newt in Somerset, teaching beginners at workshops.  The things I enjoyed most were the relationships formed with the team and the things we built, which should outlast my lifetime. I went from having no experience to being able to build dry stone walls confidently on my own, and have since been offered work doing the same role whenever I'm at home.  The skills I have learned are something which I can take anywhere with me in the future.