University Experience Defined by Warm Welcome and Ongoing Support
For Sophie Meyrick-Vernon applying to UWTSD through Clearing was the best decision she has ever made. It has enabledher to pursue an academic journey and a future career in software engineering and artificial intelligence.
Sophie, from Swansea, is graduating today with a BSc in Applied Computing, so that she can build a new career in technology and challenge herself academically. “I wanted to gain the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to work in software engineering and artificial intelligence while proving to myself that it is never too late to pursue your goals” she explains. “More than anything, I wanted to create new opportunities for my future and turn a long standing interest in technology into a profession”.
Sophie spent over 11 years working in the hospitality industry, including around 8 years as a Head Chef, and while she enjoyed the leadership and problem solving aspects of the role, she yearned to go to university. But, the demands of the job including working long and often unsociable hours meant that goal remained on hold. The sad loss of her stepfather spurred Sophie to reassess her choices and she applied to UWTSD via the Clearing route.
“I applied through Clearing following the passing of my stepfather” she says. “It was a significant moment in my life that made me reflect on my future and the goals I had put aside for many years. I had always wanted to go to university, but the demands of working long hours in hospitality meant I never felt able to take that step. The experience encouraged me to pursue the opportunities I had been postponing and make a positive change in my life. Clearing provided a straightforward route into university and allowed me to begin a journey that has completely changed the direction of my career.”
She chose UWTSD because the Applied Computing course offered a broad range of subjects while also providing opportunities to specialise in areas that interested her, particularly software development and artificial intelligence. “The course combined practical and theoretical learning, which appealed to me as someone making a career change” she says. “From my first interactions with the university, I felt welcomed and supported, which made UWTSD the right choice for me”.
“The process was much easier and more straightforward than I expected”, she says. “The university staff were supportive, approachable, and happy to answer any questions I had. What initially felt like a daunting process quickly became an exciting one, and I felt reassured throughout my application”.
“My aim was to build a new career in technology and challenge myself academically. I wanted to gain the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to work in software engineering and artificial intelligence while proving to myself that it is never too late to pursue your goals. More than anything, I wanted to create new opportunities for my future and turn a long standing interest in technology into a profession”.
One of the biggest highlights for Sophie was the opportunity to work on practical projects that applied classroom learning to real world problems. She particularly enjoyed modules focused on software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emerging technologies.
She also credits the welcoming environment at UWTSD’s SA1 Waterfront campus for its strong sense of community and also the exceptional lecturers who she says were approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping students succeed.
Throughout her studies, Sophie continued to work as a Head Chef. “Unlike many students, I was also managing the responsibilities that come with being an older student, including family commitments and married life” she explains. “Juggling long working hours, coursework deadlines, and personal responsibilities was often challenging and required careful planning and time management.
“There were times when balancing everything felt overwhelming, particularly during major projects and assessment periods. However, I learned to stay organised, make the most of the support available from lecturers and my wife, and remain focused on my long term goals. Looking back, overcoming these challenges has made me more resilient, improved my ability to manage competing priorities, and given me a greater sense of achievement in completing my degree”.
Throughout her studies Sophie completed several specialist projects that allowed her to explore areas of particular interest. Her final year project focused on using artificial intelligence techniques to predict cryptocurrency market trends and evaluate trading strategies. She also worked on a robotics project involving Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, exploring how robotics could improve accessibility and support independent living. These projects allowed her to apply technologies to real world challenges.
She has also secured a robotics internship for the summer and will be starting an MSc in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence at UWTSD in September.
Sophie is full of praise for the course and her experiences at UWTSD and says that the decision to study has had a significant impact on both her professional and personal development. “Professionally, it has given me the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to pursue a career in software engineering and artificial intelligence. Personally, it has shown me that it is never too late to change direction and achieve ambitious goals. It has increased my confidence, improved my problem solving abilities, and opened opportunities that I would never have imagined a few years ago”.
“My long term goal is to build a career in software engineering, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, working on innovative solutions that have a positive real world impact”.
Further Information
Eleri Beynon
Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790