Sarah Gitsham - GA BSc Construction and the Built Environment

A former pupil of Dingwall Academy in the Scottish Highlands, Sarah’s path to higher education was far from straightforward.

“I left school in sixth year with no prospect or desire to attend university. I struggled to decide what career I actually wanted to pursue, so I felt attending university at that time wouldn’t have been appropriate for me.”

Years later, while working for the Highland Council in Inverness, Sarah’s motivation to further her knowledge and professional confidence led her back into education.

“I wanted to further my education as well as feel more comfortable within my job role. I didn’t need a degree for my current post, but I’m always striving to improve my performance. I felt a degree would expand my knowledge of the various topics within construction.”

Sarah chose RGU’s Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) in Construction and the Built Environment BSc (Hons) course at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment, allowing her to balance her studies with full-time employment as an Estates Officer.

“The variance of the course, as well as the method of study, really appealed to me. I appreciated that the GA course was offered through my employer, with activities carried out within my job role, benefiting the overall study process. I found it very beneficial to undertake the course largely remotely, with on-campus days every module to provide further guidance.”

While the balance between work and study was challenging, Sarah’s hard work paid off. 

“I’m just really pleased to have achieved such a good result,” she admits. “I didn’t think I could achieve a first-class degree, as I had a shaky start in my first year. It took a bit of time to get used to writing essays again and meeting the level of academic writing required.” 

Support from both the RGU Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) route and her employer played a key role in her success. 

“I was very supported by my employer, who allowed me to dedicate one working day per week to study. I also had access to expertise from colleagues across the service, which really helped further my learning.”

Sarah particularly enjoyed the opportunities to connect with peers and professionals throughout the course. 

“The on-campus days were a real benefit as they helped put a lot of the learning into context. I also enjoyed the networking event in my first year with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), as it was a great opportunity to build relationships and make professional connections.”

Now that her degree is complete, Sarah has already seen her efforts pay off in her career.

“I recently gained a promotion to Estates Manager at the Highland Council, something I only had the confidence to pursue after undertaking the GA course.”

Reflecting on her journey, Sarah is proud of what she’s accomplished and how far she’s come. 

“Having to juggle a full-time job as well as study has shown me that I’m capable of more than I initially thought, if I put in the effort.”