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I’ve just published my 10th novel (15th book) which feels like a bit of a milestone. I also teach writing workshops every month at The British Library, mostly around authors being entrepreneurial about their writing".

My degree wasn't easy. It taught me a work ethic that I retain now and one that allowed me to complete my part-time masters with such dedication. Not only did Surrey force me to grow up, as it was the first time I'd been independent, but it also offered me a solid foundation for the rest of my life.

A summer placement at Adaptix, manufacturer of innovative 3D x-ray imaging devices, was a great opportunity to develop hard and soft skills for Constantine Pelesis, who is now a clinical technologist in Singleton Hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department.

The mix of academics and industry professionals gives students a holistic view of the finance industry and academic knowledge correlates with real-world approaches.

I now demonstrate all my knowledge and experience through my current role as an Admissions Counsellor at the American College of Greece.

Surrey has provided me with a lot of support and opportunities in an academic environment. It’s shaped me as a person, helped me choose my career path and enabled me to understand how to balance work and life.

Alumni Yatin Vadhia, who studied for a computer science degree at Surrey, has gone on to pioneer innovative solutions in e-commerce, travel and FinTech, and is currently Senior Product Manager at TrueLayer - a financial infrastructure and Open Banking technology company in London.

Alan is the winner of our Special Recognition Award in the Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Awards. Alan started his long association with Surrey in 1962 when he studied for his BSc in Chemical Engineering at Battersea College of Technology, the forerunner to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ. In 1968, he came to Guildford to take a role as a part-time lecturer and complete his PhD… and, 53 years later, he’s as passionate as ever to continue teaching.

I took a step back from my law career in Dublin and I’m now a full-time PhD student at Surrey, further developing my capabilities as a nutrition researcher.