Amy McCormick

Amy's Story

Amy McCormick has turned her work placement into her work place after completing her BA Hons Law degree at the University of Stirling.

The 21-year-old spent her work placement module at Airdrie Savings Bank and impressed so much she has now returned in a full-time position as a Risk Officer.

Ninety-four percent of Stirling graduates are in employment or further study six months after graduation.

Amy, from Hardgate in West Dunbartonshire, said: “When I started my Law degree I never thought I would be doing something like this, but it’s really enjoyable and from my placement to my job, it has all fallen into place.

“The degree has helped me so much. I did a module in accounting and finance law which has been especially useful. Banks certainly make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but we’re a small bank and very much community-focused, operating more like a credit union than risking people’s money.”

The former St Peter the Apostle High School pupil is the first member of her family to go to university and chose to study in Stirling’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities because of the smaller Law class sizes.

She quickly adjusted to student life, made more testing by the fact Amy is partially sighted, with a degenerative eye condition.

“I didn’t know I had it until I was 12,” explained Amy. “It got gradually worse, but hasn’t degenerated for the last few years.

“It mostly causes mobility issues so before I started at Stirling, I had lots of meetings with the University’s Student Services to get the appropriate support. They helped with everything, right down to making sure I knew the right bus to get.

“Living in my flat in third year was the highlight. The accommodation staff helped to set up my room to meet my needs and it was great getting to know people a lot better. The experience of being on campus was special and I learned about what other people were studying.

“My friends would take me to and from my accommodation and between lectures and seminars. Exams would be a bit different, with the questions in larger print; everything was on computers with extra reading functionality where the questions were read back to me.

“It was great how easy it all was and I wouldn’t change a thing about my Stirling experience.”

Amy receives her degree at the second of three Stirling summer ceremonies, collectively recognising more than 1000 graduates.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers degree programmes in subjects as diverse as Digital Media and Heritage and Conservation.