Bhavna Nair

Bhavna's Story

With a passion for animal welfare, Bhavna Nair took the opportunity to study an MSc Human-Animal Interaction in the hope it would help her change career.

“Prior to studying at Stirling, the only experience I had in the area of animal welfare and human-animal interaction was through volunteering and having pets of my own,” Bhavna explained.

“The MSc at Stirling is a high-impact course –with a wide range of topics, from domestic animal welfare to wildlife conservation – and offered me the chance to kick-start my career in this field.”

As part of her course, Bhavna worked as a research assistant on a project looking at the impact that dogs have in the workplace. The study focused on the University of Stirling and considered whether dogs had a positive impact on the wellbeing and productivity of staff.

“The placement provided a great insight into a research career,” she said. “I felt privileged I was part of a project that could have a long-term impact on the University and its staff.”

The 31-year-old believes the support she received from teaching staff was vital in her achieving her degree, adding: “The professors were excellent and always on hand to help when required, and I enjoyed sharing information with my fellow students too.”

Away from her studies, Bhavna enjoyed learning about Scottish culture and making new friends with people from across the world – including her Scottish fiancé. She is now considering employment opportunities –with a job at an animal welfare organisation at the top of her list.