Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Campus Conversations is a student podcast brought to you by UCL students and the Student Success Office. We're back for Season 2 — bigger, bolder, and with even more honest conversations about student life at UCL! Hosted by students, for students, this podcast dives into the topics that actually matter to students, from politics and careers to friendships, finances, and everything in between. This season, the conversations go deeper, the debates get bigger, and we’re bringing in more student voices, opinions, and real experiences from across our university. Whether we’re discussing the pressure to succeed, navigating life in London, or the big issues shaping our generation, Campus Conversations is all about sharing perspectives, learning from each other, and reminding you that no one has university life completely figured out. Expect thoughtful discussions, relatable moments, a few disagreements, and a lot of laughs along the way!
00:00:01:20 - 00:00:09:24
Hafsa
Welcome to Campus Conversations, brought to you by UCR Student Success seem your go to podcast for all things student life at University College London.
00:00:10:01 - 00:00:17:14
Hafsa
We're back for season two and today we'll be talking about politics, belonging and identity. My name is Hafsa and I study fast. Hello.
00:00:17:16 - 00:00:19:24
Kat
My name is Kat and I studied first year geography.
00:00:20:01 - 00:00:23:02
Elif
My name is Elif. And I said the first year of physics.
00:00:23:04 - 00:00:41:22
Hafsa
So we've got some news items here, followed by some questions. And the first one is, according to the National Police Chiefs Council, there were 3081 protests notified to police across the UK during June, July and August 2025. That's a dramatic increase compared to 2023, where during the same
00:00:41:24 - 00:00:45:09
Hafsa
period there were only 928 protests recorded.
00:00:45:11 - 00:00:51:03
Hafsa
The protests and civil disobedience actually create change, or are they more about spreading awareness?
00:00:51:05 - 00:01:12:03
Elif
I think it's more about the extent of civil disobedience rather than, like the action of civil disobedience. It's about like the effects. Is it like, does it bring more benefits to the society, or does it like, harm the society more and then bring the benefits?
00:01:12:05 - 00:01:27:10
Hafsa
I feel like the main objective is to raise awareness. I think ultimately not many people are expecting immediately for a change to come as a result of civil disobedience because ultimately the government well, in the UK's case, the government would
00:01:27:12 - 00:01:33:11
Hafsa
prefer to have order, not people, you know, like wreaking havoc and saying, oh, I'm not happy with this.
00:01:33:11 - 00:01:40:02
Hafsa
I'm not happy with that. But I do think it's really, really important for it to happen because otherwise,
00:01:40:04 - 00:01:56:07
Hafsa
how would they know that they need change and that people aren't happy? So ultimately, I don't think it's like an immediate consequence of the civil disobedience. And I don't think anyone actually is expecting that though. But I do think to get the change, you need to get the word out.
00:01:56:07 - 00:02:00:14
Hafsa
I need to spread all that awareness, which is effectively what they're doing. What do you think?
00:02:00:16 - 00:02:00:23
Speaker 4
I
00:02:01:00 - 00:02:24:14
Kat
think often protests and civil disobedience serve as a symbolic act, and I think sometimes that doesn't necessarily always translate into tangible change. And I think that's something our society is at fault, because a lot of times protests create headlines and they generate hashtags, and people must use that as we are doing something. But does that lead to straightaway like tangible change?
00:02:24:15 - 00:02:27:23
Kat
Not always. I think a lot of tangible change comes from
00:02:28:00 - 00:02:34:11
Kat
legislation, changes in institutions rather than just headlines and hashtags,
00:02:34:12 - 00:02:38:22
Kat
but I think it definitely does. It's a step in bringing about change.
00:02:38:24 - 00:02:40:12
Elif
I guess it's a step of like spreading
00:02:40:13 - 00:02:55:21
Elif
the awareness and then from spreading the awareness, then comes the change itself. Because if the government like if you spread like enough awareness, then the government will hear you out and will be open to make some changes in itself.
00:02:56:01 - 00:02:58:09
Kat
I think maybe one is the Black Lives Matter movement.
00:02:58:14 - 00:02:59:09
Speaker 4
Yeah. I think
00:02:59:11 - 00:03:01:01
Kat
that became such a global event
00:03:01:01 - 00:03:20:14
Kat
and it transcended global boundaries. But I think with that, what's difficult is you take some companies, for example, and they think that influencing change is just how they portray themselves to society. So a lot more of like tokenism came about advertising as a sense of thinking that they're doing some good.
00:03:20:14 - 00:03:30:19
Kat
But actually behind all of that, they're not. So I think it's really difficult when we talk about change because is that change actually happening in a positive way, or is it just how people are reflecting that change? What do you guys think about that?
00:03:31:00 - 00:03:38:19
Hafsa
I feel like companies kind of use the movements and just general awareness as an excuse to, for example, when like
00:03:38:19 - 00:03:44:15
Hafsa
right now, there's so much Islamophobia and racism and a lot of companies in the last few years have started really saying
00:03:44:17 - 00:03:53:04
Hafsa
like airlines when in clothing or food, but they're not actually making, I would say like an actual effort to address
00:03:53:04 - 00:03:56:05
Hafsa
the issue. It's more so just, oh, if we make everyone feel like
00:03:56:05 - 00:04:15:04
Hafsa
they're involved and we actually just make it seem like we're addressing the issue, then no one's going to put actual pressure on the companies. But I think that's really damaging because that takes away from that, takes attention away from the real issue, and that also gives them a cop out to be like, oh, well, I've already addressed this, so I don't need to actually do the work.
00:04:15:06 - 00:04:18:02
Hafsa
And I feel like that's kind of
00:04:18:04 - 00:04:27:21
Hafsa
that might be an issue with when you spread a lot of general awareness and a lot of people know generally about something, but they don't know anything specific. You know? I mean.
00:04:27:23 - 00:04:42:18
Kat
So I think this just shows how important it is. In order for us to raise awareness is to be make sure that you independently are aware and you're well researched and you have some knowledge about what's going on around you so you can form your own opinions. And
00:04:42:20 - 00:04:49:14
Kat
And I think it's also really difficult because some people feel that some protests are almost becoming a trend, which people are
00:04:49:16 - 00:04:57:24
Kat
participating in. For example, we have Palestine and Sudan, and Sudan has been an issue that has been going on for hundreds of years, but
00:04:58:02 - 00:05:07:02
Kat
only recently is it coming to light and people reposting the same stories of the satellites and not fully understanding what is the law about and not fully informing themselves.
00:05:07:02 - 00:05:20:17
Kat
But they feel like they're part of this because they do. One repost on Instagram and that's their part. So I think it links back to that thing. We truly need to be educated and informed in order to make an actual, tangible change, rather than just being submissive in it.
00:05:20:17 - 00:05:20:20
Speaker 3
I
00:05:20:20 - 00:05:21:17
Elif
Yeah,
00:05:21:19 - 00:05:23:04
Hafsa
So a
00:05:23:08 - 00:05:42:16
Hafsa
major report from the Sutton Trust shows that internships are disproportionately accessed by middle class graduates, while young people from working class backgrounds are being excluded. According to the research, 61% of internships are unpaid or underpaid, making them inaccessible to those who can't afford to subsidize their living costs.
00:05:42:18 - 00:05:45:16
Hafsa
The Sutton Trust argues that many internships
00:05:45:18 - 00:05:57:13
Hafsa
act as gateways to elite careers, so this class based barrier really harms long term class mobility. Do you guys think that class mobility and the self-made notion is still achievable in today's economy?
00:05:57:15 - 00:05:58:05
Elif
In today's
00:05:58:08 - 00:06:26:02
Elif
economy, I feel like there's a big difference. Like there's a huge gap between the rich and the middle class. Like it's such an unmatched gap. So rich will take care of it like themselves. But I feel like at some point, middle class and like we have to do like our own thing to survive ultimately, because I don't think anyone from Rich Group is going to help.
00:06:26:04 - 00:06:41:24
Elif
If you look at the statistics as well, like 61% is really high and internships are for like people who are undergraduates or just recently graduated. So if you don't give them any chances, they will have to create their own chances.
00:06:41:24 - 00:06:58:02
Kat
I think we've internalized this idea that if we're not climbing to the top fast enough for not climbing to reach whatever we might deem to be the top at the same rate as others, that we're not going to make it. And I think there's so many
00:06:58:04 - 00:07:08:12
Kat
structural aspects that we ignore, and we don't recognize the weight of the way your upbringing, geographical mobility, your social connections.
00:07:08:16 - 00:07:10:06
Kat
people think that you all start
00:07:10:06 - 00:07:35:24
Kat
the race at the same line. But there are people in society who start that race a step ahead, who are ahead. And there's this quote which is like saying that people think, and I think you can extend that to racial minorities or people from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, and that is you have to work twice as hard, but to get half as much and it's like you're pushing and like hot, like working so hard,
00:07:36:01 - 00:07:39:09
Kat
but you feel like you're never going to be at the same position as them.
00:07:39:11 - 00:07:48:18
Kat
And I think it's so frustrating when people say, you just need to work harder, but it's like you're working so hard and that ambition doesn't erase your setbacks.
00:07:48:20 - 00:08:04:24
Elif
How much harder can one work without, like, hard? Like hiring there, like mental health and physical well-being? I think it's also about, like, the limits of a human being. How hard can one work to get to the top?
00:08:05:01 - 00:08:05:15
Hafsa
I feel like
00:08:05:16 - 00:08:26:01
Hafsa
there's this culture, especially in London, where it's almost like, something to brag about, about, or it's become something to brag about, like how tired someone is or how much coffee that they drink because they're doing like 100 things at once. And that's the people who have, I guess, a step up and
00:08:26:03 - 00:08:27:09
Hafsa
have a lot more opportunities.
00:08:27:09 - 00:08:30:22
Hafsa
And it makes me just wonder how that
00:08:30:24 - 00:08:39:15
Hafsa
it just promotes such a damaging idea that if you're not working yourself to the bone and you're not, like, constantly tired and needing to drink caffeine, and you're
00:08:39:15 - 00:08:43:02
Hafsa
not running around from this place to this place that you're not doing enough.
00:08:43:04 - 00:08:53:16
Hafsa
And I feel like, obviously in the circle of people who have all those opportunities, it's damaging, but it also seeps down into those who have need multiple jobs to survive.
00:08:53:18 - 00:09:05:03
Hafsa
And they they're comparing themselves and their struggle to the very same people who are in these big law firms, maybe. And they are working. I
00:09:05:03 - 00:09:17:22
Hafsa
don't know what I'm trying to get across that I feel like it's just such a damaging ideology, especially for those who are working class, that you have to be working yourself to the bone or you're not doing enough to, you know, I mean,
00:09:17:24 - 00:09:36:19
Elif
I guess it's like the comparison between actually working hard to support yourself and your family. Yeah. And the comparison between making your LinkedIn account makes, like, look nice, I guess. Then you have to weigh the consequences and, like, how much you need to do which one.
00:09:36:23 - 00:09:38:22
Hafsa
You know. Yeah
00:09:38:24 - 00:09:57:03
Elif
No. But to be fair, I see it a lot in my degree and like similar degrees that the internships applications, it's actually it's crazy like I have I see people applying to summer internships right now.
00:09:57:08 - 00:09:59:03
Hafsa
Yeah I've been seeing that too.
00:09:59:05 - 00:10:07:06
Elif
So I guess like instead of like the career ladder, it's like you have to be quite fast with it to get to like somewhere good.
00:10:07:08 - 00:10:27:09
Elif
to be honest. I'm, like, really concerned about my future because I want to go into research, and it's really hard to find a research internship because when I type out physics internships, 2025 summer. So like finance, finance, finance, finance, finance. So it's not even about like, oh, I'm studying one thing that I love and I'm going to do that forever.
00:10:27:11 - 00:10:48:07
Elif
It's about like, yes, I'm doing this degree that I really love and I would love to do it, but how much am I going to earn as a researcher compared to like, someone who works in finance? Because finance brings you like you earn a lot in finance, but as a researcher you don't earn as much because like me and my friends, we're talking about this right now and they're like, oh, I would love to go into research, but I kind of like want to have food.
00:10:48:07 - 00:11:00:15
Elif
But like when I'm having dinner. So I guess I'll go into finance. So it's about like it's really limiting as well. Like because you don't do what you love, you do what is enough for you to survive.
00:11:00:17 - 00:11:20:22
Hafsa
In law. It's it's so competitive. And I wanted to do the school I wanted to become a solicitor, which is more like, you know, working in a law firm and it's a bit more structured. But a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to be a barrister, which they're both incredibly hard, but I feel
00:11:20:24 - 00:11:33:11
Hafsa
like for the bar that it's just a very common, idea that if you like, there's a very slim chance you'll succeed because there's 100 internship adjacent things that you have to do and apply
00:11:33:13 - 00:11:34:03
Hafsa
for.
00:11:34:05 - 00:11:54:24
Hafsa
And I was reading this, just from one of the chambers I was looking to apply for, and it was saying that there's 400, they get 400 applications, and then they take seriously 40 and ten of those get an interview, and then three of those are offered a position. So obviously in my position it's
00:11:54:24 - 00:12:07:05
Hafsa
just it's terrifying because I feel like I'm having to do like all of these events and like applying to all these internships and all these schemes and going to all these fairs and networking events.
00:12:07:07 - 00:12:07:18
Hafsa
But
00:12:07:24 - 00:12:30:14
Hafsa
some at some point, I'm just wondering, is it even worth it if there's such a slim chance I'm going to succeed? Because also people, the main like assumption is that most of the people going to be barristers have family and connections, and a lot of money. So I'm wondering how many of those people that are eventually offered the position of like three out of 400?
00:12:30:20 - 00:12:31:11
Hafsa
How many of those
00:12:31:11 - 00:12:43:14
Hafsa
people have got someone that they know that has helped them to get there? And it's just it's so scary thinking about my future. I try not to do as much. What is it like in geography?
00:12:43:16 - 00:13:03:11
Kat
I think it links to that physics idea, especially if you're searching for the right things for physical geography and you're going out in the fields. But if you think about human geography words, what was theoretical and development, geography and economics, it all leads to finance. And if you think you want to have any step into that geography career, it's going to be through finance.
00:13:03:13 - 00:13:05:05
Elif
So annoying.
00:13:05:07 - 00:13:27:12
Kat
Yeah. And like your point you said about family connections, I think that also makes it a hundred times more difficult if you're constantly comparing yourself to, oh, where would I be if I had family court, where would I be if I had mum, where would I be if? And I think that makes it so difficult. But having said that, I think we need to take more time recognizing our own personal successes.
00:13:27:14 - 00:13:48:11
Kat
I think we generalize success as comparing it to someone else. Or how can I replicate that person's success? But we have to think success is not achieved in its vacuum, and I think we need to take more credit for ourselves of what we have achieved so far and take it step by step, rather than thinking, where do I need to be in ten years time when we're just starting out?
00:13:48:13 - 00:13:53:05
Hafsa
I like that. It reminds me of, comparison is the thief of joy.
00:13:53:07 - 00:13:54:11
Elif
That's. I was saying.
00:13:54:13 - 00:13:55:19
Hafsa
That is right. I feel like people
00:13:55:21 - 00:14:03:07
Hafsa
don't I? Sometimes when you're in the trenches, in the dumps, that's all you need a saying and it brings me back. Yeah, I'll keep that in
00:14:03:07 - 00:14:05:14
Hafsa
mind. For exam season.
00:14:05:16 - 00:14:22:05
Hafsa
The UK government has announced plans to lower the national voting age from 18 to 16 for all UK elections. According to the BBC, this move will enfranchise about 1.5 million young people aged 16 to 17. But not everyone's on board. An ITV poll suggests that around
00:14:22:08 - 00:14:26:01
Hafsa
half of 16 and 17 year olds are against lowering the voting age.
00:14:26:06 - 00:14:29:02
Hafsa
Should 16 year olds be allowed to vote
00:14:29:04 - 00:14:53:00
Elif
16 year olds just finished their GCSE exams. Are we trusting people who just at their GCSEs to vote for the country? I mean, yes, they're citizens of the country, but I feel like they should be older and wiser and more mature to make a decision that will affect, like the country itself.
00:14:53:02 - 00:15:08:06
Hafsa
I feel like I, I think 16 and 17 year olds should be allowed to vote because I guess they are the ones who will be living with the consequence of the decision for the
00:15:08:08 - 00:15:09:01
Hafsa
longest.
00:15:09:01 - 00:15:11:18
Hafsa
Because I remember when Brexit happened
00:15:11:23 - 00:15:14:21
Hafsa
there was a huge and such a major decision made
00:15:15:02 - 00:15:33:03
Hafsa
the 16 and 17 year olds at the time, and obviously like a bit older and younger, are the ones who are having to face the major consequences of that. But I do think that there is I think there should be a bit more of a push to get 16, and 17 was more politically involved,
00:15:33:05 - 00:15:43:15
Hafsa
because it's a bit dangerous to just let them, but for whatever and whatever, if they're not fully aware of the weight of their actions.
00:15:43:17 - 00:15:44:00
Kat
I feel
00:15:44:00 - 00:15:58:21
Kat
like they should because as you said, they're inheriting inheriting this climate crisis and a housing market. So many people will not be able to enter and education policies which are directly impacting them. And I feel like they
00:15:59:00 - 00:16:07:10
Kat
should have a say in how these policies will affect them. But I think, as you said, there needs to be more education around and
00:16:07:12 - 00:16:14:08
Kat
integrating this idea of voting into perhaps the national curriculum and informing themselves a bit more.
00:16:14:10 - 00:16:29:01
Kat
But I think it's really important about that idea of intergenerational equity and making sure that all generations can vote on a special impact. So definitely impact them and not having their say muted by all the generations.
00:16:29:03 - 00:16:35:24
Hafsa
do you guys think that voting should be compulsory for everyone.
00:16:36:01 - 00:16:57:23
Kat
I don't think so. Like we mentioned this before, when you make something compulsory, when you make when you make something forced people turn into. Yeah, I'm just going to vote for whatever. So I don't get fine. Like, it doesn't matter. Like, let me just vote. Like, let me just do it for the sake of doing it. I think that understands like, oh, but we're not doing it for the right reason.
00:16:57:23 - 00:17:06:13
Kat
We're just voting for whoever or whatever. And I think there's a freedom is freedom not to participate as well. So that becoming force is almost
00:17:06:18 - 00:17:17:01
Kat
undemocratic. Why we forcing people to do something when people might think that not voting itself is a political statement and that represents dissatisfaction?
00:17:17:03 - 00:17:41:19
Elif
I agree, I feel like then if you force it, it won't be a fair democratic like voting system. I feel like everyone deserves to have a choice in voting. For example, I know my mum is not like she doesn't vote because she doesn't believe in the political system we have in Turkey. So I guess it's like a really is a political statement in itself to not vote.
00:17:41:21 - 00:17:47:15
Elif
And someone should have the freedom to like, have that choice.
00:17:47:17 - 00:18:10:04
Hafsa
I feel like I'm not. I don't, I guess right now, in this moment, I don't think it should be enforced because as you said, that is quite undemocratic. And people can, I guess. Yeah, not voting in itself is showing your dissatisfaction with whatever, whatever your dissatisfied with. But I do remember there was I think there's been
00:18:10:06 - 00:18:16:21
Hafsa
like few turnout issues where the turnout in the UK is just getting really, really low.
00:18:16:23 - 00:18:23:09
Hafsa
And I feel like that does address the issue of if you got everyone to vote, than the turnout would obviously be much higher, like in I think
00:18:23:11 - 00:18:41:06
Hafsa
Australia. I'm not sure. I think Australia has mandatory voting, I'm not sure. But one of the like the countries that do, obviously as a direct result and consequence have a lot higher of a turnout, which does seem like you're, it seems on the face, more democratic, like everyone is getting their say.
00:18:41:11 - 00:18:49:07
Hafsa
So whatever happens as a result is effectively more democratic. But then again, I do take issue with the fact that
00:18:49:09 - 00:19:02:24
Hafsa
the people who are abstaining for their reasons, that is in itself an expression of their desire. So I think I'm on the fence, but I would say that I don't think it should be enforced. I feel like that's not fair.
00:19:03:01 - 00:19:22:20
Hafsa
we've got a new segment this year that we like to end the show with called Campus Confessions. And on this card we've got a confession from a student that will discuss and give our opinion about there's no judgment. Are you guys ready? Yeah. So this person says I'm seriously beginning to question whether university is worth it. I think I've chosen the wrong degree, but I'm already two
00:19:22:23 - 00:19:24:17
Hafsa
years in and I can't turn back now.
00:19:24:19 - 00:19:35:09
Hafsa
I don't think I'll be able to make enough money to live in London, but I really don't want to go back home after studies. I'm not sure how people make a life here with the rising cost of everything.
00:19:35:11 - 00:19:54:00
Elif
I feel like universities are really strange place where you start really excited. You're like, oh, I'm going to do something I'm passionate about. And then you get to it and you're like, am I really passionate about this? I feel like every lecture feels harder and harder and more difficult, and I feel like it's really demotivating.
00:19:54:02 - 00:20:02:13
Elif
So I feel like that's a fair concern to have, especially with the living wage in London so
00:20:02:16 - 00:20:08:00
Hafsa
high it's so high, it's so high. Can't afford to do literally. Oh
00:20:08:01 - 00:20:21:14
Hafsa
my goodness. I have a friend who's been, trying to manage her finances after paying rent for uni, and she's on like 5 pounds a week for food. And she's just like, I just can't buy anything. Like, I just have to use the freezer stuff that I have.
00:20:21:16 - 00:20:26:13
Hafsa
It's so sad. It really is. I can completely sympathize with not being not understanding
00:20:26:13 - 00:20:37:16
Hafsa
how people are living in London. And I also feel like everyone is kind of just pretending like everything's like, okay. And it makes me feel a little bit crazy because I'm wondering how everyone is so on top of their work and
00:20:37:18 - 00:20:39:21
Hafsa
all their lectures and all their reading and all the notes.
00:20:40:02 - 00:20:45:02
Hafsa
And then also you've got like outside of university, things, I have no idea how everyone's doing it.
00:20:45:04 - 00:21:13:22
Kat
I think adding to your point, so many people say that university is going to be the best year or like the best couple years of your life, and then you're faced with a massive culture shock when you come, and reality really hits you with the work, with the finances, with making friends, with trying to fit in. And there's so many things that I consider that it makes it feel almost virtually impossible to even enjoy a couple days at uni, let alone I'll be here for three, four, five, however many years.
00:21:13:24 - 00:21:34:19
Kat
But I think you have to make the most of what you can. I think that's so much easier said than done, and it feels like you have so much work and now you have to apply for internships and try find a part time job. But I think you've really, especially first year, second year grind, try find whatever opportunities there are.
00:21:34:22 - 00:21:49:03
Kat
And I think there is so much at UCL this part time work at UCL, there's so many lectures you can attend, talks by professors, but I think it takes so much courage and time and energy to do that. So that's why I think.
00:21:49:03 - 00:21:50:14
Elif
Yeah, I feel like handling
00:21:50:17 - 00:22:11:24
Elif
academics, finance societies, friends, assignments, quizzes, free readings. This is like the key. Like the list keeps going on and on and on and on. Like my mum, she comes into my room at 11 p.m.. He's like, good night. I'm like, good morning actually. Like, this is, this is we're just starting.
00:22:12:01 - 00:22:16:05
Elif
But I feel like it's kind of rewarding as well when you get to the end of it.
00:22:16:05 - 00:22:39:10
Elif
It's like when you graduate because I saw my sister graduate and it was really rewarding, even for me to watch because I saw her like struggling through. She also did law. So like all the peer readings, essays, essays, essays, things, well, like we were all really proud. So I guess for the feeling of pride and joy at the end, you should stay in university and do the best you can.
00:22:39:12 - 00:22:53:24
Hafsa
Thanks for tuning in to campus Conversations. We hope you had as much fun listening as we did chatting. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like and subscribe on our various podcast streaming platforms. The link is in the bio. We'll be back again with more stories, ideas
00:22:54:01 - 00:22:59:21
Hafsa
and debates from across UCL exploring the people and perspectives shaping our university and world.
00:22:59:23 - 00:23:01:24
Hafsa
Until next time on campus conversations