Tara Elisabeth Jeyasingh moved from England to study an honours program in human geography at UNSW Canberra. While it proved to be an unusual year for an international move, Tara said she has no regrets.
Tara Elisabeth Jeyasingh moved from England to study an honours program in human geography at UNSW Canberra.
While it proved to be an unusual year for an international move, Tara said she has no regrets.
“Although this has been the biggest move in my life to the other side of the world, in probably the most hectic year around the globe, there really is no place I’d rather be studying and I would make the same decision again in a heartbeat,” Tara said.
Tara completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Bristol where she developed an interest in the importance of film and art and how they can change how we think about and negotiate our world.
“I was offered a sponsorship from the geography department here at UNSW Canberra to continue my research here, with researchers who are at the foreground of the crucial geographic innovations which are important to my research,” Tara said.
“My honours thesis this year has explored speculative thinking through film and the work of French philosopher Giles Deleuze.”
Tara said she has enjoyed and appreciated the importance placed on independent research and being able to work with a small and supportive group of academics and PhD students.
“Within geography, I have been part of a weekly reading group, which is a really important space to discuss ideas and raise questions with the very people working at the forefront of contemporary geographic debates,” Tara said.
“Compared to my expectations of similar courses at other universities, the research environment at UNSW Canberra is so personal and provides a hugely advantageous setting for research.”
Tara said Canberra already feels like home and she has been able to make lots of good friends at the University.
“Surrounded by people studying number theory, international relations, and engineering, it has certainly been interesting at times trying to explain exactly what human geography is, however being surrounded by people who really care about and are invested in their research provides a stimulating setting in which I have really come to appreciate the significance of both my work and that of other academics working in so many different fields,” she said.
“Walking around a military-clad campus can feel a little confusing at first, but I have really come to feel valued here as a researcher and individual, and I am enormously grateful for the opportunities which I feel the unique set-up of UNSW Canberra has offered me and my research.
“Now that I have completed my honours, I would really like to continue my research by studying for a PhD here at UNSW Canberra.”