Finding a place in psychology and criminology, nearly three decades on

Arzia Abbasi is studying BSc (Hons) Psychology with Criminology at Solent, arriving at the University through Clearing after a delay in confirming her exact course meant her original application didn't go through as planned.

Psychology and criminology were natural choices. Arzia has held an interest in child psychology, having studied child development at GCSE, while a lifelong fascination with true crime drew her to criminology.

The subjects also connect closely to work she already does outside of university. Having experienced abuse within her own marriages, Arzia set up Phoenix Rising - Still I Rise, a trauma support service dedicated to advocating for and supporting survivors of emotional and domestic abuse.

"Higher education is something that I've always sort of dreamed of, but didn't think it was for me," she says.

A conversation with a lecturer on her open day, who reassured her the University could accommodate her ADHD, helped change that. When her youngest son, who she had been homeschooling, returned to mainstream school last spring, she decided the time had finally come.

That same supportive approach has carried through into her studies, with lecturers making themselves consistently available. "Having these people almost on top of it, I could email one of my lecturers... it just made such a huge difference," she says. Her hard work has paid off academically too, having achieved 92% in one of her Level 4 assignments.

Alongside her studies, Arzia has balanced the demands of raising two neurodiverse children as a single parent, arranging flexibility with lecturers around the school run, and even signed up as a course rep and student officer for ethnic minority students, before stepping back to concentrate on her studies.

Looking ahead, Arzia hopes to build on her degree to work in forensic psychology, continuing to support survivors of trauma alongside her existing work with Phoenix Rising - Still I Rise.

Arzia's story reflects Southampton Solent University's commitment to creating opportunities for all learners. Through its Career Ready Revolution and Strategy 2035, the University is designing higher education around real-world experience, lifelong learning and strong regional partnerships, ensuring students graduate with the skills, confidence and connections needed to succeed.