Reaching for the stars
Jodie Sutherland (MGeol Hons 2025) came to St Andrews as the first in her family to attend university. After an unconventional start studying remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jodie threw herself into everything the University had to offer. She reflects on fond memories of Geology field trips, bonds formed with her tight-knit cohort, and the new sense of confidence she gained while studying at St Andrews.
I grew up on the Shetland Isles in the North of Scotland. Going to university wasn’t the norm when my mum and grandparents were young. Many people stayed at home and took up jobs in the local community.
When it came to applying to university, I didn’t think I had a chance at getting into St Andrews having resat two of my Highers. I applied nonetheless, since very few universities in Scotland offered a geology course. It came as a shock when I received an invitation to interview for the Gateway to Science programme. This showed me that the University saw my potential despite my grades. I got a chance to see the town while waiting for my interview and I fell in love. It reminded me so much of home.
Luckily, I received an offer and found out I had been accepted in August 2020, a memory my family and I will never forget. I was the first person in my family to attend university, and it was a privilege to be heading somewhere as prestigious as St Andrews.
I look back very fondly on my student days. I started in September 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, so my first year was mostly online. In a way I am grateful it happened like that. I don’t think I was quite ready to leave home yet so being able to study online really helped ease me into it. By the time second year arrived I was ready, and I haven’t looked back since.
The full St Andrews experience
I took part in all the traditions that St Andrews has to offer: May Dip, Pier Walks, Raisin Weekend, the Gaudie, as well as many balls and ceilidhs. All were so much fun and were experiences I’ll never forget.
I was also heavily involved in two societies during my time at St Andrews: the Geological Society (GeolSoc) and the Astronomical Society (AstroSoc). I served on the committee of both societies for five and two years respectively. Through these roles, I met lots of new people from all over the world and I made some incredible friends for life. I was even able to organise a Geology Society residential trip to my home in Shetland during my presidency.
Studying in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences was an experience like no other. The School is small and everyone knows everyone. I was able to form good bonds with most people in the department. We went on some incredible field trips thanks to kind donations from the School’s alumni. Prior to attending university, I had only been abroad once in my life. While at St Andrews I went to Spain, Italy and Switzerland and carried out my dissertation fieldwork in Iceland. My year was a small, tight-knit group. I met some of my closest friends who I still keep in contact with and visit as much as I can.
A life-changing opportunity
My family could see a visible difference in my confidence every time I returned home, and even my university friends from first year noticed the change. St Andrews allowed me to be myself and grow into the person I am today.
I was also fortunate to receive a Wardlaw Scholarship for the duration of my degree. My mum cried with joy when we found out. As a single parent of a child going to university, this took a lot of pressure off her financially to support me. It is something which we are all grateful for to this day. I hope one day I can give back and support a scholarship for students who are in a similar financial position to my family.
Launching a career in planetary science
I graduated with my MGeol in July 2025 and am now based in Manchester, where I am pursuing a PhD at the University of Manchester, specifically focused on planetary science. It is a combination of my passions fused into one. I am just about to start my second year and am loving it.
The staff at St Andrews were so supportive during my PhD application, giving me tips for my CV. I also wouldn’t be where I am today without my lecturers giving me the opportunity to take part in a research placement at the Natural History Museum in my fourth year, which provided me with valuable research experience.
Alongside my PhD, I’ve been working as a teaching assistant on a module at the University of Manchester and am due to teach two more in the upcoming semester. I have also been heavily involved in outreach activities with my research group as well as delivering talks at home in Shetland to help inspire people to pursue careers in geology and planetary science.
I am forever grateful for the love and support my family has given me the past six years. I wouldn’t have managed this without them. They are my biggest cheerleaders and have immense pride in everything that I have done.