Eliana Servadei
When Eliana decided to leave mainstream education for health reasons, she found that the Certificate of Higher Education allowed her to study a subject she was truly passionate about – literature – in a more flexible format. Since finishing the course, she has been offered a place to continue her studies at the University of Reading.
'My name is Eliana, and I am an English Literature student living in the United Kingdom. In 2023, worsening health circumstances forced me to drop out of sixth form. Despite these adverse circumstances, leaving mainstream education did not discourage me from wanting to attend university.
'I found the Certificate of Higher Education as an alternative means of qualifying myself for higher education. The remote form of study made it significantly easier to manage my studies alongside my chronic illness. One of the most challenging aspects of the programme was the abundance of modules, how interesting they seemed to me – and choosing between them!
'Throughout this course, I have been exposed to a number of different forms of literature that I would not have encountered in sixth form. I have loved being able to try out Old English and Middle English, as well as topics outside of my main subject, such as magic in the Middle Ages or the history of folklore.
'The highlight of the course for me was undertaking the additional assignments. I found it satisfying and engaging to synthesise module subjects into essay topics, which allowed me to pursue some quite unusual – yet very interesting – theses. These included exploring comedy and the female experience in Pride and Prejudice and The Wife of Bath of The Canterbury Tales, as well as examining folklore and the formation of identity in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. Without the certificate, I might not have been able to experience the joy of writing these essays!
'Overall, the course has provided me with strong foundations for studying English Literature at the University of Reading, beginning this September. Thanks to the Certificate of Higher Education, I will be approaching my degree with confidence because of the skills I have gained from these two years of study.
'After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I plan on doing a Master’s degree and hopefully a PhD – all in English Literature. I would also love to return to the Certificate of Higher Education in another subject I am interested in, such as philosophy or history.
'For those considering undertaking the certificate, the first thing I would say is to go for it! It is a wonderful and abundant learning experience, facilitated by the guidance of very friendly and passionate tutors, that is highly fulfilling. Like me, you are likely to learn a plethora of new things and develop yourself as an intellectual through both the modules and the additional assignments.'