I’m Now a Durham University Physics Graduate!

For those of you that don’t know already, I recently graduated from Durham University, having completed a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in physics. That’s why for the last 6 or so years, I’ve been somewhat quieter when it comes to blogging, cruising and drawing ships!
 
My journey to studying at Durham started in the summer of 2018. A friend of mine told me about a foundation course at Southampton University, where you did not need A-Level maths or physics to enrol. If you passed, you could then go on to study a variety of science-based degrees, including ship science or naval architecture. As a child, I dreamt about becoming a naval architect, but maths and science was my downfall, as I did not enjoy it and eventually opted for a business course after secondary school. Without doing this course I would very likely have not set up Cruise Cotterill.

​Anyway, the course my friend recommended in Southampton required a B in GCSE maths, I left school with a C, so didn’t have the required grade. In the summer of 2018, I set about teaching myself maths from scratch, using online resources I could find, especially YouTube videos. I retook my GCSE maths exams around three months later and achieved a grade A. I was surprised how much I enjoyed learning maths again. I even started to learn some basic GSCE physics too.
 
Around the time of awaiting my results, I watched an American TV series, Genius, a biographical anthology drama, in which one series featured Albert Einstein. I found it captivating, and it deepen my new interest in maths and physics. I then searched for foundation courses, potentially offering a route to a physics degree at university. Durham University was first to appear, and I quickly learnt what a highly sought after and prestigious institution it was.

​I applied for a place on the Foundation Programme at Durham University and was invited to an open day and assessment. A few days later I was offered a place. I couldn’t turn it down! Although I had set out to hopefully study naval architecture, I now found myself on a journey to understand the fundamental nature of the universe and the laws its governed by.

In September 2019 I moved to Durham University, living at Josephine Butler College. It quickly became my home away from home and I enjoyed being in Durham and studying the Foundation Programme. Sadly, as exam season approached so did the Covid-19 pandemic and things changed. Exams moved online and no one really knew what was to come. Despite sitting exams in the middle of lockdown back at home, I passed the Foundation Programme and was ready to start the first year of the physics degree.

​When I returned to Durham in October 2020, things were still far from normal, with loads of social distancing and other rules to follow. It was not quite what I had hoped for, but I made the best of it. Like so many however, it really affected my mental health at times. As a result, I messed up a few exams, but I was given the opportunity to retake them the following year.  Passing the exams a year later, I then started my second year, although a year later, the world had recovered, and things were much more normal.
 
As a mature student, life could sometimes feel a little isolating, and my original friends had now moved on or graduated from Durham. At times I struggled, and my mental health was affected again. My Dad had also had several heart attacks and was on a long waiting list for surgery. I found it stressful being away from home. Exams weren’t great again, but my college and department supported me throughout and I grew ever more resilient.
 
Together with all these difficulties in my own life, industrial actions and strikes at the university delayed the publication of my results. In fact, I was allowed to progress into third year, before I had been given my exam results. I was sure I’d failed some and was right. The plan was to retake the second-year exams I had failed alongside my third year, which seemed ludicrous to me! Eventually, after discussing the potential additional impact on my mental health, it was agreed I would be allowed to take another year out of residence to retake these exams and then return to commence third year a year later. The delay was not ideal, but I knew it was the best option for me.

I moved away from Durham and studied hard to pass the exams. During this year away, I was also able to recover. I started rowing back home and for the first time in many years life felt more normal. Finally, in October 2024 I started my final year. The resilience I developed saw me through, and I passed all my exams, online tests, presentation and individual and team projects. My final year in Durham was wonderful. I started rowing for my college boat club, made new friends and rediscovered my love of maths and physics, as well as the beautiful city of Durham again.

In July 2025 I attended congregation, the formal graduation ceremony at Durham University. On the day, graduates collected their robes before making their way into the Great Hall in the 953-year-old Durham Castle. Here we were lined up before the formal procession across Palace Green into Durham Cathedral for the official ceremony. After welcome speeches I was invited up on stage along with all the other physics graduates, to shake hands with the vice-chancellor. It was the most magical setting for the most special day. Staff from my college and department smiled and congratulated me, as they knew what a journey I had been on. My Dad and my partner watched from the guest area in the cathedral, whilst my mum watched live online back home, looking after our two dogs.

After almost seven years of studying, prior to university to get onto the course, the Foundation Programme and eventually the degree itself, I had finally done it. Now it all felt worth it and I was immensely proud of myself.
 
So now what!? I’m back home in Essex. For the next few months or so I will be busy drawing, as I have several commissions to get working on. I am thankful to those who have been so patient and let me focus on completing my studies before recommencing drawing. I do have ambitions to study naval architecture still, and I have been looking at postgraduate master’s degrees, so watch this space! In the meantime, it’s back to the drawing board, with a few cruises to look forward to in the coming months too.
 
Now I am not studying so much, I hope to be somewhat more active, so keep a look out for plenty more blogs, drawings and much more!