Jamilla Mohammed

Jamilla was the first in her family to go to University. She tells us about her love and passion for religious studies and how she found her unexpected career path.

I chose to study theology and religious studies because I had so many questions!

I loved working on this project; from interviewing Muslim friends to reading different interpretations of Quranic scripture. I also did a placement in Oxford where we got to use the libraries and speak to theologians there. I really, really loved it. It was there that I learned that I could also study these subjects at Edinburgh.

I was the first one in my family going to university

And I knew at how prestigious Edinburgh was! The image of the University of Edinburgh is that you come from London, went to a private school or boarding school or you're an international student and then you had me! I am from Manchester, I went to a state school, where most people stay close to home if they even consider university. At first, I really struggled with it, but after speaking to my personal tutor about it at the beginning of term, I felt much better.

But one thing that I truly miss about university is the time to think

The one thing that I truly miss about university is the time to think. Now being in such a fast-paced working environment, I don't have time to sit and pause and think oh, how can we do that better or why have we chosen to do that?

So, enjoy Edinburgh as a city, it has so much to offer, not just within the city, but also places like Portobello beach and North Berwick which are so close by. Try to enjoy the work life balance. So, after you've studied in the library, go and chill out on the Meadows or try a new coffee shop.

I'll be honest, when I first graduated with the religious studies degree I questioned whether it was the best degree to choose?

A lot of jobs are looking for business, finance or STEM. However, I don't personally think that the skills that you gain from a Religious Studies degree you could get from a STEM degree, for example communication skills, time management, all those soft skills that I think are often overlooked. Understanding why people think the way they do, which is often influenced by their culture and beliefs and values, has helped me to manage tricky situations in the workplace.

One day I went on the Prospects website and came across an MDS leadership development programme...

When I graduated, I was hoping to join the Police but, that didn’t work out. So, I went on a three-month youth empowerment expedition to Fiji, which I would definitely encourage any students to do. Then I ended up doing a year in youth engagement in Manchester. However, I was looking for more of a leadership role. So, one day I went on the Prospects website and came across an MDS leadership development programme.

MDS stands for Management Development Services and it's a graduate scheme within the Horticulture and Agriculture industry. It's a two-year graduate scheme, and you move company, role and location every six to 12 months. At the same time, you get to work towards a level 6 Diploma in Leadership and Development.

The company I'm working for now is called Syngenta it’s a global crop protection company. My role involves supporting the Chief Human Resources Officer with her communication and positioning within and outside the company. So, a lot of campaign planning, a lot of designing internal communication , and executive briefings.

There is so much you can learn from studying at New College

My one take away for anyone reading this article is that it’s not so much about your degree title, it's the skills that you develop from that degree. 

I truly believe that religious studies has taught me to be the communicator that I am. Asking questions, listening to people who have a totally different opinion. There's so much you can learn from studying at New College that I genuinely think sets you apart from other graduates.

I still love learning about society and culture

I do like to read and one of the books that I've recently read is by an author called Dipo Faloyin called Africa is not a country. Another book i'm reading is Culture Map by Erin Mayer. It might even help students, who are coming over from a different country to Edinburgh, to navigate the culture here!

Graduation Interview

We interviewed Jamilla at her graduation reception in 2022. Check out what she had to say.