The Degree Apprenticeship. What is it and how does it work? This week Holly is joined by Jibreel, a first-year Applied Software Engineering degree apprentice at Cardiff Met, to break down what a degree apprenticeship really involves. Jibreel shares his weekly routine with Legal & General and university. He talks about the balance between study and work, and the benefits of being paid and getting vital work experience at the same time as getting a degree.

Jibreel explains what the application process is like (CV, online tests, video interview and assessment centre), and his top advice to cast the net and apply widely for practice.

In this episode…

00:00 Episode Teaser

00:21 Holly introduces Jibreel

00:40 Degree Apprenticeships Explained

01:34 Weekly Schedule

03:50 Application Process Breakdown

06:42 Finding Apprenticeships Early

07:59 Why Cardiff and Cardiff Met

08:36 Quick Fire Questions

11:33 When I Grow Up

12:23 Who Inspired You

13:21 Finding Career Direction

16:12 Balancing Work and Uni

18:01 Accommodation

18:31 Skills Spotlight

21:05 Student Life in Cardiff

23:12 Wrap

How do you land a job after university when you keep getting rejected? Holly is joined by Cardiff Met MSc Food Science and Technology graduate Shruti. They talk about job hunting anxiety, ATS / AI CV filtering, and why keywords matter. Shruti reflects on moving from India to Cardiff, the unexpected culture shocks she overcame as well as finding student life very welcoming. She shares her experience in the food industry so far. Starting as a Quality Assurance Lead at Celtic Oriental and then unexpectedly gaining the opportunity to move into management.

Motivation and having the right people around you can make the difference when university feels tough. Holly speaks with Kyla, a BSc Psychology and MSc Health Psychology graduate who studied as a mature student and single mum. They talk about balancing parenting with university, managing imposter syndrome, and staying focused on clear goals. Kyla tells her story of launching her business Lighter Brighter Minds during her master’s, with support from Cardiff Met’s entrepreneurship team, bootcamps, and student networking.

In this episode…

00:00 Teaser

00:16 Holly introduces Kyla

00:35 Balancing Mum and Uni Life

01:51 Turning Trauma into Purpose

03:43 Building Lighter Brighter Minds

06:26 From Imposter Syndrome to a First

07:29 Transition into Entrepreneurship

09:14 What is Lighter Brighter Minds

11:13 Advice for Single Parents

12:27 Quick Fire Questions

16:13 Warm Chocolate

16:33 When I Grow Up

18:16 Who Inspires You

19:04 Purpose and Parenting

20:10 Returning to Study

21:53 Seeing the Response

22:44 Why Cardiff Met

26:01 Skills Spotlight: Motivation

28:30 Mature Student Life

30:25 Wrap

Want to know what a placement year is really like? And how it can shape your career before you graduate? Holly is joined by Fin, a fourth-year Business Management (Marketing) student at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He did his placement at Enterprise Mobility and continues working for them, now as Campus Brand Manager. Fin talks about his role and how he discovered the placement through the Cardiff Met Careers Fair. He shares how the placement boosted both his confidence and communication skills, and how it helped him focus on his final year.

In this episode…

00:00 Teaser

00:19 Welcome

00:39 Inside the Placement Year

01:20 Plans After Graduation

01:49 Working For A Big Corporate

02:33 What Enterprise Mobility Does

03:18 Finding Placements and Careers Fairs

03:47 Standing Out and Networking Tips

05:12 Quick Fire Questions

07:52 When I Grow Up

08:56 Who Inspired You

09:52 Finding Your Path

10:47 Why Uni?

11:43 Career Support And Cardiff Met

12:31 Ultimate Career Goal

13:08 Skills Spotlight: Communication

14:58 Rugby And Student Life

17:08 Growing Into Adulthood

18:45 Placement Tips And Networking

19:45 Wrap

How do you go from a first-week university commentary gig to travelling the world and commentating for World Rugby? Holly is joined by Cardiff Met Sport Broadcast Master's graduate Rob.

He shares how saying yes to opportunities, like being a runner for Amazon Prime at the Autumn Nations, led to bigger roles through hard work, networking and doing a good job. Rob talks about finding his path on the course, building connections, and creating a personal brand portfolio that helped him land his dream work.

Rob’s story is incredibly inspirational and not to be missed!

In this episode…

00:00 Episode Teaser

00:40 Intro

01:02 Post Uni Feelings

01:35 Biggest Worries

02:22 Rob’s Career So Far

03:15 First Rugby Commentary

04:28 Amazon Prime Runner Gig

06:19 Rugby Sevens & Working In Spain

08:54 From Stats To Commentary

10:49 Networking Over CVs

12:00 Work Hard, Love It

13:48 Quick Fire Questions

16:47 Making Friends At Uni

17:57 Mentors and Inspiration

20:18 When I Grow Up

21:03 Tornado Chaser Story

22:52 Choosing Sport Broadcast

24:33 Applying and Getting In

27:41Personal Branding

28:11 Portfolio Instagram Tips

30:04 Life at Great Days Golf

33:32 Hands-on Learning

34:57 Wrap Up

Holly chats with India, a third-year Product Design student at Cardiff Met, about how she found the courage to switch paths and follow her passion. India shares the benefits of living at home during university, including the ups and downs of making friends, and the importance of taking care of your mental health. She also discusses how switching universities helped her find her people, build her confidence, and discover the right course.

In this episode…

00:00 Teaser

00:21 India's Academic Journey

02:06 Living at Home and Mental Health

05:00 Quickfire Questions

12:43 Student Confessions – Super Noodles

14:36 Learning to Cook

16:04 University Decisions and Pressures

17:37 Why Cardiff Met?

20:31 Entrepreneurial Challenges

24:30 Future Plans

25:59 Outro

Holly chats with Kayla, a Master’s Sport Rehabilitation student at Cardiff Met, about what it’s really like moving abroad for university. From the nerves of leaving Canada to finding accommodation and joining the dance team, Kayla shares her experience of studying in the UK. She also talks about her background in kinesiology and future career aspirations in athletic therapy. Also, Holly really loves custard.

In this episode…

00:00 Teaser

00:29 Kayla's Journey from Canada to Cardiff

01:40 Nerves and Accommodation

03:17 Making Friends and Social Life

04:18 British Slang

06:01 Academic Pursuits and Career Goals

09:45 Quick Fire Questions

12:08 Advice for Starting Uni

13:05 Ask Holly – Custard

16:10 Food Cravings

17:02 Studying in the UK

19:18 Living in Cardiff

20:58 Outro

Finding independence and her love for Cardiff. Soph, a third-year Textile Design student at Cardiff Met, joins Holly to share her experience of moving from a small village to city life. Living in halls, food shopping, transport and joining the Christian Union. Soph reflects on how university has shaped her.

In this episode…

00:00 Teaser

00:17 Meet Soph: A Third-Year Textile Design Student

01:46 Adjusting to University Life

03:17 Living in Halls

04:10 Studying Textile Design

07:18 Quick Fire Questions

09:23 Student Confessions

11:16 Making Friends in Halls

11:46 Deciding to Go to University

13:22 Choosing Cardiff Met

14:54 Becoming a Student Ambassador

16:53 Post-Graduation Plans

20:20 Life in Cardiff

21:29 Outro

What’s it really like studying in the UK? Fakhar travelled from Pakistan to study Data Science at Cardiff Met, and in this episode, he joins Holly to share his story. From first-day nerves to finding independence, he discusses settling into life in Cardiff, making friends through university events, and why stepping out of your comfort zone can change everything.

In this episode…

00:00 Episode Teaser

00:20 Meet Fakhar: An International Student's Journey

00:41 Adjusting to Life in the UK

01:33 Settling In and Making Friends

04:53 Accommodation and Independence

06:32 Quick Fire Questions

09:34 Student Confessions

11:13 Challenges of Moving Away from Home

12:01 Studying Data Science

13:57 Exploring Cardiff

16:48 Making Friends as an International Student

17:52 Diversity in Cardiff

19:04 Outro from Holly

From living in halls to whiplash on nights out and managing study stress, Amy talks honestly about the highs and lows of student life. She’s a third-year Graphic Design & Communication student at Cardiff Met and joins Holly to tell her story. Amy shares her favourite Cardiff hangouts and how opportunities at university have shaped her career plans.

In this episode…

00:00 Episode Teaser

00:14 Introducing Amy

00:31 Pre-University Nerves and Saying Goodbye

02:17 Making Friends and Settling In

04:03 Living in Halls

05:17 Course Dynamics and Friends

06:39 Pre-Drinks

08:18 Ask Holly

12:16 Quickfire Questions

18:38 University Life and Advice

23:11 Career Plans

25:33 Favourite Things to Do in Cardiff

27:14 Outro from Holly