Charles Tighe

About Charles

Degrees studied:

History BA

Year graduated:

2025

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating.

Hi, I’m Charles and I graduated in July 2025 after reading History. After finishing my degree, I travelled through South America and then spent some time in the US.

Since then, I’ve been working part time, applying for graduate roles, and planning a trip through Eastern Europe later this year. 

Studying at Newcastle

Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?

I chose Newcastle because it’s a Russell Group university with a strong reputation, and I knew I’d be getting a strong degree. My sister was already there and really enjoyed it, so I had a good sense of what the place was like.

When I investigated it myself, the History course stood out as the modules were interesting and the structure suited what I wanted to study. Altogether it felt like the right fit for me.

How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career?

Studying History prepared me well because it taught me how to synthesise information clearly, understand the drivers of change behind events, and build arguments that are structured and evidence based.

A lot of my degree was spent reading and analysing material from journals, articles and books, working out what mattered, and turning it into something concise and coherent.

Those are transferable skills that apply to a wide range of careers, especially roles where you need to analyse problems, explain your reasoning, and make decisions with incomplete or complex information, which is exactly what you do in areas like accountancy, consulting or insurance.   

What did you enjoy most about your time at Newcastle University?

I really enjoyed the city, the people and the course itself. Newcastle is a great place to live as a student, and I liked that the campus is right in the city, so everything is easy to get to.

I also enjoyed the social side and met a lot of genuinely nice people during my time there. I got involved as a student ambassador, and I enjoyed it because I liked representing the university and talking to prospective students.

It felt natural to me, and it was a good way to share my experience with people who were thinking about applying. On the academic side, I liked the freedom within the History course to choose modules I was genuinely interested in, and I found the support strong.

My dissertation supervisor and personal tutor were both great; they were approachable, helpful and made the process feel manageable. Altogether it was a place where I felt comfortable and I got a lot out of both the academic and day to day side of university life. 

Please describe your time at Newcastle University in three words:

Independent, supportive and welcoming.