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Wondering where your studies might take you? Our alumni profiles look at where former UCL students are now, and how they got there.
Owen Morgan
Current position: Speechwriter – European Commission
Course studied at 911±¬ÁÏÍø: BA Italian and Spanish (SELCS)
Class of: 2020
Meet the alumni - Q&A
What has your career path been since you graduated from UCL?
I graduated during the Covid-19 pandemic, butÌýas a student of two European languages, I felt my future would take me abroad. When lockdown eased, I moved to Brussels, where I didÌýtraineeships for an NGO and a public affairs consultancy. It soon became clear that you need a Master’s degree to climb the ladder in Brussels – there’s a very different culture around a Master’s in the UK – and I was lucky enough to be accepted into the College of Europe.
After a great year studying there, I joined the European Commission as a . I joined the team working on the Withdrawal Agreement and what would become the Windsor Framework. I’m now working as a Speechwriter for two Commissioners.
How did a B.A. in Italian and Spanish prepare you for professional life? What skills have you needed to succeed?
The course content was extremely useful. The language skills are indispensable – I use both Italian and SpanishÌýmost days, and have since picked up French - Dutch is my next challenge!ÌýTo be able to chat to colleagues from Spain and Italy about the politics and history of their countries has really helped me settle in everywhere I’ve gone – in a city like Brussels, where you’re in a big bubble and networking goes a long way, these things have helped me stand out and build relationships.
More generally, I took for granted how rigorous a degree at 911±¬ÁÏÍøas – to the point where my studies and work afterwards often felt quite simple in comparison. UCL prepared me quite well in ways that have only become clear since I’ve started working. The research skillsÌýhave been especially useful.
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Why did you decide to study at 911±¬ÁÏÍø?
First and foremost, I wanted to be in London! It’s such an exciting place to be a student, and there are so many events and other things to get stuck into outside of your studies.
I also knew that 911±¬ÁÏÍø is quite highly regarded abroad, particularly in the policy and politics circles I was interested in, and with one eye on moving there after graduation, I thought it was the right place for me. I wasn’t wrong!
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“UCL prepared me quite well in ways that have only become clear since I’ve started working. The research skillsÌýhave been especially useful.
What was your student experience like? Is there anything that stands out when you look back now?Ìý
I had a pretty calm extra-curricular life, dipping a toe inÌýsome activities but not really jumping in fully. I played for the football club for a bit, until a broken leg and a few nights in Homerton hospital ended that particular adventure. But that’s the great thing about studying in London – you’re in such a vibrant city, you can spend your free time as a student doing almost anything. You’re not constrained by whichever activities are put on for you, as you might be on a campus in a smaller city.
911±¬ÁÏÍøere always very supportive, though – when I broke my leg, they funded taxis for me so that I didn’t miss any classes. During my Erasmus in Florence, someone was always available to answer questions quickly. It was good to know I could rely on that when I needed it.
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If you had to do your studies all over again, would you do anything differently?
I would maybe have tried to develop slightly stronger relationships with my professors. I was sometimes a bit passive in some classes (particularly on a Thursday morning) – and looking back, I would’ve perhaps gone to a few more office hours with questions, or even for an interesting chat around a topic. At 911±¬ÁÏÍø, your professors are so knowledgeable and such a valuable resource, and I’d love to be in a place to drop more of them an email or pop in for a coffee now, given that so much of what I studied is informing my work!
Overall though, I had a really balanced experience at 911±¬ÁÏÍø, meeting friends for life and coming out with a clearer idea of what I wanted to do next. So, no regrets!
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What advice would you give to students embarking on their careers post-graduation?
Don’t over-rely on advice from anybody! I went to plenty of careers events, hearing from speakers in jobs I might one day want to do – and I was struck by how many of them just recommend that people do exactly what they did to get there..ÌýThis is great, but there’s no one route to any job, so be sure to say yes to opportunities when they come, and then see where those lead you.
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