Meet our Linguist Meg Class of 2014, now on secondment with Head of Strategic Talent at EY, 

Why Languages at university?​

The course itself: Studying languages felt like a cheat code for exploring multiple subjects in one. Spanish and Chinese didn’t just mean language classes, it meant a whole range of other topics like literature, linguistics, philosophy, history, film, and more. The year abroad: The adventures, memories, and friendships you gain are lifelong and second to none. I’ll never forget waking up on my 21st birthday on the Great Wall of China, or the joy of sitting in a square in Madrid making my first proper Spanish friend and gossiping all night (entirely in Spanish!), the pride of showing my parents a whole new life I had built on the other side of the world, and the sheer thrill of waking up in a European city every day.​

The people: It’s true you’ll make friends wherever you study, but languages students are a bit special - worldly, curious, and fun. The friends I met at Durham are still my closest friends, and those I met on my year abroad remain part of my life (and yes, having friends with flats in other cities is a real perk!).​

Where I work now​
I work for EY, the global professional services firm, where I’m currently on secondment as Chief of Staff to our Head of Strategic Talent (essentially our Head of People/HR). Before that, I worked in EY’s People Consulting practice, helping clients solve key challenges across their HR/ talent agendas. I’m based in London but recently returned from a 2.5-year transfer to EY Copenhagen.​

What I gained from studying at TGS​
So much! Lifelong friends, of course, but also confidence in who I was and a real breadth of capabilities. TGS felt like a truly safe space to work out who I wanted to be, and everyone was encouraged to do their own thing, exploring and becoming the best version of themselves – whether that was through hockey, drama, computing, debating, or something else entirely. It was a great launch pad for university and beyond, giving me the freedom and confidence to explore and take risks.​

Why Languages now?​
Now more than ever, it’s the time to study languages. Few skills are as rewarding and lifelong as languages. Learning a language builds empathy, sharpens communication, and gives you a global perspective – something that 10 years later is still very much serving me in every aspect of life and work. Non-language friends are also incredibly grateful I can sort the drinks when on holiday in Barcelona.

Meg Class of 2014