Amy Cowan

Amy Cowan, a Glasgow Caledonian University graduate in Social Sciences with a specialism in Politics with History, has gone from hitting the books to hitting the political stage as a Senior Caseworker at the UK House of Commons.

From mastering the art of research and debate to a bit of extra-curricular campaigning, she’s taken her Glasgow Caledonian experience and turned it into a career at the heart of UK politics.

Now, she’s proving that with a little grit and a lot of passion, you can go from campus to Commons in no time.

Right from the get-go, the approachable and grounded nature of the University and its staff made Amy feel welcome at Glasgow Caledonian.

“The course attracted me to GCU. There were certain modules that from the offset I was interested in studying.

“Also, I had heard about the friendliness and how down-to-earth the lecturers were. I thought it really sounded like a community and a place I’d like to be part of.”

Once she started studying at Glasgow Caledonian, she found all those things to be true.

“I have to say the support and opportunity I was offered at GCU were absolutely amazing, from the disability team, to the counselling team, to individual lecturers.

“It was a privilege to be a student ambassador and helper, a class rep, and be involved in the Social Science community and society and complete a mentorship.”

Amy credits part of her career success to the personal mentor she worked with while she was a student. Amy's mentor explained their own career journey and advised Amy on how to progress her career.

Though Amy initially found it tough to find a suitable job after graduating in 2021, her hard work paid off when she was given an opportunity to work on a temporary basis for an MP as a caseworker.

“Sometimes it takes an employer taking a chance on you to start your career and most importantly for me start some important self-belief in myself.

“I was then offered another temporary position as a caseworker for an MP more locally. I went into the job, worked hard, gelled with the team and was soon offered a permanent position before being given the Parliamentary Assistant position.”

These opportunities led Amy to the role she’s very proud to work in now, as a Senior Caseworker for a new MP while leading a team of her own.

“Don’t ever get dragged down by disappointment from interviews or not getting the job you want first.

“It takes one phone call to change your life, one interview or one person to see your character and offer you an opportunity. Always keep going and working hard.”

Reflecting on her time as a student, many highlights stood out that helped shape her – both professionally and personally.

“My skills in research are definitely instrumental in my work right now, as well as presenting information.

“I often do research for the MP. Even things as simplistic as having competing priorities, essays and deadlines were a lesson which I use now in managing an MPs diary and invitations.

“Of course, the politics lecturers were very relevant to my current career.

“I loved the range of assessments within the Social Science courses, and how the specialisms of lecturers shone through.”

And like many students, past and present, Amy’s time at Glasgow Caledonian fostered friendships for life.

“I remember being in a history class and the lecturer saying she was going to pick out groups and this is how friendships are made at uni. I was terrified and thought “yeah right!”.

“But she was right - I got paired with someone I am still friends with today!”

Thankful for the opportunities she had while studying at Glasgow Caledonian, Amy is a huge advocate for making the most of all aspects of the University experience.

“University is great, but what can you do that sets you apart from others in the field?

“Get involved in extracurricular activities and outside volunteering. You’ll gain loads of confidence and experience. Throw yourself into your University experience and get the most out of the opportunities.”