Citizen Magazine

Improve your happiness by degrees!

Starting a degree course is not something you normally do in February - but a new year degree could seriously improve your happiness.

So says Dr Ilona Boniwell, who leads the MSc Applied Positive Psychology programme at the University of East London.

The course is one of more than 100 degrees on offer at University of East London - prompting more than 1,200 students to start in February rather than the usual September.

"We tend to work in cycles," says Dr Boniwell. "The new year means a new start, so people make resolutions and start new ventures.

"Another big plus is that the exams finish in December - not in midsummer when most people want to be outdoors!"

Meanwhile, University of East London graduates from Barking and Dagenham joined stars of stage and screen at a ceremony in London's Barbican Hall.

Tashinga Takawara (pictured, centre) of Clemence Road, Dagenham graduated with a 2:1 from her BA (Hons) in Media Studies. Tewogbade Adedeji and Alexandra Rogacewicz, from Barking, graduated with Combined Honours in Media and Communication Studies, and Cultural Studies with Creative and Professional Writing respectively.

All 3 graduates spoke fondly of their time at University of East London, with Tewogbade describing his course as "3 years I will never forget".

Actor Tamzin Outhwaite and performance poet Valerie Mason-John, who both hail from east London, supplied the stage and screen presence. Both received honorary degrees.

Tuesday 8 January 2008.

Tashinga Takawara with fellow graduates