William McMullan graduated from the University of St Andrews, pictured in the Quad (Image: University of St Andrews) Completing a university degree is no mean feat, but one East Belfast man's journey has been exceptional. Like many others in his cohort, William McMullan’s studies were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but less common were additional challenges that included evacuation from a war zone and a visit to the intensive care unit – from where he completed and submitted his dissertation. William, 23, will graduate from the University of St Andrews with a MA (Hons) in International Relations and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) and The Harvey Pitcher Prize.
READ MORE: NI apprentice carpenter on following his true passion after scooping top award READ MORE: Milestone graduation day for NI social workers Despite being an Oxbridge applicant, William was drawn to St Andrews for the calibre of the International Relations program and, despite leaving school with strong science results, he decided to take IR with Russian and Arabic, languages he began with only rudimentary knowledge. Like so many of us, William was inspired by the town’s natural beauty, particularly the beaches, which reminded him of coastal Northern Ireland home. His keen interest in participating in the Royal Air Force saw him immediately join the University Air Squadron (UAS) and Saints Rifle club when he started at St Andrews in 2019.
When the pandemic hit, William adroitly navigated the chal.
