Jaiden
Nelson

Why did you choose to study your course at Brackenhurst?

I chose to study Animal Management here at Brack because I knew the facilities here topped any of the other surrounding colleges when it comes to studying animals as it is linked to a university meaning it has university-grade equipment. I chose this course as it is a pathway to studying a course I want in university as it has 3 biology modules.

Tell us more about your course. What do you enjoy studying the most?

My favourite part of this course is the practicals because there is such a diverse range of animals on the animal unit from small harvest mice to a large constrictor and bosk monitor, which can be held after being taught how to do it safely.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

The facility I use the most on campus is the Animal Unit as I spend a lot of time there in lessons as well as in my free time I help out if I can or just watch some of the animals. The facilities on campus are good as there is a variety of different places to be for example there is the Refectory where you can get hot food, and the Brack shop where you can get snacks. There are also places for study like the library and places to have a rest such as the farmhouse.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like to go to the Orangery where I can get hot food such as nuggets and chips or a panini. From the Orangery you can get hot and cold drink as they have an on-campus Costa which is nice as you can get a hot chocolate when it’s cold and a nice iced drink in the summer.

Have you had any support from other departments? How was your experience accessing these/ was the service helpful?

Student support has been very helpful for me as they have helped me get assessed for dyslexia and get extra time in exams which I can now use. The employability team have also been very useful durin my time here as they have aided me in getting work placement which is mandatory part in both years of my course.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying at Brackenhurst Campus?

My top tip is just to make the most of your time here. The days can be long but have a laugh when you can and it will fly by, so just make the most of the facilities available and use your time wisely and your time here will be some of the best.

Have you been involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve?

I have been on two placements whilst on my course. My first one wasn’t great as it had no links in what I wanted to do after finishing the course as it was dog walking/kennel assistant. It was easy work but got very boring as it was repetitive doing the same jobs week in and week out. My second placement I am currently doing is an assistant in a vet which I am enjoying as it involves different tasks most days and is very hands-on. This placement I good as it helps in my learning of the anatomy and illnesses of animals.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

I would recommend this course as it leads to a very broad pathway of jobs for anyone not knowing exactly what they want to do within the animal sector after education. The facilities available for this course are amazing with a large number of animals with mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates all in the animal unit which can be handled within lessons.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/ will help you to achieve that goal?

After this course, I plan to go onto university and study zoology potentially here at Brackenhurst. Completing this course has helped me greatly as across the first and second year we complete 3 biology modules which are favoured by some of the top universities for animal studies meaning they are more likely to pick me as a student as I will have a stronger basis of knowledge than others who are potentially coming in at other routes.

Anything else you want to say about Brackenhurst?

I think Brackenhurst and Nottingham Trent as a whole is great as they listen to what students have to say. For example, if there is an issue the students can raise it at a student forum, the student union or the Brack management try to solve the issue and give feedback to the course representatives who then can feedback to the course mates on how the problem is being solved.