Helen
Whittle

Why NTU?

Why did you choose NTU and your course?
"I chose NTU because Nottingham’s a great and versatile city. I also had the benefit from knowing someone on the course already and by word of mouth knew that it was a great course with great facilities. I also already lived here."

What is the best thing about your course?
"The best thing about my course is the facilities available to you and the help available to use it. Being able to hire out equipment that would be a huge expense in the real world and being able to develop your practice through trial and error are what I’ve found useful, like using the darkroom and realising your practice is suited better to the studio."

What recent assignments have you had? What has stood out?
"Most recently completing an exhibition, creating the work, doing the research and then arranging the materials I needed to display my work including transport. It was great, feeling like I was working alongside my tutors to achieve a great public exhibition."

Have you done work experience? What difference did it make?
"I haven’t carried out any work experience related to my course yet but I have some planned in the next few months. However, I’m a mature student so I have that working life background from working in administration. There were some real transferable skills gained such as people management, customer service, and time management, amongst others, that can be put into any other practice."

What marks out of 10 would you give for course facilities and why?
"10 – I really can’t fault what’s available to me now. My advice would be to make the most of all the support and equipment because it’s not likely you’ll have this opportunity again."

Name one thing that has surprised you about NTU?
"The inclusivity – there isn’t really anything that’s out of reach if you ask the right people. Want to learn another language? Go for it. Want to be involved in the music department? Go for it."

Does the “real” NTU match what you’d imagined? How does it compare with your friends experience at other universities?
"It does, but mostly because I’ve been out the in ‘real’ world already so I understood the work that goes on in the background to keep everything going."

What do you think makes NTU a top university?
"Its community feel, the facilities made available to you, and the feeling of ease from the staff."

How do you think NTU has changed you (or how you hope it will)?
"This may sound bad, but I’ve been learning about how I need to focus on myself and my own prospects. By nature, I help others before I help myself but it’s been highlighted at university that I’m allowed to focus on myself and my work first."

If NTU was an animal what would it be and why?
"A panther, seeing as that’s Nottingham’s Ice Hockey team."

What would you say to someone thinking of applying to NTU?
"Absolutely go for it! It’s a great city, and there’s always something to do for everyone and there are mentors to help during those crucial first moments at uni."

How would you promote NTU to potential students in 10 words or fewer?
"NTU is a great environment, they support and they encourage."

When I’m not studying

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?
"Vibrant, varied and versatile."

Nottingham is the UK’s best student city. Agree or disagree?
"Agree – there’s a lot in the city that caters for any type of student."

Where would you recommend visiting in Nottingham?
"If you need to keep the cost down, then places like Wollaton Hall or Stonebridge Farm can be quite fun. If you have some pennies to spend, visit the City of Caves and the National Justice Museum. They usually have exhibitions and events on like fright nights and murder mysteries."

Where is the best place to eat, go to a gig or buy clothes?
"I’m not the biggest person for going out to eat but if I do it’s usually Yo!Sushi or Nando’s. I’ve recently discovered the vegan pizzas at Revolution, I’m lactose intolerant so a pizza is a real treat!"

Where is a good place to live as a student?
"I stayed in my privately rented flat in Carrington, just a 30 min walk out of the city, but there’s loads of student accommodation in the city, close to uni and close to the night life."

Did you find it easy to make friends at NTU?
"Even in my mature student status, yes! I have a few friends in my year who are 10 years younger than me and also from outside my course via the music department."

Where would you turn for support, advice, or guidance?
"Student Support Services – they really are what they set out to do. They have sat and listened to me go on when I felt that I had no one else to turn to, and in confidence too, which I feel is really important."

If you had a (non-academic) problem. Who would you talk to? What would you do?
"Sometimes friends at uni. My tutor was my first port of call and then I also let my student support advisor know too, so they knew that I was potentially struggling at university because of something weighing on my mind."

About the future

What’s next for you after NTU?
"I’m hoping to follow up from my work experience and degree, to work in medical photography in a trainee position with the NHS."

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU?
"Not just yet but it’s because I’ve not asked. I know that the help is there. If I have questions I know they’re there to answer them, but they’re helping me work through work experience and suggesting any ways that I could make the process easier for myself at the moment."