Emily
Hanel

What made you choose to study at NTU?

My dad and several of my cousins attended NTU. They all had great feedback about the university, so I decided to consider it. I wanted to stay close to home and there are only a handful of universities that provide my course - the rest being a lot further away from my hometown.

Once I took a tour of NTU, I decided it was the place for me as I liked the overall feel and energy of the place.

Have you been involved in any industry competitions as part of your course?

I haven't been involved in any industry competitions. However, I would love to get involved in the Women in the Built Environment competitions.

Have you had any speakers or lecturers from industry visiting as part of your course?

Last year we received a lecture from someone that is part of the research team at JLL, the firm that I currently work for. It was extremely interesting to hear from someone that works in a completely different team to me. The speaker had been in industry for over 30 years and his knowledge on the markets was outstanding.

Have you been on any trips with your course?

The most exciting part of my course has been our international trip to Prague in our second year. We visited offices of several large Real Estate firms including Knight Frank and Savills. We listened to talks by directors and it was extremely interesting to hear experts talking about their view of their individual markets.

On the trip, we produced presentations on certain aspects of work we had been a part of. Once back at university, we used the knowledge and understanding gained from speakers in Prague to put toward our final submissions for the year in our agency module.

Have you completed any work placements on your course?

I first started off on my placement year at Salloway Property Consultants in Derby in 2018. After two months of working for the firm, they offered me the opportunity to become a full-time member of staff, whilst also studying part-time.

After a little over a year of working at this firm, I decided to apply for positions at other firms to broaden my future. I then secured a job at JLL in Nottingham, again continuing my part-time mode of study.

How did you source your placement?

I have sourced both of my jobs on my own via getting into contact with the firms and requesting to meet with them to discuss opportunities. In my second year, I gained support from the NTU Employability Team regarding my CV.

What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking about studying your course?

I would advise them to get a feel for the industry as soon as possible by requesting work experience and placements at any given opportunity. It is imperative to get your name into the market you want to be working in as early as possible, that way you can build a contact list that will help you throughout your career.

I would recommend NTU because the Real Estate course is renowned. The staff are very supportive and help at any chance they can.

Which of your modules do you particularly enjoy and why?

I think my favourite module has been the agency module in second year. This is the sector of work that I have always wanted to go into, and it is the team I am now working in at JLL.

Sum it up for us, what do like most about your course?

My course is the pathway to my dream career. It's the stepping stone to allowing me to become a chartered surveyor.

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

I love Nottingham as a city - hence why I decided to commence my career here. The restaurants, pubs and bars are great, as is the shopping.

What do you hope to achieve after completing your degree?

After completing my degree, I hope to continue the same path I have already started.

I have commenced my APC, and I am hoping to be qualified within 18 months of graduating. Once qualified, I will be respected as a professional within the industry.