Kristine
Vaivode

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“The biggest impact on me was made at the UCAS Design Your Future Fair in London where I got to talk to current students. Their energy and positivity towards NTU convinced me that it would be the perfect university for me.”

What do you enjoy most about the course?
“The freedom to be as creative as I want and the independence to work on my own projects. The analogue photography dark room is a place where I spend a lot of my time, so I’m very grateful for these facilities. Also, the studio spaces are amazing, with possibilities to book out project spaces for working in an undisturbed environment.”

Has the course included any guest speakers?
“We have guest speakers visit every week. It is a great opportunity to hear from artists who have followed a similar education pathways and to hear about how well they are doing in the industry. Many of the speakers are NTU alumni, which just shows how well our graduates are doing.

“One of the most memorable lectures was given by NTU Fine Art alumnus Wolfgang Buttress, creator of The Hive, the UK pavilion at Expo Milano 2015. He not only spoke about the pavilion itself but inspired us to never give up on our dream.”

How do you find the facilities?
“Excellent! Out of all five universities I visited, NTU offered the best studio spaces and variety of workshops. The Bonington building is like a mini creative universe with its art shop for equipment, gallery for inspiration and café for energy, there is everything a student might need."

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in Nottingham?
“Nottingham is a wonderful city that combines many worlds in one. From stunning architecture to amazing green spaces and memorable nightlife; Nottingham has it all to cater for the most diverse range of students.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your study exchange to Lapland?
“During my four month exchange in Lapland I learned so much. Living in the same flat with people from five different nationalities taught me a lot about different cultures, especially food wise. The course at the University of Lapland deepened my knowledge and passion for analogue photography and help me develop new skills in cinematography and animation making.

“The most enjoyable part of the exchange has to be the amazing people I met, who I still keep in touch with. The weekly sauna time followed by running through snow and seeing the Northern Lights were also two of my highlights.

"I’d recommend other students to go on an exchange because it’s such an amazing experience and definitely one of my best so far! The exchange gets you out of your comfort zone making it a great way to prepare you for the ‘big’ world after university. The experience gives you tonnes of confidence, great contacts, amazing friends and it’s just so much fun!”