Zita
Mosolygo

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I spoke to several people about what would be the best school for animation. We always came to the conclusion that NTU has a long prestigious history, which made it stand out from other universities. As an international student, knowing that NTU has a diverse student body was also comforting. And Nottingham itself looked like a fun place to live and explore. However, in the end, I just listened to my heart, as cheesy as that sounds. When I sat down to confirm my university choices at UCAS I felt nothing but excitement when I choose NTU, and I haven’t regretted it ever since.

What's your favourite thing about the course?

I love how diverse the curriculum is. The fact that the course teaches both 2D and 3D animation was a huge plus for me, but it is not only that. While the focus is on animation, we learn about so many other aspects of the animation pipeline from stages in pre-production such as storyboarding and character design, to post-production work like editing and adding visual effects. The course doesn’t try to box you in, it gives you the knowledge and the choice to experience a  variety of practices and focus on what you are interested in.

How have you found the course facilities?

The animation studios are one of my favourite places at NTU. Having multiple rooms full of Wacom tablets really makes you feel like you are working at an actual animation company. They also have this homey feel to them and are part of why I think we have such an amazing community in the course. You can come in any time to sit at one of the free computers and get to work while striking up a conversation with a student at a neighbouring desk. I have so many fond memories of talking about my projects and interests with the other students while we look through our animations.

Have you worked on any live briefs or competitions?

In my second year as part of my course module, I did a group project for a client where we produced an animated short. Getting a taste of what it is like to work as part of a production team was a very valuable experience for me. Thanks to that I feel more prepared to work in an actual animation studio.

Has your course included any guest speakers or industry trips? What have you enjoyed about this?

I love attending the talks by guest speakers the course invites. They come from a variety of backgrounds, some are directors, some are storyboards artists and there are recent NTU graduates as well.  There is always something valuable to take away from their experiences. I got to go to the Manchester Animation Festival as part of the course for the third time this year, which is always great fun. Their panels provide a glimpse into the industry and getting to watch some beautiful animated short films is amazing

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Lively, Friendly and Charming

What do you think of the creative and cultural scene in Nottingham? Is Nottingham a good city for an Art & Design student?

As an animation student, I was very happy to find that Nottingham, houses multiple cinemas with student-friendly prices. I also really appreciate the city’s architecture, there are so many beautiful streets in Nottingham.

Where would you recommend visiting in Nottingham?

Nottingham has some amazing parks with beautiful sceneries. I visited Wollaton Park with my friend and we had a great time there even in the colder seasons. It is a bit further away from the city centre, but it is so worth it. You can walk along the lake and see some of the deers that reside there.

If you could give new students some advice, what would it be?

Don’t be scared to ask questions. In the beginning, I was very concerned about asking stupid questions and it took me a while to learn that there are no stupid questions. You are here to learn and the staff are here to help you.

What do you think of the course staff?

I feel very grateful for the course staff, I think they are all amazing people. University was quite a big culture shock to me in many aspects as an international student, but my teachers and tutors really helped me feel more comfortable and encouraged me to develop my skills. Teachers can have such a significant influence on how you view a subject and it really makes a difference when they are just as passionate about it as you are.

Have you used any of the student support services or NTU’s Employability team? How have you found this experience?

While I haven’t had any issues where I needed them, I did visit the international student support services a few times because of Brexit. They were always very kind and ready to explain anything I didn’t understand.

What's next after NTU for you?

I will look for work in the animation or video game industry as a storyboard artist. NTU has helped me explore and hone my skills and I am eager to try myself in the industry and keep improving.

Why did you want to study in the UK?

The UK offered a very different teaching approach to the one I was used to in Hungary. I felt like this change would be good for me not only in an academic sense but to experience a different culture.

How is NTU for international students?

NTU has an amazing international community and an incredibly multicultural space in the Global  Lounge. They host a lot of events to encourage people to interact with other cultures, be it food or a language café. NTU is inclusive in a way that encourages people to share their culture with others and experience other cultures. I haven’t met many other Hungarians at university, but every time I've been to Global Lounge I've met a new friend from somewhere else.