Anna
O'Hara

Why NTU…

Why did you decide to do postgraduate study?

I had always considered pursuing a postgraduate degree, even before beginning my undergraduate studies, as it aligned with and would strengthen the career path I originally intended to follow. During my second year, the impact of Covid significantly affected the industry I hoped to enter, which led me to reassess my direction. By my third year, while working on my dissertation, I realised how much I enjoyed research and decided I wanted to continue my academic journey. This experience ultimately inspired me to pursue postgraduate study and develop a more media-focused career path.

Why did you choose your course and NTU?

I chose this course because it builds naturally on my undergraduate studies and offers the specific elements I wanted to develop further, particularly the opportunity to complete a practical dissertation. I was also fortunate to receive a full scholarship in recognition of my undergraduate research and the proposed focus of my postgraduate dissertation.

I chose NTU because I already felt part of the community and wanted to continue my academic journey in an environment that felt familiar and supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate experience and hoped to remain involved in the extracurricular activities that were important to me, as well as continue learning from lecturers I had worked with previously.

What do you enjoy most about your course at NTU?

I really enjoyed having the chance to learn practical skills and actually put them to use. Taking what I’d researched in my undergraduate degree and turning it into a documentary for my dissertation was something I found genuinely exciting. It let me be creative while still building on what I’d already learned, and it made the whole project feel a lot more personal and meaningful.

Have you been involved in any projects, extra-curricular activities or working experience that have supplemented your studies run through NTU?

Yes, I was part of NTU Cheerleading and became captain of my team in my third year. Being involved really helped me build confidence and find a community. It also gave me my first real experience of marketing and running social media for something other than my own accounts, which made me realise how much I enjoy media and creating content.

During my postgraduate studies, I was also a course rep. This gave me the chance to strengthen my CV and work closely with students, the Students’ Union, and academic staff to help improve the course and overall student experience.

Alongside this, I completed multiple work-experience placements at Universal Music throughout my degrees. These opportunities helped me solidify the career path I wanted to pursue and ultimately played a big part in leading me to where I work today and the Dissertations I chose to complete as part of my course.

What do you think about the course staff – include lecturers, tutors, administrators and technical staff within this. How do they support your learning and University experience?

The course staff were genuinely fantastic, everyone played a part in making my experience positive. My tutors were especially supportive, when I was going through difficulties in my personal life, they were incredibly understanding and helped me stay on track with my studies.

Whenever I struggled academically, support was put in place really quickly. I always felt like there was someone I could turn to, whether it was a lecturer taking extra time to explain something, admin staff helping me navigate processes, or technical staff guiding me through practical work. Their support made a huge difference and really shaped my overall experience at the university.

What do you think about the facilities available to you?

The facilities were great, but i am quite jealous of all the new facilities – such as the Postgraduate building.

Why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study in that area?

I would absolutely recommend my course and NTU to anyone looking to study in this area. The course itself is really engaging, offering a great mix of practical work and academic research which allowed me to develop skills I use in my career today. The staff across the course are incredibly supportive. Whether it’s academic guidance, personal support, or practical help, there’s always someone available, and they genuinely care about students’ success.

Beyond the course, NTU offers a fantastic student experience. The facilities are excellent and constantly improving, and there’s so much to get involved in, from extracurricular activities  to opportunities for leadership, such as being a course rep or getting involved in the Students’ Union. My time at NTU gave me the chance to build confidence, practical experience, and a strong community, all of which helped me progress into my career in media and marketing. Overall, it’s a supportive, vibrant, and inspiring place to study.

Support...

What do you think of the support available from tutors and staff at NTU?

The support I received was brilliant. Even when I was dealing with challenges in my personal life, my tutors were incredibly understanding and gave me the help I needed to keep going with my studies.

When I struggled academically, support was put in place straight away, and I always felt like there was someone I could turn to. Knowing that help was there made a huge difference to my experience.

The Next Steps…

What’s next for you after NTU?

After completing my postgraduate studies, I went on to become the Vice President Postgraduate and later the President of NTSU.
I’m now working as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Motorpoint Arena.

How is NTU helping you to achieve your career goals?

The course gave me the chance to build practical skills and gain hands-on experience, such as creating a documentary for my dissertation, while the supportive staff ensured I had guidance every step of the way. The university’s strong reputation in media and creative industries has also helped open doors for me and added real value to my CV.

Beyond academics, my involvement in leadership roles, first as a course rep during my postgraduate studies, and later as Vice President Postgraduate and then President of NTSU, allowed me to develop skills that are directly relevant to my career in marketing and communications. Working closely with NTU staff, students, and the Students’ Union taught me how to manage projects, lead teams, and communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders. Combined with opportunities like work experience, NTU has given me both the practical skills and professional confidence I need to succeed in my chosen field.

Advice...

What top tips would you give anyone thinking about studying your course at NTU?

Do it! NTU was an amazing university for me. Even since I graduated, the facilities have grown massively, and the campus just keeps getting better. There’s so much to get involved in, both academically and through all the extracurricular activities, and it really feels like a place where you can find your people, try new things, and make the most of your time there.

The university is constantly evolving to make things better for students, always updating its facilities and teaching approaches to keep up with modern education. You can really see how much NTU cares about the student experience, whether that’s through improved support services, new learning spaces, or opportunities that help you grow both personally and academically.