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Karmen Hlaj

Karmen
Hlaj

Croatia
NTU is a great university, it has a lot to offer and it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make if you decide to study here. There are many international and European students, and the city itself is multicultural, making it very welcoming for anyone.

More about Karmen

Why did you choose to study abroad, and what made you choose NTU?

“Since I was young, I wanted to study abroad so for me it was mostly about deciding exactly where to go, and to which university. I decided on NTU because it has an excellent reputation and the course took my interest.”

How did you feel about coming to a UK university?

“At first I was a little nervous, not really knowing what to expect. Before moving to another country, I had all these questions about whether I’d be able to do what is expected of me, or whether my language skills were good enough. It wasn’t long after the first week of lectures that my fears disappeared and I realised I was going to do just fine.”

What modules have you particularly enjoyed?

“I’ve enjoyed most of my modules so far. The lecturers do an amazing job to keep the topics as interesting as possible and to get students involved in discussions. What I find particularly intriguing is that majority of the material we cover is very up-to-date with current affairs and issues present in the media and in society. For example, one of the last lectures we had was on the rise of narcissism in the age of the social media and selfie culture.”

How does the way you study at NTU differ from your previous experience of studying?

“I find that the topics that are offered at my course are really broad and include several disciplines, whereas in my past experience there hasn’t been such a big emphasis on the plurality of theories and approaches. I think that’s the advantage of studying media and society; you can’t explain it using just one single concept or idea. In this course, we are encouraged to juggle between different theories and arguments to find the ones we think are the most convincing.”

What do you think about the facilities available to you?

“There are different media labs and media equipment you can borrow for free which is amazing if you are working on a project but don’t have your own professional equipment. I’m based at the Clifton Campus, and there are a great range of facilities such as the library, gym and other sports facilities, employability team that supports you with your placements and future career, and other places where you can just relax between the lectures.

“If I have an hour between lectures I normally go to the library or to the Global Lounge, a cosy place where you can just chill out and have some tea while hanging out with other international students.”

How do you feel that you have grown personally as well as academically at NTU?

“I’m more critical and analytical with the material that I am presented with, and more confident in expressing my viewpoints on different matters. Studying influences you as a person too; by engaging with different ideas, you begin to expand your own knowledge and reasoning.”

When you first came, did you feel welcomed?

“I did. Welcome Week is a great opportunity for all freshers to get to know NTU and the city life. NTU goes a long way to make sure that all students feel welcomed and to give them all the information they need right from the start.”

In what way are you supported by the academic staff in your faculty?

“Each student is assigned a personal mentor, someone you can turn to for any problems or advice you might need. Also, the library staff offer a wide range of free lessons that include; help with academic writing, referencing and researching.”

What do you enjoy most about living in Nottingham?

“I love living in Nottingham because it is such a vibrant and diverse city. There are so many students and young people living in it, and there is always something happening.”

What advice would you give to international students?

“NTU is a great university, it has a lot to offer and it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make if you decide to study here. There are many international and European students, and the city itself is multicultural, making it very welcoming for anyone coming to study from abroad.”

Choosing just one subject to study at university can be a challenge! If you’re stuck weighing up different subjects, a joint honours course could be the ideal solution!

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