Xinnan
Zhao

Since 2016, NTU has continued to develop their relationship with the Communication University of China (CUC) by delivering joint postgraduate courses in Beijing. Xinnan studied at CUC in her first year, taught by NTU academics, and then came to NTU to complete her second year.

What made you choose to study at NTU, and in the UK?

“My friend recommended Nottingham and NTU to me, as media is a strong discipline at NTU.”

What do you enjoy most about your course at NTU?

“Our lecturers come up with a lot of new topics on media in their classes, which gives me a great deal of inspiration and new perspectives on my way of thinking.”

Why did you choose to do a dual degree?

“A dual degree allows me to integrate Chinese and British media studies. It also broadens my horizons, and will help me be more competitive in my future career.”

What do you think about the course staff?

“They are all good people. They have different fields of study, which means that I benefit from classes in a variety of research areas. This gives me many viewpoints for my studies. They are also very patient, give me a lot of guidance, and are interested in knowing my perspective too.”

As an international student, what do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?

“The cost of living in Nottingham is less expensive than in London, and Nottingham is a relaxed and friendly city. I really like it here, and I found that in fact, British food is not bad. After each trip away, I just want to return quickly to Nottingham.”

Why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study MA Media and Globalisation?

“I think that as long as you are willing to learn, the University and staff will help you as much as possible. NTU also places great importance on employability, and provide a lot of guidance in this area which is really useful.”

How do you think the course, and having a postgraduate qualification, will help you to progress your career?

“My postgraduate degree has given me a more open and inclusive perspective on how to deal with problems. In addition, our professors taught us how to think critically, which will be useful in my future work.”

What has been your greatest achievement at NTU so far?

“Learning to think critically about each issue makes it easier for me to embrace and understand different answers and people. Also, I have learnt how to be more confident in respecting my own wishes and doing what I want to do.”

Xinnan’s experience on the Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course

How was your experience of the PEAP course, and how do you think it helped to prepare you for your course at NTU?

“I did a 30-week PEAP course. It made it easier to understand the content from lectures, and be able to grasp key points. It allowed me to adapt to the English teaching environment in advance. In addition, my listening skills greatly improved, so I felt confident when I went to classes. It was also very helpful for academic writing and made writing essays easier than before.

“The course staff were nice people who were understanding and gave me a lot of help.”