Dorcas
Schippmann

I chose Nottingham Trent University (NTU) mainly for the course. Not many universities offer the opportunity to study business modules while achieving a qualifying law degree. When I visited NTU I was really impressed by how friendly and helpful the students and staff were. I came to Nottingham on a normal day, it was not an open day so I wasn't expecting too much. After I explored the City Campus, I knew I wanted to study at NTU because it had a modern and refreshing atmosphere.

Before studying at university, I studied three A-levels in Applied Science, English Language and German. Applied Science was 50% coursework, which enabled me to gain an invaluable skill of researching independently. I found that this skill was really useful when completing my business coursework in first year. Furthermore, studying English language also helped me to analyse cases thoroughly. Finally, I picked German as it is one of the top ten languages in business. This will be beneficial as I want to specialise in commercial law.

Contract law was my favourite module in first year. Currently my favourite module is Tort law because I find it easier to understand as I can relate it to real life situations.

Many features stood out to me and attracted me to the university. For example being able to hire laptops for 24 hours, this an amazing feature especially for students who do not have their own laptop. The lecturers and tutors are always very helpful, they have timetables with days and times that you can arrange a one to one meeting and discuss any difficulty. This highlights that not only is NTU an amazing university but also very supportive. The Students Union is also a great feature at NTU. They have many activities going on throughout the week to ensure that students have the best university experience. Not only that, the Student Union also has an affordable gym for students to keep fit including little study areas which are ideal for group work and a restaurant with student friendly prices.

During my time at NTU, NOW (the online learning environment) has become my most visited website. It entails everything you need to know about your course and more. From lecture slides, recordings, example timetables to revision tips and tricks. Another great feature is the library one search this allows you to access many different materials such as articles, e-books and much more. This is excellent for a law student as the course entails a lot of research and this enables you to improve this skill.

I have really enjoyed my time at NTU. Nottingham is such a vibrant city, student friendly and it is big enough to have everything you need but small enough to find it. It is also located in the East Midlands which is ideal for me, not too far from home but also not too close, which is perfect as I can easily travel home for the holidays. Studying at NTU has not only enabled me to meet amazing people but has also helped me to become more sociable. This has boosted my confidence and developed both my academic and professional skills.

My plan is to graduate and then work as a paralegal for a law firm. This will help me to develop skills that will be vital as a solicitor. I hope that I will gain a training contract and then pursue my LPC and become a qualified solicitor.