Rachel
Clark

Why NTU…

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I was working in information, advice and guidance and wanted a change of career. Initially I was working part time and studying at the same time so having lectures one day a week was perfect for commuting.

I chose Nottingham because it was ok to commute to and one day a week study fitted in with my part time job.

I wanted to retrain by gaining a PC Cert and then continue onto the MA.

The course allowed me to study as a mature student and use my existing skills to retrain as a careers adviser.

Could you describe your experience of being a Postgraduate NTU student?

Having not studied since I was a teenager it was hard to get back into studying and I found it hard to get used to the online nature of the course. Although I was familiar with Word and MS Teams it was difficult to get used to the Library being online and using Harvard referencing has been a challenge. The MA course means that I am only in Nottingham one day a week for lectures so I have not had the full student experience.

How would you describe the support from your tutors, university staff and student services?

The support from my tutors has been excellent and the course has been structured to allow us to submit formative work for feedback. The course has allowed us to practise skills as a group and we have had speakers from Employability as part of the course. The tutor advised us to set up a WhatsApp group and this has been invaluable for supporting each other. The tutor has arranged extra face to face sessions as we expressed our preference as our learning is much better when we can meet on campus.

The videos on the student support website about critical writing and reflection are really helpful.

On Placement...

Have you completed any work placements on your course? If so, tell us about your experience - where did you go, what did you do, what skills have you gained and what have you enjoyed the most?

I have been working in a secondary school one day a week to practice my interview skills and learn about the role of a Careers Leader. This has allowed me to consolidate my learning and reflect on my journey.

Do you have any memorable moments from your placement?

The school have employers visit each week to talk to the young people about their roles and the company and this has been really enjoyable. I have also attended the apprenticeship show in Milton Keynes which was really interesting.

Do you have any advice for future students going on?

The placement allows you to develop the soft skills that are a really important part of your CV as well as see the variety of roles that are available in organisations. It also helps you to see how networking will help you on your journey in the world of work.

Outside of the Lecture Theatre…

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Fun and friendly and fabulous.

Where is a good place to eat, drink or visit in the city?

Wildwood

Did you find it easy to make friends and settle in at NTU?

The friends I have made on the course have been invaluable to completion of the course. Meeting face to face has allowed us to get to know each other and support each other when the course was challenging.

The Next Steps…

Has the employability team helped you plan for life beyond NTU?

The employability team have presented to our group and explained the range of services on offer. The website has a lot of useful information to help with the world of work.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying to NTU?

The campus and town is a great place to be and the Library is amazing.

What is one thing you wish you knew before starting at NTU?

I would have wanted to spend more time doing student support activities at the beginning eg watching critical writing and reflection videos and go to Library to learn about Harvard referencing.