Thomas
Beech

Why NTU...

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

I chose NTU for many reasons. One of which being that Nottingham is a city that is well known for being very student-friendly, something that has been proven during my time here. NTU is ranked as one of the best higher education providers in the country, along with one of the best social science departments. This was the biggest draw for me as I have always wanted to be a teacher, meaning the course was perfect for me. The fact that the course was assignment-based rather than exam-based also helped my decision as I felt at the time of applying that I was very coursework driven. The Special Educational Needs and Inclusion strand stuck out for me due to me having completed a small placement in a SEN school whilst studying for my A-Levels.

Could you describe your experience of being an NTU student?

My experience of being an NTU student has been amazing. I have had the best 3 years making friends and memories to last a lifetime. Alongside this I have also been given the chance to work alongside some of the universities best lecturers who have supported me emotionally and academically throughout the entirety of my course. Having a personal tutor provided for you by the course helped massively, especially within the pandemic as my tutor made sure to be in constant contact with me to ensure my physical and mental health was in good condition and to see how I was getting on with any work. The last 3 years have been in tough times and conditions, but being at NTU has allowed me to make the most out of a bad situation.

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

The support has been amazing throughout. As said before, my personal tutor has been so supportive throughout the whole 3 years of my study, listened to any issues, helped where possible and just been somebody who I could talk to. The staff who ran the courses have been amazing as well. Whether it be through the physical teaching or the emails to keep us up-to-date with any news or changes, we have been kept in the loop throughout. In regards to student services, the one time I can remember having to use them, they were amazing, replying quickly and even emailing a couple of days later to ensure all was good.

Outside of the lecture theatre...

What three words would you use to describe Nottingham?

Fun, Lively and Busy

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

Mowgli for food, Penny Lane for a drink and any of the three sports stadiums to visit (Trent Bridge, The Forest Ground, Meadow Lane)

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

Due to living arrangements in first year, it was easy to make friends and settle. The group chats that are made before helped me make friends on my course and in my living block. Freshers week was the best social event to make friends as everyone was in the same boat, not knowing everyone. Everyone was so friendly and the freshers team did a great job at making us all feel comfortable and have a good time.

The next steps...

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

I managed to secure my next step via a part-time job I had, but having visited employability fairs, they were extremely useful in regards to me knowing that I had a wide range of options.

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

100% do it. Come to the city and have a look round and your decision will become a lot easier. Once applied, focus on getting the grades, get involved on social media and have the best time!

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

You're not on your own. Coming away from home felt like the end of the world, that any issues would have to be solved alone, but this was far from true. You make friends and have course tutors to chat to who make uni life so much easier and a lot more enjoyable.