There is great support for students and facilities, especially for photography. I have been able to create high-quality prints and experiment with various cameras and lighting. As well as knowing that my lecturers are there to support me. The building is situated well in the centre of Cardiff, with it being very accessible to various student accommodations, shops, places to go out and transport links. However, the student union could host more events to bring students together even more.

The teaching on Doc Phot is of a very high quality, I have learnt so much about the genre of photography itself and have had the space to develop and push my own artistic practice - as well as myself. The lecturers have a vast knowledge of documentary photography, with experience of working in photography and curation themselves. This combination allows for holistic teaching and is especially helpful when working on exhibition modules such as the 2nd year communities project. The course is not limited to any type of photography and there is much chance to experiment. Alongside photography, I have learnt further skills such as exhibition fabrication and book making. Every year we work on a collaborative project called Station to Station, in which we travel up and down the valley lines making pictures out and about in the community. This allows us to work with our peers on the course and make pictures very quickly and enjoyably. The project is very exciting, with it being funded by Transport for Wales and having the opportunity to work with photographers in so much depth, over my 3 Station to Stations, I have learnt a lot from my mentors. There have been great opportunities offered while I have been on the course, such as: international trips to Berlin and Budapest, lectures and events by practising photographers and my most valued experience, being mentored by and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery. The small class and course size allows everyone to really get to know each other and receive strong support from the lecturers - whether this be about work, wellbeing or anything in between!

My uni experience so far has been great. The support I get from my lectures is a main aspect for this. Whether I go to them for help about my work or my life they are always there to help me. I found I settled in great into the course during first year, I got along great with everyone in my class and the course as a whole. My uni experience started by being thrown into a project called dominoes and dice, I was put into a group of students form each year and spent three days photographing around Cardiff. This helped me a lot with my confidence on the course, making friends and learning my whereabouts in a new city. I personally haven't found myself having any bad experiences in uni, there has been times where things have been frustrating about my work but support has always been there to help me get through this.

My course has given me so many opportunities to advance my skills in the photography world. Every year we do two course projects called 'dominoes and dice' and 'station to station' these projects involve going out into the public and documenting life. My favourite each year has been station to station, it is sponsored by transport for Wales and we spend 3-4 days travelling on a valley line to document the life of the valleys. Both years I have found myself fully immersed in this project, it is run by our course lecturers but they also get two photographers to come in and run the lines. I had a different photographer on my line each year and both years I felt they helped my confidence in approaching people and asking for portraits. In second year we were given the opportunity to have a month long exhibition. This was very exciting for me as I have never had my work on display. This opportunity was mainly possible due to the RCT council. They gave us the space to hold our exhibition and the experience to be a part of the Morfydd Owen festival. Along with this we have also learnt how to make our own photo book. We spent an intense week learning the ins and outs of everything you need to know book wise, from sequencing photos to binding pages to making front covers. I find the way I am taught in class great, my lecturers help me with whatever I need and if I'm feeling a bit stressed and a bit overwhelmed about my module, they help me to calm down and think practically about everything. Outside of lectures they are also great at this when I email asking for help or advice they get back to me as quick as they can. Overall, I find everything about my course amazing and I would 100% recommend it to anyone thinking about applying.

I found having no experience being in student accommodation that Ty Pont was better than expected for me. Although it had its faults I think it was worth the money I was spending on it.