Great university experience, just the course that needs to be altered

The University of Derby is a fantastic university. When I went on the open day, I fell in love with the campuses and I knew this was the university for me. I'm now going into my second semester of my second year, and I have felt the same throughout. It was the best decision I ever made and I am so happy that I got into this university. The lecturers are on hand 24/7 and take a great interest in your work. This is especially nice as I am a photography student so its great to be able to have feedback and help around the subject.

The university facilities are superb. For a photography student, these were great. Fully equipped Mac Labs, with an open access area. If people are on class, you can go to the open access (as long as their isn't a class held there!) and you can do your work there. There is also a digital darkroom, and a print bureau which are both great when you have print deadlines. The photography studio is great, as it can be split into two parts, and the darkrooms are great. Derby has both colour and black and white darkrooms and the space is massive.

University can be a stressful time, so having the student support there is crucial. Everybody can go through problems, and sometimes people aren't comfortable to talk to family about things. The student support is a great way to talk, get things off your chest and completely confidential. I haven't been to them before, but I have heard they are absolutely fantastic a as they are on hand whenever you feel like you have a personal issue, or a university issue. It's nice to know that you have somebody to talk to.

In my first year of my degree, I worked for the student union, in the student union shop. The people I worked with and made up the SU were fantastic and it was a great experience. At the University of Derby, they have shops over their three campuses and are great for food and supplies to kit you out with your degree. They even sell University of Derby hoodies which I invested in one. It really makes you feel at home. THE SU academy bar is great too. The drinks are so cheap and the food is great they do too. I visited in the day, and the quality was fantastic.

I settled into City Life here in Derby straight away. It's a very friendly city, and is very vibrant. It is easy to get round, and has a great shopping centre, which is an INTU Derby formally Westfield Derby. There are great shops also outside on St Peter's Street. The bars are located close to the shopping area and have good socials. Market Place and Iron Gate are also placed to explore. There are 3 Weatherspoons in Derby and they are always busy, and is great for food and drink.

I haven't joined a club or society at the university, (due to not feeling I have the time as I have a part time job on top of my degree) however I went to the freshers fair and their range they had was amazing. You can only view online all the societies and clubs and there is so, so much choice, you will never be bored! I know all of them do great socials, so being part of a club or a society or both would be great. They are also great ways to make friends, and the university in itself is very friendly.

The University of Derby offers a Fine Art Photography and a Commercial Photography Course. There is also a foundation course (Year 0) where the arts come together for a year for example Graphics, Art and Design and Photography students. This year comes before your degree starts, and gives you the opportunity to suit your field to the designed briefs. Regarding the lecturers on the BA Hons Fine Art Photography course (standard photography) they are very professional and help whenever you need.

Regarding job prospects, this is now getting spoken about due to myself going into the second semester of my second year of university. This is great as getting a degree, the end goal of this is therefore go out into the working world with a degree on your hands. As a photography student, and the International Format Festival being here this year, my course leader has encouraged us all to volunteer for this festival. In photography, it is about making contacts so he is pushing us all the right direction which couldn't be anymore positive.

The halls of residence in Derby are great. There is a lot to choose from and are all very close to the university. In my first year I was in halls and I stayed in Nunnery Court. I was a 5/10 minute walk to my campuses so great for 9am lecturers as where I lived was only round the corner! This was the quieter halls, and its a fantastic experience getting to know your flatmates. I was in a flat of 5, and I would recommend going into halls, especially Nunnery Court.