Photography (with a placement year) - BA (Hons)

University of Staffordshire

What Staffordshire Uni lacks in terms of a 'big city' appeal and a large campus it makes up for in the quality of it's teaching. You won't be in a lecture theatre with 200 people, you'll be in a small lecture with lots of tutors, dedicated to making sure you get the best level of education possible over the 3 years of study. Staffs may not be the biggest University but it excels in the passion and down-to-earth nature of it's staff and students.

I am on the Stoke-on-Trent campus studying Photography, and have done a Foundation Art & Design course. Stoke in general isn’t the nicest city, its rather dirty and can smell terrible when it is hot although the dirt is generally caused by drunk students! Depending on your cleanliness, you may have to look out for rats... The university in general has been fantastic! Even though I personally did not enjoy my Foundation Design course, I made many close friends. Photography is an amazing subject, with incredibly friendly and helpful staff for all your needs, interesting lectures and are very helpful and understanding with disabilities. It was also at the university that I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia through them and I now have a lot of extra help. My tutors are also very understanding with my Anxiety Disorder and help me a lot. I lived in Royal Doulton Halls for a year, it has a reputation for being one of the worst halls but in my opinion I loved it there! And I’m generally a fussy person. The rooms were perfect for one person, and sometimes even two could share a bed if one wanted to. Along with a large kitchen area, a friendly cleaner, large bathroom and many locks/safety devices to make you feel safe. The student facilities are good standards, although a little expensive when you’re in lectures daily and want a sandwich from the Student Shop or a hot meal from Ember Lounge/Verve. The student club is a lot of fun, with dress up nights, pool tables, arcade machines and decent DJs. My student house currently is perfect, with new furnishing, double beds and bills included in a reasonable rent. Not all houses are like this but very similar if you find the right house.