Finishing my degree at UoP has been a great experience for me. I have made a good network of friends and tutors that have helped me excel in the almost 2 years I’ve been with them.

I’ve not had trouble accessing necessary programs and software relevant to my course. The university has created a remote access service for all students who are shielding or can’t travel to campus. From the start of the pandemic the university has taken serious measures to provide a clean and healthy campus, marking seating areas, covering communal equipment and creating a one way system.

I had an issue last year with student finance and the University finance team were very helpful in resolving my issue. They were consistent and always on top of things to help solve the issue and we’re personal about it which was very reassuring.

3rd year has been getting mixed opinions from everyone due to obvious changes. However I notice tutors are still putting in effort to contact and provide a good amount of support despite the blended learning situation. As a direct entry to the university from 2nd year, I believe I progressed massively from the previous institution I attended.

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An option to go into placement from second year was available and a careers team specific for creatives were present and always willing to help, from CV checks to finding suitable roles. In my final year we have a module set on working in practice, giving us an opportunity to look into and speak to individuals that are currently in industry as well as developing our job application and interview skills.

Portsmouth Uni has been an excellent study experience so far. Obviously i have no baseline to compare it to, given it is the only University i have attended but i have no significant complaints and quite an amount of praise to make about the University. The facilities available at the Uni are excellent with some state of the art installations such as the CCIXR department and the Ravelin Sports centre. The library is also excellent and provides a vast array of research materials in a pleasant environment. There are always computers available when you need them and the University has access to all of the software and hardware necessary for any course, with some available even off campus. Portsmouth is a great city to live in and the University is right at the heart of it. The town centre is filled with a bustling commercial area and loads of great Pubs and Restaurants and the Gunwharf Quays provides the more high end shopping experience. The spinnaker tower gives stunning views of the city and over as far as the isle of Wight and Southsea and Fratton are charming towns with cheaper accommodation and plenty of local businesses. The best thing about it? All of these locations are within 20 minutes walk of the Uni and there is a free bus service available. Everything is so close and it makes the space so much easier to adjust to and call home. Student support is also excellent and the staff always provide me with the information i need and links and contacts who can help me take things further. There are occasional hiccups with teaching as some lecturers are significantly better than others however. Out of the 5 lecturers i had in 1st year, 2 were not quite at the same level as the others and i have heard others give similar feedback. The campus is all very close together and has some lovely original buildings in and around Portsmouth which itself is a tight and clean area. The library is a real standout of 1960s architecture and is very pleasant inside with many windowed courtyards for fresh air. Some of the newer buildings let the campus down however and can feel a little bland inside. These buildings unfortunately sour the aesthetic appeal and feel of the campus somewhat but the facilities within are all excellent none the less. There are many options for student life and the university provides good support for mental health wellbeing and social opportunities. There are good cafes on campus although some can get a little pricey and there are many well thought out leisure areas designated for students. There are several gyms within walking distance of the Uni as well as a pool and a huge variety of bars and clubs all within 20 minutes of the campus centre. Being a coastal town, there are tourist attractions along the coast and some can get a little pricy but there are plenty of free things to do during free time and the seafront is very nicely put together with wide open spaces and greenery. The student union is a slight dampener on the social side however. They provide clear and well managed access to student societies and have a nice presence on campus, doing many giveaways and newsletters for students. They are unfortunately prone to a lack of communication however and some societies are alienated slightly by the union. If you're looking for sports societies there is plenty of support however and freshers fayre provides an easy way to meet all of the societies and get plenty of vouchers and giveaways.

The course is taught primarily in person with weekly studio sessions to provide feedback on coursework. This gives at least a good 6 hours of contact time with lecturers per week and in most weeks there is far more than that as lecturers are easy to reach both in person and online. Course content is very good and i feel as though it has really set me up with the processes and thinking i need to progress into the field in a design subject. At times lecturers have under delivered however and there are a few lecturers who seem less sure of themselves, often lacking solutions or valuable feedback. Some lectures drag on a bit with some repetition however i feel as though that is necessary for important ideas. Aside from these occasional hiccups (which i must add are occasional), teaching is good and there are always several members of staff working with the studio, allowing for a wide variety of perspectives and the option for multiple opinions. Facilities available to the course are very good and the uni does a good job at providing support for careers and finding placements.

A little pricey compared to private housing but cant be beat for first year students trying to find their bearings. Amenities are all good and staff are very friendly and helpful. Excellent location, especially for someone studding in creative cultural industries.