On my course I have found the work and lecturers to be engaging, challenging and supportive: the previous and continued allowances for covid regulations have not dampened the campus energy nor the willingness of Professors to dedicate their time to us. For example, I have had multiple meetings with a member of staff about my dissertation proposal despite not being allocated a supervisor yet, it is this level of clear joy for their research and teaching that makes the faculty so good at improving our work. On the Geography course I have been able to go on one field trip so far, which was fully paid for by my normal tuition fees, this was well run and a great way to socialise with course mates. The campus is a lovely green space with many hidden gems like gardens and statues to explore. It does not feel over crowded and most buildings have some green area either in a courtyard or by the entrance. The lake in Highfields Park (next to Park campus) is somewhere I go frequently for fresh air and has kayaks to hire in summer. My library (Hallward) is open at a range of times to make sure everyone can access it. Other campuses like Jubilee have their own personality and friendly rivalries between courses spur on a good feeling of comradery and pride in your area, promoting a lack of litter or poor behaviour. The city is a short tram ride away and most students will regularly commute in for days or nights out. I have found Nottingham to be a pleasant, easy navigable city with a wide variety of things to do. It is also important to note that while going out clubbing the venues and other students have made me feel safe and secure. My best experience has been with the Conservation Society, everyone is extremely welcoming and friendly, and the ability to socialise through interests whilst being connected to the University is fantastic. At UoN, societies can run alongside each other and courses; the campus and facilities open to use are well maintained, often new, and free to access through a society. Meaning activities and members can accommodate and often support you through busy periods like exams. It is also monitored by the students union: the logistical elements are over seen for health and safety and with students well being in mind, letting us get easy access to a range of help. The well-being committee member, who is required by all societies, is a brilliant way to casually find support and be directed towards appropriate resources if necessary. The University is not with out fault, in my first (and some of second) year Covid and strikes have meant the courses have been extremely disorganised, though I will admit some aspects could not be foreseen. But in-between lecturers requirements for attendance, extra reading and even marking on exams and coursework seems to vary greatly sometimes even when the Uni promises standard criteria. I find it best to discuss projects with each one individually but this work for clarity is annoying. Another issue I have had is with other students behaviour: as everyone is an adult and free to behave however they want, whether you like your first flat mates or group project partners is completely random (as with anywhere), but the lack of action against students who say or do extreme, and some times illegal, acts is alarming at times. In the very few instances where this has been an issue I have found myself supported through a majority but left to act alone in some. I believe if I complained to the students union action would be taken, but this is not the same thing as feeling heard at all times regardless. Overall, UoN is a great place to study and it is constantly asking for our feedback and setting up new initiatives from these surveys, which reassures me. Despite recent complications to learning, I do feel as though I gain a lot by coming here; and in my degree, future career planning, and socially I have lots of opportunities.

Due to covid-19 my experience of university has been extremely disjointed, this has led to a variety of online and in person experiences with varying success. For this year I have a majority of work in person, which is good as I find it the most engaging and informative learning strategy. It also allows repour between myself and others including the lecturers to grow. Some parts are pre-recorded lectures or practicals set for our own time, these are now usually done to fit the content in to the time frame so are combined well into the rest of the teaching. The staff themselves are friendly and ready to go above and beyond if asked, they are quick to reply to emails and often will have open door policies for conversations during free time. Everyone who worked on my field trip was great, meaning we could focus on the work and enjoying ourselves without feeling lost on the work or monitored in down time. The ability to choose your own modules is also very freeing at UoN, my course had a fair number of compulsory modules in first year but even then I felt as though my course was tailored to my interests. Now in second year I have been able to choose a majority and those which are still compulsory have not only been necessary but extremely helpful to my modules as a whole. The learning is prioritised well and has a good focus on future careers and supporting you to get there, both through module choice and content of modules focused on transferable skills. But, other parts have been less well joined, our timetable is frequently wrong and lecturers often change times or add in meetings with little warning or only by sheets found in certain places online you may not have checked. Even staff members have complained about timetabling admin. It is also annoying how variable things such as timetables and marking can be between staff and when collaborative modules are taken this can lead to very changeable and often confusing instruction. My worst mark is for tutor contact time; in first year you meet once a week or fortnight, this is good but there is lots of work to get through practically, such as learning referencing, and the support in your transition can be lost, especially pastorally. From then you don't really ever contact your tutor unless you email specifically, after which you are given a dissertation supervisor, who almost assumes the role. Though there is no need for regular meetings after a certain point, a personal connection to the school and the knowledge someone in you corner can be comforting and in-a-pinch necessary. I feel as though this pathway is underutilised in Geography and if I needed more support, it would not have been up to the task from my experience. This seems to contradict the in person contact I have had with faculty members from individual modules, which has always been very open and informative. I can't explain this divide. My course (Geography BSc), is well run and my lecturers are clearly at the foremost of their respective fields, which is brilliant to hear about and feel as though the information is cutting edge, but the communication through administration falters and it is best to usurp formal channels and just email, which is impractical in the long run as their is often not enough time to clarify every little detail. Overall, I believe the quality of teaching more than makes up for this and the content with which they provide is is clearly a priority to all involved.

The best part about the university is it’s broad range of opportunities both academic and socially. One way it could be improved is by sign posting important information more clearly

I think the course hours and the contact with lecturers is really good particularly the open door policy. Sometimes lecturers could be more clear and ask for more feedback to ensure people understand the course content

I like the location best with it being between the university and the centre. I dislike the pricing as I think you can get cheaper accommodation with the same/ better facilities