The reason as to why I chose to study at the University of Nottingham is simply because of my course. I knew I wanted to read English Language and Literature but was unsure where to go. So I looked at the requirements, and the module specification and I fell in love with the course. The most important thing for me was to pick a university that I connected to and after going to one of Nottingham’s open days to see firsthand if English Language and Literature was the course for me, as well as walking around the entire campus, I really did fall in love (especially with the beautiful Trent building which I now go to to attend seminars every week!) Alongside this, because I had deferred for a year due to illness, a support system was put in place by the University of Nottingham and I had great one-to-one support with my personal tutor and module convenors - which helped my transition back into university life much easier and less stressful! My overall university experience has been great and I have made many friends along the way - inside and outside my course. I know that one of my biggest worries was that university was going to be quite a lonely experience especially as I did not know anyone, however the University offered so many extracurriculars and joining Impact Magazine at the end of my first year was honestly the best thing I could have done! I was able to meet individuals and make friends with people who shared similar passions as me as well as get to write articles and have my work published every week in the magazine. I wouldn’t say there has been anything particularly negative about my university experience however I will note that I did not anticipate how far away Nottingham was. As someone who has only grown up in London, this was a completely new experience for me and there have been occasions when I have been homesick. But this is completely natural for everyone especially when you go to new places for a little while. And despite the long car journey, (which is much quicker if you go train!), and longing for my loved ones, I will often become quickly settled and accustomed to my university environment thanks to my network of friends and my love for my degree!

My course is currently taught in person. I am currently doing three modules which each have their own individual lecture alongside an additional seminar and lecture engagement. The lectures are also recorded so that you can re-watch them to consolidate your notes. We have an e-learning platform called Moodle which is 24-hour access and has the course content, assessment information, reading lists for each module, seminar preparation etc. I think Moodle has been particularly helpful for me as an English student because I can access the module reading lists before the semester has begun and get ahead with the reading for each module. The contact hours for my course has changed each year, but currently in my third year, it is nine hours of timetabled study/contact and I am expected to do self-study with the remaining hours. Regarding contact with lecturers, so far my experience has been great - I have been able to email my lecturers and get quick and helpful responses even sometimes in out-of-hour periods. I think my favourite aspect of my course are the seminars as it allows to build on what we have learnt in the lecture(s) and express our own individual thoughts and ideas. It’s great listening to other viewpoints from students in your class and working together to analyse and unpick key texts. Regarding lecture content and seminar preparation, it can be quite heavy. However, I think with good time management and planning ahead of your week, it helps you stay on track of your course. I think another great aspect of my course is that if you are feeling overloaded with work, or struggling to meet a deadline, you can get in touch with your personal tutor or lecturer and they will be happy to have a chat with you online/in-person and can implement changes to help make your degree and life easier (such as contacting your module convenor for you, helping you get a support plan or extenuating circumstances claim for a deadline extension or even just being a friend!). The staff at the university are very caring and completely understanding, and will often prioritise you as the student.

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Even though I've only been here six weeks, I already know I'm going to love my time here at Nottingham. There's a great vibe on campus, the grounds are beautiful, and there have been loads of opportunities to meet new people and learn new things. I study English and have found the lectures and reading all thoroughly engaging. Nottingham just has a great vibe that I think everyone loves and that's what makes it such a great place to live and study.