Theatre and Dramatic Arts postgraduate degrees in Southern England

Obviously studying during the pandemic has been a challenge. The school does have a major issue with organisation and communication. However, I’ve met some great people through this course and had a lot of fun. We got to experience filmmaking modules as well as the acting modules which was a great opportunity.

The actual university was fine. The new building has a lot of great facilities but some of them can only be used by people from that actual course. Sewing machines and work spaces can get really busy. Nice interior design and layout.

The best aspects of my university experience have been the sense of community and the opportunities for personal and academic growth. My course is taught by passionate lecturers who make the subject feel relevant and engaging, and I’ve appreciated how approachable most staff are when I need help. There are also plenty of extracurricular activities and societies, which made it easy to meet people with similar interests. The campus facilities—like the library, study spaces, and wellbeing services—have also been a big part of what makes it a great place to study. In terms of what could be improved, there are a few key areas. Communication between departments could sometimes be clearer, especially around deadlines and timetable changes. At busy times of the year, access to study spaces can become limited, and more quiet areas or longer opening hours would make a difference. It would also help if there were more practical, hands-on learning opportunities such as placements, workshops, or industry links, as these really enhance understanding and employability. Overall, the university offers a supportive and stimulating environment, but with better organisation and more resources during peak periods, the student experience could be even stronger.

What makes my uni a great place to study is their student support. They try to help their students in any way possible to ensure that students get the best out of their education. I think it would be better if the university put more effort into societies and clubs such as sporting clubs and teams . It would help the university to have more of a community and really showcase other talents other than what students already study on their courses. My university do have societies and some sporting teams, however some of the societies don’t run anymore and it’s not made to be as big as it was when I first heard about it before I joined uni. I think it’s important to have that feel of community and university culture and to also show the inclusiveness of different cultures, groups and activities in which people associate them selves with.

The campus is absolutely gorgeous! A wonderful mix of old and new, castles and modern buildings. Reserving rooms encourages students to get out of their rooms and study anywhere on campus, from the top of the castle tower, to the communal "pods" at Commons. The Student Union building has a bar and a small shop, and activities going on almost every day. Karaoke every other Saturday is one of my favourites. Close enough to the city of Bath for easy access, while still having the feeling of a university town. Lots of student discounts and student bars/clubs in town, as the University of Bath is also nearby. Interesting classes, lovely lecturers and guest lecturers, and proper assessments. Few, if not none, tests, allowing for those who do not thrive with simple memorization to show off how they learn. The diversity of students encourages the broadening of your own world view. A wide range of courses, allowing for study into incredibly specific topics. The main issue with the university is the wait time for wellbeing appointments, as it can take up to four months to even get a foot in the door. This means that if you do need help, it is very difficult to achieve. Also, while it isn't the university's fault, it is important to know that the First Bus system is not very reliable, so if you have a job in town, it is quite nerve-wracking.

I love this uni. It’s great! What I love so much about it is how close your course is. With each year consisting of very few students you really become a family whereas, other universities you rarely even speak to people on the same course as you! The student life is good but it can be a bit dull due to the lack of student based businesses in Chichester and Bognor meaning that for anything ‘trendy’ you are expected to travel to Portsmouth or the surrounding areas. What I don’t love is the accommodation. The uni has two main off-site accomodations in Chichester and both are not nice places to live. Whilst Fishbourne has better facilities, it is a cold, dire place to live. Stockbridge on the other hand has stained carpets, showers in which you press a button for 30s of water at a time, and tiny kitchens. I am particularly disappointed in the accommodation manager, when I reported a flatmate for aggressive and threatening behaviour and asked not to be identified, he promptly told the flatmate about what I had said. This issue desperately needs to be sorted out. Overall, particularly in the Conservatoire, the uni has been dealing with some big budget cuts causing certain courses to become essentially obsolete and just made to keep funding up. This is really disappointing as it means students are being admitted to a course that wont utilise their talents therefore not preparing them for the industry that they are desperate to enter.