Keeping up with my contemporary reads whilst studying as an English student
July 31, 2023
Reading for pleasure can be tricky as an English student. Finding the time to balance the reading that my course prescribes me with my own personal reads is something I have often struggled with. Unfortunately, time and time again I have had to prioritise the reading for my course at the expense of the books …
Navigating University as a dual honours student
July 19, 2023
Coming to university in September, I was originally intending on taking liberal arts with a primary focus on English and history, however, I quickly realised that these two subjects as a pair were personally a better fit for me to study. History and English are luckily quite complimentary subjects meaning it made it easier to …
How MA Applied English made me a better museum professional when I least expected it
July 5, 2023
I graduated with my BA in English Studies from UoN way back in 2004; 19 years later, in 2023, I’m just about to hand in the final piece of work of my MA in Applied English, studied via Distance Learning. In my tour guide costume at the National Justice Museum The Galleries of Justice, now …
How working on the ‘Plants & Prayers’ exhibition gave me post-uni clarity
June 26, 2023
As someone studying a non-vocational degree (BA History of Art and English), I am often inundated with questions about what I plan to do when I graduate. What people expect to hear is ‘teaching’ or ‘journalism’ or, as my parents probably hope, ‘a PGDL course’ so I can follow in the footsteps of my hotshot …
The benefits of joining a sports team at university
June 9, 2023
Arriving at university can seem like a daunting experience. For most people, it is the first time you’ve lived away from home, maybe moving to a new part of the country, or perhaps even a different country altogether, and chances are you don’t know many (or any) other students here too. And so whilst it …
The importance of routine when living away from home
May 24, 2023
It is said it takes approximately 66 days for an individual to develop a habit that will become an effortless part of their daily routine. However, what is often overlooked is the difficulty of adhering to this extended and sometimes gruelling timeline. Establishing good habits is a fundamental aspect of personal growth and being an …
If over-thinking burned calories, I’d be a supermodel
April 12, 2023
Being in your own company 24/7 can sometimes be tiresome – especially when every thought you have, every inconvenience, every problem is on a constant loop in your mind. Even if you don’t categorise yourself as an other-thinker, there is always that one moment, embarrassing or traumatic, that has daily reruns in your mind. Unfortunately, …
Podding along: studying a distance learning MA as a mature student
April 5, 2023
It seems a lifetime ago when I was timidly embarking upon the Applied English Distance Learning MA back in 2020. I remember feeling waves of self-doubt about completing MA – after so many years away from Higher Education – questions played on repeat through my mind, haunting me with fears of not being good enough, …
How Nottingham University has changed me for the better
March 29, 2023
As a beyond anxious yet excitable 18-year old stepping into the Derby Hall courtyard back in 2020, I saw university as a sort of adult playground, where making a solid group of life-long friends and having that “unbeatable” social life clouded any academic vision I left school with. Yet, looking back on almost three years …
How to handle writers block when studying a creative writing module
March 15, 2023
Creative writing is one of my favourite and most fulfilling parts of my English degree. Seeing a poem or a short story that I spent hours pondering over the word choice of materialise into a finished piece of work is often more satisfying than turning in an essay. For me creative writing is not just …
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