Pretty good

My overall experience at NTU has been extremely busy but the most enjoyable and fulfilling time of my life so far. My course is exactly what I want to do. The projects we are assigned are interesting and wholesome, with great briefs. We are taken on plenty of trips, both within and outside of Nottingham. This year we were taken to Venice, a trip the uni paid for. All these trips are extremely educational. I have learnt a wide range of skills during my time here. The uni has helped me improve on essay writing and have helped me improve my Cv. I have a great social life because of university and I have connected with a wide range of people that I never thought I would.

I would say that NTU has excellent facilities. The libary is well equipped with plenty of computers, books, laptops and printing facilities. There are also private study rooms as well as areas to go when you prefer a more quiet study space. My course requires some use of the workshop, which provides all the machinery and tools needed, it is also well staffed throughout the day who offer advice, help and support. I don’t use the student gym personally but from what I have heard it is very good. It holds free classes that members are able to sign up for such as yoga and Pilates. We also have a rock climbing wall within the Su. The only thing I would comment on is that we do not have any swimming facilities. We have to use the pool at our neighbouring university.

NTU offers great support. My course has several tutors that all have background in the industry and offer great feedback and advice for our work. There is also a great student services team who cover anything from wellbeing to finance should you need their help. They have personally helped a great deal with my financial situation, when my student loan was delayed last year. Calling weekly to check how I was doing and asking how they were able to help.

NTU has an excellent SU. We are provided with plenty of activities and clubs to get involved in. The SU has a gym, a weekly night club and a restaurant. There are also plenty of sport and social clubs for all types of people.

City life in Nottingham is very fast paced, things in the city change daily. There are always new events and acitivities or acts to get involved in. But there is a great sense of community around the city with nottingham having such a big student population. For students who are a long way from home this is very welcoming. There is fantastic access to shops, restaurants and nightclubs, being only a 10 minute walk from the uni.

There is a vast range of choice of clubs and societies and the uni provides substantial funding to keep the clubs running.

What I like most about my course is the opportunities the university provides us with. These include trips and events that help us gain understanding of the topic we are learning about. My course has taken us on multiple trips throughout the two years I’ve been at the university. Furthermore, we are provided with plenty of guest lectures who offer interesting insight and advice. We also have a large group of tutors in our modules and seminars to insure each student is given the help they require. What I like least about my course is the cost of the equipment. Being an interior architect student we are required to buy equipment and stationary throughout the year. Equipment such as card, glue, pens and pencils. Although the university provides us with a an annual £100 contribution to this equipment on our student card, this money is somethings not enough to cover the academic year. To extend on from this point, we are also given £20 printing credit. Which for an architecture student lasts the best part of a month. After that we have to top the card up ourselves. Perhaps for other courses £20 a year is all they required but printing is required constantly within my course.

19

The university provides students with multiple opportunities that can help increase employability. As a second year student looking for placement next year, the uni has help employability fairs specific to architecture to allow students to connect with company’s and meet employers. We also have a great employability team that holds drop in sessions for students to get advice about which direction they are headed or get help applying for jobs. The team has held several lectures about placement and employability and attends seminars weekly so that we are able to ask questions and get advice. The library also holds frequent workshops to help students improve their skills such as essay writing. They also have workshops that are designed to improve a CV to increase employability. Lastly, our lectures emphasise a huge focus on our portfolios so that we have the best chance of being employed or given placement by a company.