Our students

Why Teesside?

I met some of the course leaders at an open day and they had such passion for the subject, it got me really excited about my career. The course is also accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists which was important to me.

Why journalism?

I’ve always loved writing and have an interest in the media industry. I wanted to study a course that would give me training in all areas of journalism and prepare me for the world of work.

Best thing about your course?

Having the opportunity to get your own work published. TUXtra, the University news platform, is a great place to showcase our portfolio of written work and get some experience of writing articles. It also gives us the chance to produce our own radio and television shows as we have access to the studios and technical help whenever we need.

What’s Middlesbrough and the region like?

The University is so close to the town centre and shops - I often walk into the high street to do some shopping in between lectures. You can get a bus to Saltburn which is a pretty seaside town about 20 minutes out of town.

What’s it like being a course rep?

We get involved in group discussions with tutors to feedback on the course, so it’s a great way of voicing your opinion. It also looks good on your CV which is a bonus.

Tell us about your placement

I did a two-week work experience placement at BBC Tees, which gave me the chance to see what a newsroom is really like. I produced audio packages, edited clips and ended up working freelance for them. I won a journalism award for some of my work and from this was given a work placement at The Gazette, our local newspaper.

Future plans?

I want to work as a journalist in print, radio, TV or social media. I think the best stories come from people in the community, so hope to work in that area eventually.

Would you recommend Teesside University?

Absolutely, I’m so glad I decided to study here – the facilities and social activities are great. I’d also recommend the course to anybody interested in journalism. The tutors are excellent and the modules are so varied.

Any advice for students who are thinking of coming to Teesside?

Try and come to an open day to get a feel for what it’s like to study there. Seeing the facilities and talking to the course leaders or students will get you really excited about coming to university.