Overall good. Fundamentally university’s, to me, are over priced and subscribed. All round the facilities are good. Lack of structure in general especially with the examination or testing methods allowing for coasting and the blame for lack of engagement to be put on the students. Structure the way in which people are tested in a way that forces constant engagement.

Overall the business and law building and facilities are really impressive. The professors are good and it is hard to find faults in all that I have had contact with!

I think overall though my experience at Uni was not what I expected. Although this is down to the students, I was expecting the sharing of ideas and theories etc but seminars are almost always silent. More could be done to prompt informal conversations surrounding the topic with a less forced feel that ultimately puts people off talking.

After finishing my placement year I found that the degree itself has not really helped me. This is because of a few reasons but mainly because now everyone has a degree it has completely diluted the value of what I feel I have paid massively over the odds for.

When talking with employers and others in business I find that experiences I have had within the workplace are valued more than when bringing up concepts and theories learnt.

In terms of experience, I feel that the money I have spent to acquire the degree could have bought other life and learning opportunities that would, on balance, outweigh those I have acquired at University.

As part of my academic degree program, I jetted off to spend a year studying in Hong Kong, where I not only learnt about Asian social and business culture but actually lived it.

The structure and teaching methods, while very similar to those on offer back in the UK, were delivered from a fresh perspective. Rather than learning about business from a lecturer who had faced challenges starting up a business in the UK, I had classes delivered by those who had spent decades travelling Asia as part of an MNC.

Living among those who had travelled to Hong Kong from all over the world was exhilarating. I made friends with people who introduced me to things I would perhaps never have tried back in the UK.

My first few weeks living overseas were a challenge. I’d never travelled out of the UK before, and so if I were to offer any criticism to the University, it would be to offer higher levels of support to those who were venturing overseas for the first time!

Culture shock is definitely a thing!

It was a mixture of academic and practical activities. It was mostly assignments which I think is more beneficial than tests and exams. However, I think I would have benefited from taking some sort of internship or a year abroad working to build up more experience and skills for post-graduation jobs.

Although it is not a Russell Group or a well known prestigious University, Northumbria University exceeded my expectations in actively encouraging every student to make the most out of their time at University, to graduate with more than just a degree. Northumbria University strives to ensure that every student regardless of background receives equal opportunities to support their learning and enhance their employability skills. Most notably their Business Clinic allowed me to develop a multitude of skills and apply what I had learnt in a practical setting. During this time I worked directly with a local SME as a consultant as part of my final year project. This alongside Northumbria’s drive to encourage placement years or to study abroad offers students a competitive advantage. As such, I would highly recommend this University.