Just a fresh new face ready to start in my degree subject. Having studied during the pandemic this was a hard time to want to study at university. There was always a person available online to help you out if you where struggling and they where willing to extend the work if need be. Once I got to my third year I was able to have the full experience of going in and using the equipment ect… This was a challenging time for any student that was in my position a unique one to say the least but the university was there for me to help me complete my degree.

This uni is very diverse in respect to equality and diversity as well as being brilliant in terms of a promotion of finding sense of self. An advantage of the course I take is the vast diversity of modules, for example: Male, Placement, Clinical, Forensic. A disadvantage of the university is the lack of pastoral support; despite the promotion of wellbeing and disability support within the uni and the SU, I have had individual students tell me they feel as if they have been pushed from pillar to post, they are unsure of what services they can be offered, and do not receive their desired support.

What I love about this program is that it is very creative and fun. I find it very enjoyable to sew my own design into actual clothes. When I picked this course, I didn’t know how to sew or anything about sewing machines but I loved to design and draw. This is why I picked it as it’s also an art-related course. I also came late in the program and missed some lessons however, the teachers and students were so welcoming and kind. They helped me with the sewing part of the course and now I love to sew. They helped me to catch up on the lessons I missed. Of course, every course has its hardships but if you learn to love and enjoy what you pick, it can become a lot easier to do. Sometimes when it becomes hard again it’s like a fun challenge you would want to solve. I’m still in my first year and so far I love it. I know it will get harder over the years but I know I can handle whatever challenge because I have great teachers to guide me.

I like how fun the program is and I never get bored from it. Also, I just find it really great how we can design and make it. The classes are always delightful to be in and the teachers and students are very kind and supportive. One thing I would like to change or improve on would be time. What I mean by time is how many hours we’re at university. For some lessons the hours are suitable but others are not as I can be doing that at home. This would improve student social life and university life. There are lots of international students, the university is very open to diversity in my opinion.

I have joined Sunderland university to study an M.A in design, it’s over 20 years since I did my degree at Sunderland. At the age of 55, I arrived last October with a notepad and pen. Actually one of the cleaners walked me in and to my classroom, I was totally terrified of technology, and going back to learning, fast forward 5 months, now whizzing around a PC, loving my studies. The secret to my newfound confidence is knowing that everything I have had to upskill in and need is at Sunderland university. Even when I was struggling, the Wellbeing team were fantastic, from finance to sorting my gym membership, even arranging a test for dyslexia. When it came back I was, the aftercare and support have been amazing. Oh forgot to say how patient and encouraging my tutors are!

What I really like about my course/program is that nobody is ever made to feel left out, in lessons we work in a team and connect to sprout ideas out and speak to each other. The course itself is so informative with the knowledge of the film industry and how it actually works, you’re given a realistic view on how competitive the industry can be and how you can really stand out. The teachers are so welcoming and understanding that you may have no camera working experience and are always offering to get you involved in outside work experience, most of our teachers have real-life experience of working in the field and they can guide you in the perfect way. The atmosphere is just brilliant and really calms the anxieties you may have about joining university.

The University of Sunderland is a fantastic university with a welcoming atmosphere. The Fashion Design and Promotion course in particular really has a friendly atmosphere, as students from across the different years get a chance to discuss their work and share ideas. The small class sizes mean you know your classmates well and get a lot of time to speak with your tutors. The facilities are industry-standard which means you get experience using equipment that you may also use in your career. The staff are extremely knowledgeable about their areas and are always willing to help and give feedback. You are able to learn about all the different areas of the fashion industry, from branding and styling to garment design and production. The experience you will gain from the course, combined with modules delivered by the careers service on CV writing and interviews, means you will leave with the confidence to step into the industry once you graduate. I would highly recommend the University of Sunderland!

I moved from Ireland and entered my last year in the uni as a top-up year. Straight away the uni was very accommodating and welcoming. My modules are mostly in radio as that is what I want to pursue after graduation. All my lecturers are very helpful and are always there to reply to queries if we have any. The uni offers a volunteer program in the radio station ‘Spark’ if you want to gain experience in any part of the radio industry. The uni offers a lot of get-togethers for people of different ethnicity’s or nationalities to join people of a common background together which is really nice. When I graduate and get my bachelors in media production I will go on to do the masters in marketing. This uni is everything I could have hoped for and more!