I work for Betfred as a Digital Content Editor:
Working within a team, helping to run and organise the collection process for a number of top football leagues around the world, ranging from France's Ligue 1 to China's Super League. My role is to work closely with UEFA to provide statistics from over 35 leagues around Europe, helping them to form press kits ahead of European match days. I also help train our existing and new analysts to ensure our data collection on our complicated client is as productive as possible.
I'm in further study doing a Creative Writing Master's by Research at the University of Huddersfield, looking into the role superheroes and mental health in fiction. My work deals with the topics of mental health, familial loss and the role of women in superhero fiction. Yes, my postgraduate thesis is about superheroes. Isn't that awesome?
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Huddersfield. It was great being surrounded by like-minded people, all of whom have the same passion. And in that way, it's very liberating because you're free to freak out over nerdy stuff. Because let's face it, if you're paying £9,000 a year to study something, you're probably a nerd.
I did my dissertation on the language of Yoda from Star Wars. Try getting away with that in the real world.
Adam is studying a History BA(Hons) degree. He chose Huddersfield after attending a talk on an Open Day and was impressed with the information he got aabout the course content and the modules. He likes the fact that his tutors are also researchers, which means their teaching always contains up-to-date material. He says the new cutting edge facilities, such as the revamped library and Heritage Quay, are fantastic. Adam did his work placement in Heritage Quay, the new archive service based at the University. He says the course is everything that he wanted and expected. See here for the full video
Learn more about our History courses
Come along to one of our Open Days
I’ve experienced so much since coming to university and it’s helped me understand the ins and outs of Drama. I chose Huddersfield University because of the people - everyone here is kind and welcoming at the university, they help in every way possible. The staff don’t make you feel as if you’re just a student, they make you feel like part of one big family.
I’ve experience so much since coming to university and it’s helped me understand the ins and outs of Drama and given me a taste of what I can achieve whilst I’m at the university - for example putting on my own play, working with people in the industry, researching practitioners and using their experiences in my work. The university has opened doors that I had know idea about.
When I leave university I’d like to remain involved in the theatre/drama world, whether it is as an actor, director - ultimately I’d like to have my own drama company.
I found the campus itself very picturesquely situated and welcoming. The staff in the History Department were very helpful and approachable. I thoroughly enjoyed the BA History course and it confirmed me in my desire to pursue the subject of history further. After spending the first year at the Holly Bank halls of residence, I spent the next two years sharing a house with three other students, one of whom I had met at Holly Bank and who was studying history and politics.
I have very fond memories of my time in Huddersfield. I'd certainly encourage people to pursue their passions, and history is a fascinating and important subject. Since job opportunities are limited in history, however, I'd recommend studying a second subject in addition.
I am self-employed, as an Actor. I work when I can, taking any job that comes my way! I am only just starting out my acting career having left the university this summer gone and as I'm sure any actors will tell you, it isn't the easiest profession to make it in.
Since graduating I have acquired an Equity membership, put myself on a number of casting websites and also receive work as a TV and film extra so I feel very much on the right path! I support myself when not on acting projects via a part-time job in my hometown."
About my studies:
"Highlights whilst at Uni include meeting friends for life, useful contacts and then from the course itself I find it hard to pick one without thinking of another because I loved every moment of my three years there and being on the course was like being part of one big family. Can I come back next year?
"I didn't go out on a work placement during my course but we saw lots of shows by visiting companies and were able to work with various companies throughout our time on the course."
After sending off headshots and being sent part of a script and auditioning, I have recently just landed one of the main parts called 'Emma' for a new comedy sitcom series called "no filter" and will start filming the pilot episode in March this year. Throughout the past two months I also had a paid speaking role where I played the main girl being the victim at a rape court case. I performed this infront of real life barristers and had a jury to decide on the verdict. I had to learn all the information of what happened on the day/evening of this event and performed this in court as though I was the real victim.
I found a placement in the summer after my second year for 3½ months. This started as a work placement and then I got taken on to the internship scheme through the University for another 10 weeks. This included writing editorial content for several magazines at the company, mostly feature writing. It gave me so much experience and helped me develop me writing. It was one of the best things I could have done during my course.
The highlights of my course was doing magazine design and having the freedom to choose my topics. The tutors were really great, in particular Mercy Ette who was really helpful and you could always go to her for advice and she supported me really well. The University is a nice place to be because of the nice campus and atmosphere.
Marketing Executive - Northern Media
Responsible for all the media coverage and promotional content for the team, including several press release being printed in the Wakefield Express and the Yorkshire Evening Post; as well as arranging radio coverage from BBC Radio Leeds.
The course content and modules have been very good. The structure of first year really sets you up for the second and you have a lot of choice about what you want to study. My favourite module this year has been Introduction to Critical and Cultural Theory. It's an incredibly challenging module but also very rewarding and applicable to everyday life, not just literature.
In second year everyone is strongly encouraged to take a six-week work placement module. I chose to work for a record label because in the future I hope to go into music journalism. For the last year I've been a regular contributor for a music magazine in Leeds, called Vibrations. Every week I review recorded material, go to gigs or hold interviews with bands. From this I have started my own music blog, which I update with music journalism work regularly.
The teaching staff are brilliant and each have specific knowledge and experience in different aspects of literature and writing. They are also very approachable and willing to help and support you in whatever way they can.
In the future I hope to do a Master’s degree. I’m not sure which just yet but I do know I want to go into Journalism, then specialise in Music Journalism.
I am currently a Professional Audio Sales and Support Engineer for a company that distributes audio equipment across the UK, HBB, as well as designing and building studios for all uses. From education and music, to radio and post production. My job involves all parts of this process. As a support engineer, I build and configure the systems that customers want to use. Setting up their computers and testing all the hardware that accompanies it. We then install these systems, along with any mixing desks they've ordered. The follow up to that is to support customers when they need it, and to also talk them through what upgrades they may want to consider.
I did my placement working for Avid UK who are a partner of my current company. After my placement (in fact, in the middle of my exams) I got a call from my old boss, who told me about this job opening. I was able to fit the interview around my timetable, and walked from my final assessment straight into employment.
The placement scheme not only gave me an unprecedented opportunity, but was a lot of fun. The resources and facilities that the Music/Music Tech department offered allowed me to enjoy projects and passions outside of coursework, as well as giving me great experience with equipment that would become essential to my career.
Anna recently graduated from her Music BMus(Hons) degree. Anna liked the Music facilities, including the practice and lecture rooms in the Creative Arts Building. As a recorder player she also liked the acoustics at St Paul's Hall. She says that the University of Huddersfield is friendly and lively and her tutors always went that extra mile to help her - watch her full video here
How did your degree help you in the career path you have chosen?
I would like to get a career in publishing, so a degree in English Literature was very helpful. I am currently doing a Master’s by Research in Literary Studies at the University.
What were your experiences and highlights of your time at University?
My course was the best part and I loved every minute. I enjoyed all the modules and all of my lecturers were incredibly inspiring and passionate.
The University was very welcoming and offered me a place with open arms. I felt valued, like they really wanted me to come and study here. Also, the structure of the course was really appealing to me as it offered modules which strongly reflected my interests.
What do you think of your tutors?
All the lecturers have the great ability to communicate a strong passion for their subject to their class. They explain everything in detail and make it very easy to understand the lesson as well as stimulate you to research and find out more. Their teaching is not confined to the classroom, and I can’t remember the number of times they gave me precious advice to put into practice in every-day life.
Do you have any advice for people considering taking a course in your subject area?
It’s an exciting and greatly rewarding experience which provides invaluable skills and inspires you for life. If you really like the subject, every lecture or seminar will be exciting as well as great fun and you’ll have the time of your life researching material for your essays. You’ll get the chance to deepen your knowledge of your favourite areas after you’ve had a taste of everything that’s on offer and the time to decide what you really want to focus on, along with the best support system of lecturers and tutors ready to help.
Alongside full time work I am currently producing a short film documentary based around ensemble physical theatre and the ways in which people work together in an ensemble format.
Anthony has recently been promoted to ‘Client Services Manager’. His role will be to ensure Northern Media continues to provide outstanding service to their clients, ensuring they deliver their marketing campaigns on time and on budget. Anthony will lead Northern Media's account management and account support team, whilst also managing his existing client base. Congratulations, Anthony!
"I spend a lot of my time writing online content for small medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them improve their ranking on Google and ultimately to increase sales for their company. This is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) centric and it is a different type of writing from journalism. Less news based and immediate, more information based and planned over time. I also have a few accounts I look after myself, go out to visit clients, work on Social Media and public relations material as well as being in charge of client monthly reports.
"One of the main things I learned on my degree course was the ability to write for an audience, but also writing in a simple tone, with authority. This has become very useful, especially when most of our clients are perceived as local industry leaders. Journalism degrees at Huddersfield have always been more about the transferable skills and this has been an essential part of how I have grown in the role.
Anthony was the first graduate to be taken on by Northern Light Media, and this year, they have employed a second graduate as Graphic Designer. The company are planning to extend their work to help Journalism students to develop their craft whilst still studying.
"It is important we have links to great universities as our plan is to become the biggest agency in the local area. By using passionate graduates who are looking to develop their careers, bringing in their up to date knowledge and flair, we believe we can achieve that goal.
I have worked as a music recordist & producer on two full length albums since leaving university and I am a self-employed fashion designer & own a clothing brand with my brother and another partner.
Being able to spend hours in the studio when working on an assignment is the thing I miss the most about university.
I’ve done 2 years working with young children in a primary school and I’ve taught guitar privately for a few years. I have practise in teaching and working with young children and I had ideas on how you would work with young children, which I think was something that they were looking for in the application. I've travelled and I like the idea of exploring new cultures. I think they were looking for someone who is going to be able to be adaptable.
I think there is an emphasis on the quite active workshops particularly with the youngsters, because they have a lot of energy so you have to do something to release that. For me it’s again the teaching experience. This time is probably the first teach experience I’ve had in a more formal sense, where there is a great focus on us planning the actual lessons and developing the ideas ourselves. It’s an opportunity to gain experience and build skills, and if I want to go into teaching afterwards, I've got that skill of being able to plan ahead for 8 weeks, develop progression patterns for the children, what they should be learning by this time, being able to obviously refine other things like communication skills, what to say and what not to say, the right materials.
For me, I definitely want to go into teaching. I’m trying to decide between music teaching or primary teaching. For me it’s been a roller coaster. There've been times when I’ve absolutely hated it and times I’ve absolutely loved it, but ultimately I’m really glad that I’ve done the course and wouldn’t change it for anything. The skills that I’ve learnt and the experiences I’ve had, the people I met, they’ve all been absolutely fantastic and the advice of tutors and the opportunity to do this summer workshop is something I wouldn’t been able to do if I hadn't come to university, so not to sound kind of sentimental, but I think a part of me will miss it when it's finished!
I decided to apply to Huddersfield for my doctorate as I had read that it offers a good research experience which is internationally competitive.
As student researchers, we're encouraged to present our work for peer review at weekly seminars, and we're also encouraged to attend the research forums organised by the department and participate in conferences. I've presented papers at several conferences, with the support of my supervisors.
My lecturers are highly qualified and experts in their subject areas, with many publications to show for it. They've been very supportive in arranging supervisory meetings and giving sound advice on my work.
I use the Library a lot, as well as the interlibrary exchange programme. I like having access to unlimited resources on Summon, the University's online facility - especially the latest journals. And I love Student Central to meet and have coffee with friends or for sporting activities.
I'd really recommend my course to others - you receive a quality education at Huddersfield in an atmosphere that's really conducive to research.
I have secured the job of Music Assistant at Warminster School for the academic year 2016/17.
I will be doing a variety of different roles here at one of the country's leading boarding schools, including administration work, classroom assisting and boarding duties. After this year is finished I will do a PGCE and carry on with my ambition to be a classroom music teacher.
I completed a work placement of 180 hours during my second year in late 2014-early 2015 for my 'Language in the Workplace' module as a Digital Inclusion Support worker at Huddersfield Library. The role taught me a lot about the importance of libraries as a free public service and how a large number of the clientele rely on these services coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The most common use of the library's free internet was for job-searching purposes, which a great deal of our regular visitors did not have access to in their homes. My newfound perspective influenced my career path towards that of a civil servant, as I wish to hold a job in the future that (even indirectly) could benefit the lives of those less privileged than myself.
Living away from home for university provides a crash course in living independently and as somebody who struggled in the past with a hesitation to try new things and self-confidence, being able to adapt to a more independent lifestyle within the security of a student accommodation made the transition much more comfortable.
I really admired the tutors on my course - they are all extremely talented and passionate about the material of the course. I enjoyed very much in particular how each tutor specialised in a specific area of Language and Linguistics. Their passion for their work was very inspiring to me and a thought shared by many on my course. During difficult times, they always found the time to help out in any way they could. When I chose to suspend in 2014 and later required the use of extenuating circumstances in 2016, I never felt judged or looked down upon by the staff. They were only supportive throughout and would refuse to allow me to believe that I could not succeed. Great tutors, great people.
Ben updates on his life since graduation:
"I'm now in further study doing a Master's by Research at the University, on the masculine identity of the military Orders of the Crusades.
As part of a university work experience module, I used my previous connections with the staff at the Lincolnshire Archives to set up a placement within their Lottery Funded ‘Ruston & Hornsby’ project through the summer of 2015. Involved in working with the public and encouraging their involvement within the project, I worked as part of a team to prepare online and in house exhibitions on Lincolnshire’s engineering past. Taking oral history interviews myself, I worked to archive the memories of former engineers, transcribing the recorded material for online use by the public. This needed good interpersonal skills and demonstrated an ability to work in a position of responsibility to get the most out of their interviews. As a senior volunteer within the project, I went beyond the standard volunteer work of transcribing and compiling meta data by quality checking the material of other volunteers as well as my own for online databases where accuracy and quality of work was essential. I also experienced the logistics side of Archiving and library work, helping to sort donated material to the archive for saving and helping the public access material held at the Archive. I was also able to spend time at the Tennyson research centre to find out more about the materials held in Lincolnshire.
The choice of modules allowed me to tailor my university experience to my interests within history, offering a large range of topics to choose from. Tutors were always contactable and the quality of teaching was of a high standard which made the decision to continue my studies with a Master's degree an easy one. The entire experience of studying and living in Huddersfield was enjoyable and I can't wait to come back to study my Master's by Research, focusing on the military orders of the Crusades.
I'm currently studying to be a Music Teacher.
During my degree I took the (now compulsory) Work and Professional Practice Module in my final year, which requires undertaking a 50-hour placement. I chose to do it in a local secondary school, which helped me gain invaluable experience for my teacher training application.
The highlight of my experience at Uni were the concerts - check them out!
My highlights:
The Graduation Ceremony, the sense of achievement, and the Graduation Ball.
The performances and the congratulations we received on our work.
The encouragement I received when feeling a little downhearted on some of my marks.
Receiving not only good marks but also constructive feedback on our projects and essays.
Because of my age it was very heartening being part of a young group that made me feel one of the 'team' and not given the feeling of being out of place, by not only the student but also the tutors.
During his degree course, Brendan took a placement year in Bremen, where he studied cello with Alexander Baillie. After graduating, he went to Utrecht Conservatorie to carry on his with cello studies and it was here he started to change his career plans to head into management and business for several years, all this time keeping his passion for music and the arts.
He was able to pull together all the skills he'd gathered from his course and his time on placement, and began to use his new business skills, combined with his talent and knowledge for music to become successful in this area and starting his own company, Brending. Brendan is a fine example of showing that pursuing a career in the arts can be achieved in many different ways.
For more information on Brendan and his company Brending click here http://brending.eu/
To watch the full interview of Brendan click on the following link
In one word, I am the embodiment of the word ambition. I believe. that with drive and perseverance you can do anything you set your mind to. Becoming an International Dance competitor has taken me across the world and has given me the opportunity to appear in print, films and commercials. My ambition is what drove me to go back to college while on tour in the UK where I graduated with an Honours (BA) degree in Theatre. Experience in the highly competitive arena that is performance art, I’ve developed a strong understanding of people, their needs and offer my most applicable asset as a utility in achieve their goals. My goal is to find a company that would compliment these skills and the ideals I have developed through my travels and work experience, where I can be a leader and role model.
I am in further study specialising in medieval religious and gender studies, particularly those surrounding the Crusades.
Within my time at the University I studied a wide range of topics from Early Modern witchcraft, Medieval relics and the 20th Century French Resistance, eventually graduating with a First. Outside of University I have volunteered in a number of museum sectors including Leeds Museums and the Wakefield Mental Health Museum.
For my placement I took part in a team of volunteers for the Wakefield Mental Health Museum. This group researched, wrote and installed the exhibition ‘Geography of the Mind’. I was a key member of the volunteer team and was tasked with researching past mental health patients, using the Wakefield archives. I was a key member of the design of the exhibition and wrote many of the boards that were on display. This project required me to: research, handling and writing text for objects in the museum collection, work in a team and independently, work to a very strict deadline, work with sensitive materials surrounding mental health and work with sensitive materials surrounding personal patient profiles of mental asylums.
My highlights of studying at Huddersfield consist of being able to select from a wide range of topics and periods to eventually refine my skills and interests.
Working as part of the Media Team at Opta Sports.
My job so far has seen me tasked as a newspaper reporter, cameraman, commentator, social media manager, club match reporter and stream director amongst other roles allowing me to diversify my level of expertise and competence within my profession across a range of amateur and professional athletics both in the UK and abroad.
Email: callumwood18@gmail.com
Trine Magazine is a brand new media network focusing on all sorts of creative and influential content, including film, travel, politics, fashion, drugs, sex and more.
Our aim is to inspire the unique and the individual, regardless of how few. Feel free to explore all of the Trine platforms, whether video, magazine or newsletter.
General tasks include:
• Generally managing the company as a whole.
• Maintaining multiple online social channels.
• Managing all magazine staff writers.
• Networking and maintaining healthy relationships with clients and other media networks.
• Editing/proofreading all work submitted for the magazine, before publishing.
• Motivating staff to produce a consistent supply of error free content.
• Producing/conducting features/reviews/interviews aimed towards our target audience.
Caroline is a Drama BA(Hons) student. She got a real sense of what she could achieve when she looked around at a University Open Day. She likes the Drama facilities and makes use of the three main studios which are well equipped. Her tutors have experience in all areas including performing, directing and dance. Take a look at Caroline's video - she talks about the student-led theatre group on campus and how much her time here has really made her grow as a person.
Find out more about our Drama courses
Come along to one of our Open Days
One month after graduating I got a job at the London Press Association as a trainee Newsreader and Reporter. Whilst I am working here I am also working towards getting my NCTJ certificate to make me more employable in the future.
Although I am now working in TV, the majority of my work experience throughout University was in radio. However, the contacts that I made in the radio industry have still helped me since because they all knew someone who would be willing to help me out.
My highlights from Huddersfield would be being part of a society. I was part of T'HUD, Radio HUD and Women's Rugby. They all helped me to escape my studies and make friends outside the classroom. I was part of Radio HUD for all 3 years and for my final year I was the Deputy Station Manager and Head of Programming which helped me to gain some great contacts and opportunities. I also won The Student Media Personality of The Year Award (2016) for my hard work and dedication to Radio.
"I now work as a customer service/technical support for a Primary Curriculum Provider, Cornerstones Education. My job ranges from creating soundtracks for videos, to assisting teachers with their planning resources, to IT support to curriculum writing/resource making.
You can find me on Linkedin
Profile:
"The Symphonic Wind Orchestra was a fantastic experience, as well as sitting principal flute for the University Orchestra in my second year. Working with such experienced musicians was brilliant.
"I loved how supportive the lecturers were, and how they were always there to answer any questions I had, whether it was work related or personal. My lectures were engaging, fun and some of the topics were fascinating.
"I flew out to China for 2 months to teach music between my second and third year, working for the Fired Up project, and the experience of planning and delivering lessons has now helped me when speaking to teachers to understand how they might use our products. It also gave me the opportunity to develop my communication skills, patience, and confidence which are now an every day part of my job."
I experienced some excellent teaching and support in topics that I thoroughly enjoyed on my History course at Huddersfield. The course allowed a great deal of freedom regarding module choices and let me focus my studies on medieval history.
I undertook a six week work placement in my second year at a local primary school which convinced me I wanted to pursue a career in this sector. I continued this placement by volunteering throughout my third year. Also, as part of my History in Practice dissertation, I gained work experience in secondary teaching by creating a scheme of work for Holmfirth High School.
About learning a language:
I am really happy when I can understand what people say in real life, in a movie or on the Internet. It feels like cracking a secret code: you understand the message as well as if it was in your mother tongue and this language that was once foreign almost becomes your own.
Now that I can speak English fluently, I will not hesitate to travel to countries I have always wanted to visit such as the United States and Australia. I am learning Spanish as well and I plan to travel to Spain and South America too in the future. If I can speak with Spanish people in their own language, this can make them instantly feel closer to me and they will be more likely to help me, show me around and share with me what they know about their country.
I am a Junior Account Executive at a PR and Social Media Agency in Leeds. I create and manage content, putting skills I learned in my degree to good use!
I took a year-long placement as Communications Intern to HRH The Duke of York. This was based at Buckingham Palace. I also did a placement at Huddersfield's in-house publisher, Grist. Both have really helped me to get to where I am! Experience is so crucial.
My highlights are definitely my creative writing modules which were constantly surprising, fun and interesting. I'd also say meeting friends that I'm sure I'll be close to forever and, of course, my placements.
Chloë is studying a Music BMus(Hons) degree. In her film you can watch her rehearse in the Music facilities at the University of Huddersfield. She describes her time at Uni as like being part of a big family and she doesn't want it to end. Interested in Music? You might also like to hear Fraser talk about Music Technology and Audio Systems BSc(Hons) or Julian talk about Music Technology and Popular Music BA(Hons)
What are your favourite facilities on campus?
The radio suites in the teaching rooms and the RadioHudd broadcasting area in the SU are great.
They give us chance to have a go at running a live radio show and get to grips with all the equipment that professionals use without the pressure of broadcasting to hundreds of people.
They are a really good mix. There’s only one exam at the end of the first and second year, which means more researched coursework. The second year was brilliant as we did a lot of ‘hands on’ work and had the opportunity to work in teams.All the tutors I’ve encountered have been really supportive, replied to emails and had no qualms with me bugging them for a tutorial.
Have you opted for a work placement?
I write for the local newspaper, The Examiner, so I’ve had loads of opportunities to meet new people and interview artists such as Ellie Goulding, whilst having my work published. I did an internship at a new company called Croon, writing and managing the online magazine and getting a lot of insight into promotion, advertising, PR and business.
Would you recommend your course to someone interested in your subject area?
Definitely! I’ve learnt radio and run my own show on RadioHudd; I’ve learnt about the history of newspaper, media laws and tackled probably every music genre possible. It has a really friendly vibe to it and there’s always loads of support from tutors and careers advice if you need it.
What are your career ambitions – did these influence your decision to come and study at Huddersfield?
I knew I wanted a career in something music related. I loved studying Media and English at college and Huddersfield was the only university offering Music Journalism and Media together.
"I am in my final year with nine months paid employment under my belt and am now media manager for MODUS darts, the biggest sports management company in professional darts. This employment is my placement - it came about on the back of a second year assignment in which we were encouraged to get out into the world of sport and obtain some interviews for good quality stories. I was fortunate enough for them to take me on trial and then give me a job offer - all because I was willing to act on the encouragement and advice of tutors. At MODUS darts I produce all the written content for the offficial websites of Raymond van Berneveld, James Wade, Paul Nicholson and many more.
The campus at the University of Huddersfield is fantastic - it has everything you need and more. We are taught not just by academics but by professional journalists. This makes me sit up and listen and value everything I am taught. The lecturers are very approachable and most are experienced professional journalists.
The course content is fantastic and highly practical. Of course there is the academic theory but there is a huge amount of practical projects to undertake including writing, radio and television disciplines. It is a very rounded course, which leaves no stone unturned. The facilities are also brilliant as we have access to industry standard radio and TV studios/equipment.
In the future I hope to continue my work in professional darts. My advice to others would be to listen to every word they tell you and act on their advice. Also, start blogging and get your name out there!
Before University I was going nowhere, now I feel like there is no limit to what I can achieve. It really has been life changing."
The reason I came to Huddersfield is because I know it’s at the cutting edge of musical research in the country and outside of music colleges - it’s probably the best place in the country to study music.
The great thing about a lot of my tutors was the fact that they could answer any question you have about their field of research, often because they’ve helped to edit the book with the answer in or have composed a piece of music that is exactly what you’re looking for. There’s definitely something for everyone on my course, so whatever you’re doing there will be a lecturer who suits your style of learning, from the intensely enthusiastic and hands-on lecturer I had for “Computer Composition 2”, to the seemingly infinitely knowledgeable one I had for “Music in Baroque London” who always made sure everyone in the class knew exactly what he was saying.
The Creative Arts Building where we did most of our lessons and rehearsals is a very well designed building for what we needed to do. The two different acoustics we had in our performance spaces (St Paul’s and Phipps concert hall) are really complementary and you can perform most types of music in one of the two comfortably. The Mac labs we had for the music computer composition are also well kept and have just received lots of new iMacs - perfect for long hours spent behind a screen.
I loved it here. I was always active and I felt challenged in my studies and that’s all I could have asked for really. As long as I could get stuck into my music (and everything else besides) I was happy and I could do that here no problem. Plus, being surrounded by equally enthusiastic music students was fantastic when it came to setting up small ensembles and the like. Im was part of a barbershop quartet, a soul band, a jazz trio…all sorts just because of the students here.
"I'm now the cellist in 'Stems', which is an art-rock band formed in 2011 in Huddersfield. I joined as a collaborator in 2013 and became an official member in 2014. We've toured across the UK, Germany, France, Austria and the Netherlands, sometimes adding more string players to elaborate the sound. The music uses mixed influences from post rock, western classical and Indian music, all performed by violin, cello, electric guitar and eastern percussion (which sounds interesting written down - click the link to check us out!). We've worked with live projections, the London school of puppetry, Steve Whitfield (The Cure) who produced 'trip to the moon' and film, to which we were commissioned by the British Film Institute to perform to Georges Méliès 'Le Voyage dans la Lune'.
website, Facebook and Twitter."
About my studies:
"The staff were incredibly supportive during my time at Huddersfield. I've made a lot of connections which have given me the skills to build a career in music. I feel really lucky to have been offered so many useful facilities to aid my learning. The course itself gives you a lot of freedom too which is something I'm very grateful for.
"During my time at Huddersfield I felt that collaborating with other students' projects (be it within music or another art form) helped my understanding of the worlds within the arts. As a cellist coming from a classical background I found myself performing in ways and with people I never thought I'd join (like playing drum and bass gig, experimental, rock; in art exhibitions, with live dances and actors....). My career started all because I said yes to performing at a gig through the University Orchestra."
Chun Kit Lam is a final year Media and Popular Culture student from Hong Kong. Here he talks about why he chose Huddersfield, about the facilities, staff and more!
“The reason I chose to study at the University of Huddersfield was for the benefit of my career after graduation. I was drawn to the library system and impressed with the wide range of academic sources, including journal articles and books as well as the equipment for the students to use.”
“I chose my course because media plays an important role in our lives and is now very dominant and I wanted to understand the world of media and popular culture. The film studies module inspired me to further my ambition in the film industry as I want to produce a film that will inspire people about the meaning of life within the Hong Kong film industry.”
“In regards to the facilities at the University, the Student’s' Union provides everything you may need, for example, accommodation, visa information, academic resources, gym facilities and of course the shop. These facilities are very ideal in my case, as I am an international student and these services helped me feel more comfortable.”
“The staff provide the best care to the students and they make themselves available and try their best to keep you on track. The staff also ask about our lives in University and our career after graduation, showing an overall interest in each student.”
“If I was to give prospective students planning on studying Media and Popular Culture any advice, it would be that they make sure they are well prepared for independent and group study and to know what it is they are responsible for.”
“The University of Huddersfield is the best place to continue with your studies and explore your social life. I would definitely recommend it as the right place to study.”
Claire is studying History BA(Hons) at the University of Huddersfield. Watch her film where she talks about the wide range of topics and time periods she has studied. After her degree, Claire's ambition is to work in television production, thanks to her work placement at Kirkless Local TV where she got to produce, direct and interview.
My reason for choosing the University of Huddersfield was simple - I loved the idea of doing a work placement as part of my degree. I was fortunate enough to secure an internship at Lotherton Hall Country House in Aberford at the start of my first year. This meant that from the start I was juggling home life, studying and work life. However, with forward planning and sticking to a timetable I was able to achieve good grades.
I was subsequently offered a second consecutive internship at Lotherton, which meant I actually worked there for 17 months, thus giving my CV a huge boost. In my second and final year I was able to choose the modules that best fit into my career plans. This meant that in my third year I was able to participate in the planning, designing and implementing of a summer exhibition at the National Coal Mining Museum (NCM) as part of the History in Practice module. This also had the unexpected benefit of securing a paid casual job at the NCM working in the educational centre during school holidays, which has given me further insight into the workings of a museum. My dedication and hard work have also enabled me to win a Kirklees Community Learning Award and I look forward to securing a job in the museum sector soon.
I volunteered as part of a student team to cover the 2015 General Election count in the Chesterfield constituency. Role involved travelling to the count and sending clips via FTP connection to assist ITV with their coverage across the country. We also interviewed the winner of the seat, Toby Perkins, after the count was finished.
Great university, great staff that went beyond the call of duty, had a fantastic time overall.
In my second year I took a work placement down in Southampton working in the Collections Management Centre for 6 weeks. I was also able to get involved in lots of volunteering within museums throughout my course which made me realise that this is what I wanted to do as a career. So I'm now doing my MA in Museum Studies.
I work for the same company I completed my placement year in as a Social Media Director /Web Designer. The company specialises in Artist Promotion. Also I am a self-employed DJ working in London. I have appeared live in clubs, on radio and have recently released an EP, speachless. My music and mixes can be found on my Soundcloud and also on my website.
I'm currently developing a portfolio career and am managing director and producer of my own digital record label:(www.facebook.com/flyproductionzltd, www.instagram.com/flyproductionzltd, www.twitter.com/fly_productionz,
www.soundcloud.com/flyproductionzltd)
I began my own label (fly productionz ltd) during my placement year and have successfully been running it for over two years, having over 30 releases 5 signed artist and a large following on social media.
I also began an event to run alongside the label called ehm (electro house masquerade) to enable current artists whom had signed solely onto the label to have an outlet to perform their music.
With fly productionz and ehm I perform at clubs up and down the country and festivals in the uk and abroad.
About my studies:
"If I could relive the 4 years at the University, I would. Huddersfield was more than just learning about the things that I was passionate about; it was a really worthwhile experience. Making new friends, sharing ideas with new people, understanding complex theories, fun club crawls and endless sleepless nights with lots of stress. But at the end of it all it was all worth it.
"During my third year I took a placement in a small residential care home that dealt with adults with learning difficulties, specifically autism. I worked as a careworker while also providing an indepth music therapy programme. I achieved a level 3 Diploma in Adult Health Care and a certificate in Music Therapy."
Currently studying for a MMus at the Royal Northern College of Music, having gained a first class BMus(Hons) from the University of Huddersfield. I am a pianist and trombonist. I gained an LTCL diploma in Piano Performance at the age of 16, under the tuition of my grandfather. I have accompanied recitals and competitions at the RNCM, and during my three years at Huddersfield. I have also accompanied soloists in the BBC Young Musician competition, and for competitors in the Kirklees Young Musician award. As a trombonist, I currently play for the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band. In 2016, I gained a DipABRSM diploma in trombone performance and earned the HM Award from the Harry Mortimer Trust. I am also a keen young conductor, and pursued this as part of my studies at Huddersfield under the tuition of Phillip McCann.
During my final year, I was on placement with Cumbria Music Service, which gave me a valuable insight into the day to day life of a Peripatetic Music Teacher. I do not have any immediate plans to go into the teaching profession, but if I ever find myself in a teaching environment, I feel I could use the experience gained during this placement to good effect.
The music department at Huddersfield is so vibrant! The staff are all at the top of their area of expertise and are always on hand to help and give advice. I think one of the main benefits of being a music student at Huddersfield is the way you can tailor the course to suit your needs. Being a performer, the range of performance opportunities are second to none - from solo recitals to performing in one of the many ensembles. My particular highlights at Huddersfield came from playing with the University Brass Band in some superb venues - Leeds, Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls. Having the opportunity to conduct the band in these venues was also a memorable experience.
I'm currently in further study and work both as a performer and a songwriter. I'm working on working on new solo/and material although progress is slow as I'm also currently doing a PGCE. I also play with local band Samh and am heavily involved in the local music collective Rattle & Thud."
Highlights of my course?
I met some fantastic people, made some excellent contaacts and was taught by some fantastic lecturers. I gained interests in many aspects of music I wouldn't otherwise have known about and, most of all, confirmed that I want to carry on playing and writing music, and collaborating with other people, for the rest of my life."
My passion has always been teaching. I am a trainee primary school placement at Sheffield Hallam University studying a PGCE Schools Direct (5-11) with QTS. I am currently on a placement in Huddersfield in which I am teaching a Year 1 class.
I completed 180 hours of work experience in a primary school in my second year of my undergraduate degree which meant I had the necessary hours of experience in schools completed to apply for my current course. Meeting new people was my highlight of Huddersfield, and there are some amazing English lecturers in the Uni.
For years now I have written music for various different situations, however it is in the summer of 2014 that I believe I started my career as a freelance composer when I composed the soundtrack to a short film called A Documentary About People. It was then that I realised my passion for created music for film and media. Since then I have gone on to further study the art of composing music for film, and rewriting music for popular scenes become part of my practice for my university course. Later I begin transcribing music from film and recreating it to test my skills."
I believe myself to be a passionate film maker and composer with an eye and ear for what fits a scene and makes it stand out to be exactly what it needs to be.
About my studies:
I trained my skills as a composer in various different areas ranging from experimental and contemporary, to film scores. While also building up a group of reliable contacts for collaboration. It is here that I gained a fascination for Immersion within film and its effects on audience members.
The best work experience I gained from Huddersfield is learning how to get myself out there and find clients that want music score for film.
I am a recent Sports Journalism graduate from the University of Huddersfield. I currently produce content for Vinco Sport and TrackField97 and also write for a number of websites, such as Football Espana. I was tasked with producing 30 articles a month on the subject of Spanish football, Givemesport and Digital Journal.
My previous experiences with ITV Calendar, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, The Press Association, Badminton England and British Athletics.
Twitter: @DarylBHammond
Email: Darylhammond@hotmail.co.uk
The reading was very enlightening. The presentations were fun and useful. The assignments were challenging, stretching and satisfying. The discussions were engaging and the writing classes were excellent.
I worked in a drop in for homeless persons and am currently working on setting up literacy classes.
It was close to home and easy to travel to and from in my first year. I am also the third member of my family to attend here, my father and oldest brother both attended before it received university status. I’d previously worked in Huddersfield and had fond memories of the town and that was a factor too.
I’ve always had a passion for history and the course content really appealed to me. When I attended an applicant day I was struck by how enthusiastic and friendly the staff was and that really sold the course to me. I’m more of a medievalist so all the medieval history modules really caught my attention like the Crusades and Unification and Conquest modules. I also really enjoyed the second year Modern International History module, particularly the Indian History part. I’d never studied India before and it was very enlightening to learn about.
The Staff really makes the History department. There are some great people with large personalities, always friendly and helpful. Their passion rubs off on you for the topics they teach. I did my work placement at a local college where I created revision and learning materials for students on the history A-level covering the Norman Conquest, Tudor England, Soviet Union and Tsarist Russia. I’ve been volunteering in the college that I did my second year work placement in again this year. Teaching was something that really appealed to me when I first came to University. I’m helping to research and create new online learning and revision materials for their A-level students and also helping to develop a course work module based around the crusades. My plan is to embark on a career as an academic historian, hoping to specialise in Medieval Gender studies. I’m planning on doing a Master's and then a PHD after that.
I am now in regular employment for the Ministry of Justice as a Prison Officer. During my degree I completed work experience with Bradford College for teaching experience to go forward into doing a PGCE. Starting my PGCE, although it was not for me, made me interested in behaviour and brought me into a different career path looking at how convicts can be reformed.
My highlights of studying at Huddersfield was forming friendships and getting to know the people I was studying with.
I was attracted to the University of Huddersfield because of the History department's good reputation.
The course structure was impeccably organised and I couldn't fault the quality of the lectures and seminars.
I took a joint honours course in English Literature and History, which initially I was quite dubious about. However, within the first couple of weeks my doubts were eased as I soon saw that the content between both courses knit together incredibly well.
My most memorable moment? My graduation ceremony. It was quite unbelievable that my incredible time at university had come to an end. I was quite emotional after the ceremony.
I'd definitely recommend the University as a place to study. Both staff and students are so friendly and supportive. Huddersfield town centre is also constantly holding fun and interesting events all year round, so there is always something to do!
If you enjoy reading and analyzing critical theorists work then I'd say that English and History is definitely the subject for you.
My top tips for successful graduate employment are perseverance, determination, confidence and organisation. These factors will definitely help when applying for graduate jobs.
As part of the course I did a 6 week placement in a High school in Halifax. I found it a useful experience in the sense that it clarified that teaching in secondary education was not a career I wanted to pursue. Despite this I found it challenging and developed many transferable skills regardless.
I am working for Shane English School in Changzhou, China, teaching children, from ages 3yrs to 18yrs. I use fun activities and different drilling techniques, which have to be planned and researched in order for the children to understand the language they are being taught. I also have a one-on-one-class, in which I teach different language points in order for my student to understand different cultures from her own. As she works for an international company I tailor the lesson to suit her particular needs.
I did some work experience at the Howard Park Community School in Cleckheaton as a classroom assistant. Working at the school helped me to understand how children learn through fun activities, and how this can help their development as individuals. It has also helped me with my current post, as I can see how different techniques are needed to help Chinese children learn English in a fun way.
My highlights of studying at Huddersfield were meeting new people, and learning different techniques of studying. This helped me change as an individual and to understand how to apply what I learned at University into my everyday working environment. The way I was supported throughout my time at Huddersfield was fantastic and I loved also my role as a Student Representative, helping to make life at the University for students better.
"While I was a student at the University, I had the pleasure of learning from the brilliant staff working there. I also got to meet people from different countries, background and culture."
"I'm now due to start my Research Master's at the University of Huddersfield in September, looking specifically into Gender and Identity within Music. During my third year I chose the module 'Music, Gender & Identity' which explored issues to include stereotyping, racism, identity and gender within music history. I didn't know much about the module, but soon became intrigued as a lot of the issues were quite alien to me. As a result, my essay writing style changed and my essay marks went up significantly. This pushed me to do a Master's as I realised that I really enjoy researching into this area and am good at it! The support I've received from staff is very encouraging and has completely changed my career path to something I dreamed of pursuing but didn't feel I could reach."
About my studies:
"The staff were fantastic in their support and were always willing to push me to get the best out of me. A large highlight of my degree was leading the University Orchestra and Strings. This was an amazing opportunity as it pushed me to really work on performance practice, good ensemble skills and team work. Another highlight was the range of areas within music being taught, looking into music as early as baroque to present day music such as contemporary and experimental. This really gave me a taster of areas I hadn't thoroughly explored and allowed me to really take in each aspect. Having the opportunity to play in a Baroque ensemble using baroque instruments was an amazing experience and really broadened my musical palette, and I also had the chance to perform with Leeds Baroque."
I am developing a portfolio career in the area of Composition and Sound Design
I compose Electronic Music exploring field recordings, sound synthesis and concrete music by means of digital technology. My compositions focus on Semiotics as study of new forms of sound expression and different ways of listening to music.
Have a listen to my work here
I am currently working part time in various schools as a cover teaching assistant and am also in the process of setting up my own business as a private piano tutor.
Freelance Audio Engineer - The Parish
Duties typically involve operating both the front of house mixer and lighting desk for a range of live shows. Managing and carrying out sound or line checks quickly and efficiently prior to the start of the events. Gained experience in engineering for a whole host of events spanning a wide range of music including Rock, Metal, Ska, Indie, Electronica, and more. Notable shows I have worked on have included such bands as Allusondrugs, Cancer Bats, and Wobbly Bob.
I also produce my own content check out some of my work here
Elliott is studying English Language and Linguistics BA(Hons). In his film he describes how the University has given him more confidence and that he's found the lecturers to be very supportive. Elliott also talks about his ambition to go into a career in forensic speech science.
Interested in English Language and Linguistics? You might also like to hear Sarah talk about her course in English Literature and Creative Writing BA(Hons).
I review books and films in the form of YouTube videos.
I enjoyed making new friends at university. They are now some of my closest friends. I also enjoyed learning new skills that are helping me in my career. I did a placement in 2nd year in the third term, which has helped me develop customer service skills and PR skills.
After graduating from the University of Huddersfield in International Business & Creative Writing I've embarked on my professional career as a writer, actress, model and dancer. I've freelanced a few times on video production shoots as a camera operator. The majority of my time at the moment is taken up by script writing, growing my professional network and building my presence as a dancer, model and actress. When I'm not engaged in those things I'm found job hunting and acting on my responsibilities as a committee member of the Derby Hippodrome Trust. It's our mission to gain a following and ensure the Hippodrome is restored to its former glory as a functioning theatre in Derby.
You can see more about me on my website
During my time at the University of Huddersfield I was the society president for two consecutive years for SCM Huddersfield. The leadership skills I gained through doing this I am putting to use as the 'go-to' person for website and social media knowledge at the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust.
Why did you choose to study at University of Huddersfield?
I chose to come to the University of Huddersfield because when I came to an Open Day I liked the Music department and found that the facilities are good. The academics were extremely dedicated and happy to speak to me about the course I was interested in.
Why did you choose your course?
Huddersfield gives you the opportunity to practise performing in the many concerts, which is very important to me, as experience results in more confidence, and confidence in music performance is gold.There are practice rooms available in the Creative Arts Building. There's always an upcoming concert, or new ensemble to get involved in, which is great because this has allowed me to try new things, playing music I wouldn’t have played before.
Have you done any projects with outside clients during your course?
My first placement is working at the Royal Northern College of Music, helping teach young children to play instruments. My second includes working with Music and the Deaf, and this is an amazing organisation, helping a variety of ages play music as an ensemble member, so they get to experience music. My third is at the Women’s Centre; here I assist the music therapist during her music therapy group every week. Come to an Open Day, and arrange a chat with one of the members of staff specialising in the area you’re interested in, such as musicology, as you will then find that Huddersfield is a place for every musician.
Sum up your experience at the University?
I have met many wonderful musicians who have taught me so much, as well being able to experience a ‘real’ musician’s life, with the concerts and projects I have been involved within the Music department, as these have kept me an active member of the department.
I finished my undergraduate degree at Huddersfield in 2013, then my MA by research in 2015 - throughout both courses I did freelance academic proof-reading for international PhD students. I also had the opportunity to do part-time work at the university throughout both my undergraduate and postgraduate education - the details can be found on my LinkedIn.
I loved the course and the tutors and people on it. I met a lot of good friends and I think it's great that now the tutors who aren't even my supervisors are asking me how I am and are genuinely interested in how I'm doing. I also really liked the Drama building (Milton) - I thought the resources were really good and I always thought Summon and the Library were excellent resources.
I am a broadcast volunteer at Huddersfield Hospital Radio and present a show called ‘Hudd Live’ which explores the town’s acoustic music scene. Interviews with local musicians are broadcast each week and the content produced is of a very high standard. It is important to me that I deliver a professional service for the charity and its listeners.
In my spare time I write for Rock ‘n’ Reel Magazine, one of the UK's best selling alternative music magazines. I have well-honed professional writing abilities and can write to strict briefs and deadlines. I am a keen pianist, having achieved eight distinction grades in electronic keyboard exams, and it is this dedication to music which has ascertained my enthusiasm to pursue a career in the multimedia industry.
Since graduating I've done freelance work for a client which included writing articles for magazines, press releases, producing videos, interviewing, and meeting people to find out how I can promote them.
The highlight of studying in Huddersfield was the town itself and the tutors. The town is good because there is a lot going on, it being situated between Manchester, Leeds and Bradford. It was very different to where I grew up. On the course my lectures were very inspirational with professional lecturers and great guest lectures. My personal tutor was very helpful and always approachable.
Faye studied English Language with Creative Writing for her first degree - she talks about this here. She recently brought us up to date with her career:
"I'm currently taking a Master's by Research as part of the Vice Chancellor's Scholarship programme, focusing on language and humour. I'm also working part-time as a PA for a music distribution company. In my spare time I continue to enjoy music and creative writing, and a short story from my undergraduate portfolio is being published in the Grist Anthology launched at the 2017 Huddersfield Literature Festival.
"You can read my writing at afayewithwords.wordpress.com"
We asked "did you take a placement or do any work experience during your course?".
Fay told us "Our Language and the Workplace module gave us a chance to conduct a piece of linguistic research in a working environment - this gave me the inspiration for my dissertation research and ultimately showed me that I wanted to pursue a career in research and academia."
Flo is studying Drama BA(Hons). She describes her time at the University of Huddersfield as the most incredible years of her life. Watch Flo rehearse in the Drama facilities and hear how performing with a professional theatre company has shaped her future career ambitions.
Gareth is a music producer and performer of several different styles, mostly proficient in writing various styles of Metal and electronic music. He's currently working on a funk/blues/reggae album with his own band Fish and Hip; he's hoping to complete several projects over the summer and is keen to collaborate on music with anyone interested.
His own music profile available on Soundcloud
He's also a keen artist https://www.facebook.com/TheGazGallery developing image and video editing skills.
Chipper is a newly formed online news magazine focusing on positive news. I am a member of the head staff as Head of Content and hold an equal stake in the company itself.
I was also a member of the media team at Chesterfield Football Club. Responsibilities included: Interviewing the team, manager and the public, writing match reports, filming games, creating packages, liaising with members of the club.
I am currently training to be a Secondary School Music Teacher with the SCITT provider NTTP, while also playing in musicals and shows in my local area. I play lead guitar in the band "Harmony Express" and continue to play Saxes and Clarinet with the Jazz band "Splendido". I also offer private tuition for Clarinet, Saxophone and Guitar.
The school placement I undertook during my time at Huddersfield gave me valuable experience in the teaching profession and prepared me for the start of my Initial Teacher Training. My time at Huddersfield gave me the opportunity to experience such a wide variety of music, which was all facilitated by the incredibly supportive staff who are always willing to offer advice and assistance. From learning to play the Viol in the Early Music Ensemble to playing the Carrot Clarinet in the experimental Edges Ensemble, I enjoyed every moment. I had the fantastic opportunity to play with the University Symphonic Wind Orchestra and the University Big Band in great venues such as St Paul's and the Lawrence Batley Theatre. I was also able to further my skills in performing and arranging during my time in the Funk Band as part of the Popular Music modules, which gave me valuable experience working and performing in a horn section.
Why did you choose to study at Huddersfield?
The main reason I chose this University was its great reputation. And after I’d been for my interview I felt right at home.
Why did you choose the course?
Mainly because of my love of theatre. After visiting the Milton Building and seeing how amazing the facilities are, I knew that I wanted to study here. The 3 studio spaces are so different from one another and so versatile that each production presents a different challenge. I enjoy a challenge!
How have you enjoyed your course content and modules?
My favourite modules were one in which we were given a short script for a Theatre in Education performance and were asked to design a set for the performance, and one in which we worked with an outside theatre company named Duende – we created over 15 installations and 4 performances in 2 weeks.
How to you rate the facilities and teaching staff?
The course has great facilities with the 3 studios and a specialist Visual Suite. All the teaching staff are excellent, from the technical theatre tutors to the drama lecturers – they’re friendly, informative and engaging, and always willing to talk through your assignments with you.
What career plans do you have when you graduate?
I’d like to get a job in a theatre or arena. I’d love to either be a sound or a lighting technician for big performances and my ultimate dream is to work either in the West End or on Broadway.
Would you recommend the University as a place to come and study?
The University as a whole is organised and all the members of staff and support are really friendly and helpful. Huddersfield has a great nightlife and there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area. So yes, I’d definitely recommend the University of Huddersfield!
I'm a recent English literature graduate, having gained a first class degree whilst at Huddersfield. I'm currently undertaking a 1 year master's course in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at the University of Huddersfield, with hopes to travel and work in East Asia after graduation.
During my second year I applied for a placement at Heritage Quay within the University. I undertook a six-week placement in the archiving section, which I greatly enjoyed whilst learning about a whole new field and learning new IT and cataloguing skills. I also applied for and was accepted on to a work placement at a local tutoring company, Numberworks'n'Words, which I am currently working at. I help tutor young pupils aged 5-12 in English, in preparation for SATs and to help them boost confidence.
The University is a great place to study at. The campus is lovely, the library has brilliant resources and all of my course tutors were friendly and really helpful. The online system makes viewing assignments, finding journals and submitting assignments hassle-free.
I loved studying Drama at the University of Huddersfield because the course covers such a wide range of topics. I learnt about all different aspects of theatre, and also got involved in a third-year production - rehearsing was challenging but extremely enjoyable.
I chose the University of Huddersfield because I was impressed with the facilities the University had to offer when I came to audition. When I first arrived I wasn’t to sure on what aspect of theatre I wanted to pursue as a career, and the course at the University offers so many different aspects of theatre such as, acting, directing, writing for performance, teaching and design workshop practice. This gave me the chance to try out all different aspects and some things I had never done before.
After being given the opportunity to try many different aspects of theatre I decided that I wanted to write for performance, trying different mediums from television, radio, film and theatre, and to try my hand at professional acting.
Like many nineteen year olds, I was still unsure about the career I was looking for when I came to university. But I did know I wanted to write - perhaps to go into journalism. But my eventual goal is to be able to work for myself and write what I want to write.
The tutors on my course are all entirely different. A common trait amongst my language tutors is their methodical approach to studying and it soon becomes apparent just how qualified they are; the majority are involved in linguistic research in their spare time.
My tutors have always given comprehensive feedback on my work. No paper has come back to me with just a grade on it. I've been congratulated on good work and been given suggestions for improvements in such a way that it's not too heartbreaking to read and makes me more determined to work at it.
The teaching is very varied and caters to your strengths, be it examination or group work. I've learnt how to study independently and have had the chance to work in many different ways.
As far as the facilities go, the Library impresses me the most. The system is astonishingly organised and finding what you need is so simple. Everything I have needed is on just two floors, and Dewey coded, which makes research quick and easy. And if you can't make it on to campus, there's an online functionality called Summon.
I'd really recommend my course - in fact I've been doing exactly that throughout the year as a Student Ambassador! It keeps you on your toes and is never boring!
I'd describe my time at University as 'life-changing'.
Watch a video of Hayley talking about her life at University.
I wanted to do drama classes with disabled groups initially. So to get there, I've joined a team 'IAS' to train as a support worker. I've now set up various groups within the company named 'Get Together Go Together'. This enables the company services users, disabled and other vulnerable adults to join in with the groups we run each week. We have a walking group, music group and an arts and crafts group. I do volunteer work with PHAB drama shows as well as Mencap drama group to further my experience.
I remember we ran a workshop for a disabled group at Oldham Theatre Workshop. I really enjoyed this and it helped me to decided what career path I wanted, which was drama therapy with disabled children or adults. I did stage management at the Colliseum in Oldham which seemed to be the role I'd naturally take on without realising. This helps now especially organisng people and paperwork, keeping books updated with details, dates and times. The experience that I had on placements helped me a lot to find my feet. The experience on a whole has got me to where I am now.
Media Team Member FC Halifax Town
I get to do a various amount of jobs which include:
Since studying English Language and Linguistics at Huddersfield, I've gone on to study Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Manchester as I've always aspired to be a speech and language therapist. The skills that I've learnt throughout English Language and Linguistics have already given me a head start on the course.
I did some placement work during my time at the University of Huddersfield. Although it wasn't directly linked to my career, the placement helped me to improve my communication and teamwork skills.
Having achieved a First Class Honours in my Bachelors Degree in Drama, I was eligible for a Vice Chancellor's Scholarship to cover my tuition fees and I'm now taking a PG Research Degree, researching the field of Training within Professional Wrestling in comparison to Physical Theatre.
I wasn't involved in a placement period, however I did take part in Drama performances, notably performing an extract from my Third Year Performance to Sir Patrick Stewart during the renaming ceremony of the Sir Patrick Stewart Building in the summer of 2016. This opportunity was not to be missed as Sir Patrick gave me and the others who performed on that day the chance to ask him questions and gain insights into acting and a career in performing.
The collaborative atmosphere within the building is a stand out accolade that the University should really pride itself on and is something that really resonated with me. This collaborative atmosphere stems from the fact that the staff gave and continue to give undivided support to their students, taking time out to give advice and encouragementto us all. The already excellent facilities have improved year on year during my time at the University and really helped to influence creativity when devising, rehearsing and training.
I am in further study completing a MA by Research
I have taught clarinet to people of various ages during my time at Huddersfield as a freelance tutor. The students I taught mainly included people from the local parish church, where I am a current choral scholar (tenor). I have also volunteered in local music centres. When I go home for the holidays I often work as a freelance performer, playing in local churches and care homes.
During my time as an undergraduate student at the University of Huddersfield, I specialised in performance on clarinet. I played regularly in the University Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Orchestra, and in various clarinet masterclasses. I am also a keen tenor-baritone singer and I enjoyed singing in the University Choir and Chamber Choir. I also sang in the local parish church choir. My undergraduate research spanned from historically informed performance to the interaction of politics and music. I also enjoyed scoring, arranging and orchestrating for large and small ensembles.
My highlights included playing for clarinettists Michael Collins and Matt Hunt in workshops, and studying clarinet under Sarah Masters. Their teaching, advice and the opportunities that arose have been invaluable for my career as a performer.
The course suited my interests and strengths, the off-site halls of residence was novel and unlike other universities I had visited, and the onsite library was really convenient. For me, the location was ideal; just far away from my home town but not too far to visit from time to time. The town centre was small so that I felt safe to be out and about on my own, but at the same time had all the key high street brands, and offered a great night life! Campus was modest – easy to navigate and self-contained and the Library was a great location – always clean, quiet and the staff always happy to help.
The course I took was perfect for me. Workload was demanding but manageable and tutors made themselves available to assist with questions or concerns outside of seminars and lectures. I took the course not really knowing what I wanted to do at the end of it. I chose English because it was a strength and interest of mine. If students don’t have a clue about what career they want to go into I would suggest doing a course that you know will challenge you and you will enjoy.
My course helped to develop my writing skills and understanding of English language. This comes in handy on a daily basis. The course seminars improved my public speaking skills and confidence to share thoughts and ideas with peers – a great skill in the workplace within team meetings or planning meetings. The quality of the tutors on my course helped develop my knowledge and stretch my abilities.
I am currently working for TEAM FA which was rolled off the back of the success of the Footy Accumulators brand which started in 2012.
As a young and small team working out of Manchester we are the market leaders and constantly innovating the way betting takes place through Social and Mobile.
The Team FA brand which had over 2.5m Unique Users across its channels last year is made up of the following sub-brands: Footy Accumulators, AccaTracker, HorseTracker, The Winners Enclosure, The Tennis Tipster and Golf Betting Guru and more coming online in the near future.
My task is to ensure these things are advertised on social media Football Accumulators, AccaTracker, HorseTracker
You can check out the company website here
I chose this course after looking at four others around different parts of the country. It appealed to me because the lecturers are all current or ex-professionals at market leading companies such as Sky and The Times, whilst the academic facilities such as the library and journalism rooms are bang up to date. We have a good mix of academics and professionals and each bring something different to the table. The professionals are my favourite as they can pass on vital experience so we don’t make the same mistakes they might have in the early parts of their careers
I am currently in a six month placement at a locally based golf magazine. It is the biggest distributed golf magazine in the country, and consequently there are lots of opportunities there to try my hand at different skills. Whether they are writing, interviewing or filming videos for the website. My placement has also meant that I can meet lots of people in the business which I one day hope to work in.
My advice to any potential student would be ask yourself what you want from the course, do you want to learn theories about journalism or do you want to practice it by getting out and meeting sports people? At Huddersfield I’ve gone to press boxes and interviewed World Champions, which at some universities just wouldn’t be possible because they are so rooted in books. This course is as close to a sandwich degree as you can get on the Honours bracket, which I personally think is perfect for future journalists.
I am currently doing a one-year Trainee course as a peripatetic Music Teacher for the Nottingham Music Service, working as part of a team implementing First Access, ensembles and other music programmes in Nottingham City. Including:
* First Access teaching (with support)
* Assisting with planning schemes of work
* Supporting Area Bands and other N.M.S. ensembles
* Liaising with schools (where appropriate)
* Supporting performances and events
* Attending staff development and training days
* Creating repertoire and resources
* Completing CPD as appropriate and working towards the Certificate for Music Educators
I did a placement as a peripatetic music teacher (for Kirklees Music Service) in primary and secondary schools around the Kirklees Region. I carried out a 50+hour work-placement in 10+ schools within West Yorkshire with Kirklees Music School tutors.
My highlights of Huudersfield were getting to meet like-minded people that became long-term friends - not all of them being Music students, I learnt things that I wouldn't have otherwise. The tutors and classmates in Huddersfield had influenced me to learn how to produce electronic music. Playing Frank Zappa music in a tribute band was also a great highlight of mine.
I am a freelance content/article writer, blogger and copywriter specialising in popular culture and video games. I provide article submissions for a number of online magazines related to popular culture. My primary area of interest is the emerging potential of video games as a contemporary art form, and a vehicle for cultural discourse and social commentary.
During my 3 years at the University, I regularly submitted articles and content to a variety of online magazines, gradually building up a portfolio, gaining contacts and references, as well as invaluable industry experience. Overall, what struck me the most about Huddersfield wasn't the teaching or the facilities, which were excellent as expected, but the care, dedication and understanding demonstrated when handling students with particular difficulties. My own struggles with mental illness were met with a level of professionalism that allowed me to thrive and achieve, despite numerous personal setbacks, and fostered an academically nurturing environment which saw me realise my potential, build up my confidence and earn my degree.
I have been employed as a music tutor for twelve years now (as of 2015) and made the choice to enhance my skills by studying for a degree in music which I was not previously familiar. Prior to my undergraduate study I had been a performer of 15 years, focussing on popular music, with a commercial release and tour support before starting a music tuition career.
My full CV and other information can be found at my personal website, along with some current and past projects. Please also look at my LinkedIn profile.
I'm currently studying for a Master's by Research in Music at Huddersfield.
My freelance work is leading/facilitating improvisation and inclusive music making in community groups. So far I have worked with a group of adults with learning difficulties, a group of adults with mental health issues and 6th form students at Greenhead College. I hope to carry on with more of this type of work in the future.
I also record and play live doing improvisation and some spoken word and things like that. It's usually solo but occasionally with other people, and every so often with the Crooks & Claridge ensemble. I have some music you can download for free at jameswood.bandcamp.com and an album you have to pay for at adultteeth.bigcartel.com.
For me coming to University of Huddersfield was about becoming a lot more independent, which I now definitely am. As for studying at university, the huge amount of teaching talent within my subject is amazing and I’m seeing drama and performing in so many new and different lights that I wasn’t really aware existed before.
I’ve become involved in a lot of extra curricular things too such as 3rd year festival performances, which I’m gaining so much experience from.
The course stood out for me because of the pure mix of theory and practice; the theory is challenging, which is a good thing and it is evident how it informs you for the practice you do. The whole feel of the subject and the tutor-student relationships is great; I haven’t once hesitated to seek advice or guidance.
I’m hugely interested in teaching higher education drama and my degree from Huddersfield will go a long way in helping me achieve this.
I'm a Learning Technologist in Higher Education, and currently hold the role of 'Lecture Recording Coordinator' at the University of York. The role encompasses service management for 'Timetabled Lecture Capture' across the University and advising on Learning Technology to departments and individual members of academic staff.
I first joined the E-Learning Development Team at York in 2016 as an 'E-Learning Support Officer', drawing upon experience from my Industrial Placement Year in the 'Learning Technology Support Unit' in the school of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.
My placement year allowed me to explore a personal interest in Web Development, and situate my technical knowledge of audio and video within an E-Learning context. This experience awakened an interest in the underlying pedagogy behind learning technology, and proved to be invaluable as a means for me to pursue a career within the area.
I was honoured to have been the recipient of the 2015 'Music Technology Research Prize' for my research dissertation, which explored the subject of 'Soundscape Ecology'. I found that the staff at Huddersfield embodied an enabling balance between guidance and freedom in encouraging me to explore this avenue. This proved to be transformative for my personal growth, and furthermore, I continue to be grateful for having being allowed to explore a placement opportunity that was not a ubiquitous road for Music Technology students - which I recognise that some institutions may have barred. It is this culture of 'open-mindedness' which, I feel, made Huddersfield a special place to study Music Technology.
Digital Journalism student, Jan Krzesimowski created a short film about his ‘Sporting Hero’ to win a coveted placement with the BBC team that produces prestige programmes such as ‘A Question of Sport’ and ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year’.
To read the full story click here.
One of my highlights at Huddersfield was the opportunity to develop my performance ability. Although the practice schedule and attention to detail required was extremely demanding, the support from my instrumental teacher and professionals and other students at performance workshops was extremely beneficial. I particularly enjoyed the University's diverse concert programme and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, allowing a fantastic opportunity to see some of the best soloists and groups from across the world.
Furthermore, I was surprised by how much enthusiasm and interest I had in topics that I would never have expected to have studied. I particularly enjoyed the Experimental Music and Improvisation modules, where I was able to experience performing and listening to music far beyond my initial interests and experiences. A personal highlight was performing works by Morton Feldman for the Experimental Music and Solo Performance modules, where with the excellent support and teaching from lecturers I was able to challenge my performance ability and technique further than I had ever imagined.
I also met a diverse and talented cohort of like-minded students and staff, which all contributed to make my time at Huddersfield really enjoyable.
In my second and third years, I studied two modules that involved professional practice, where I was able to gain invaluable experience teaching in local primary schools. These experiences were a fantastic opportunity to confirm my desire to be a primary school teacher, as well as supporting my teaching application.
I currently present two evening radio shows (at the same time, through the magic of technology) for two different commercial radio stations. Radio is where a majority of my work related experience lies; however I have also recently started to move back into video production, which the Broadcast Journalism course at Huddersfield was really useful for.
I am currently also working as a video journalist, on placement, at a new TV station "That's Manchester" and am in the process of creating a promotional video for a Yorkshire-based charity.
Examples of my work can be heard, and watched, at http://www.jaymccreary.com
PR and Communications Intern at The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauracranetrust?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauracranetrust
Website: http://lauracranetrust.org/
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the Music department and enjoyed being part of such a vibrant place and group of people.
During my course I completed a placement in a primary school and that supported by application for my PGCE."
I am currently in further study doing a Graduate Diploma in Law Student, going on to do my Law Practice Course and then hoping to get a training contract. My aim is to become a Corporate Solicitor.
During my course I did a placement in Doncaster Archives for 6 weeks. Surprisingly, it helped me to get a job in the law sector, archiving conveyancing deeds for Switalskis' Solicitors following an acquisition. It also helped me get used to an office environment and having specific hours and deadlines to work to.
The tutors were amazing; they were so friendly and easy to talk to. I really enjoyed the seminars and it was brilliant being in a class that wasn't too big - everyone knew each other, even the cross-course students. We still keep in touch now which is brilliant. I enjoyed societies having been president of the Gaming Society for a year.
"Within two months of leaving University I was offered a job at one of the largest digital agencies in the North as a junior PR executive and promoted within 6 months to Digital Media executive. My degree has helped me achieve a job within my dream career and has given me many writing opportunities as a freelancer. Early last year I was selected out of many applicants to go to Thailand on an expenses paid press trip and meet the Minister of Tourism, something I doubt I would have been able to do if I hadn’t developed my writing skills at University.
"My degree has helped me tremendously in my chosen career path because my job relies heavily on writing. I usually write daily press releases and campaign plans for my clients. The PR module on my course helped me think creatively and taught me the basic skills on how to run a PR campaign and a lot of my job includes people skills which I picked up from presenting in class, interviewing people for my course and working as a team on class assignments.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the content on my course and although I did find some of my modules more challenging than others - such as media law - I now realise how each module has helped me in my career today. My favourite modules were journalistic writing, writing for magazines and the PR module as they were the most creative and the topics which I excelled at.
"I have many fond memories of University and always speak highly of my experiences. My highlights were being the fashion editor for the University newspaper, the vice president of HUPDA and getting a first class degree at the end of my course.
"If I was to give a potential Journalism student advice, I would advise that they practice their writing, get work experience early on and make sure you ask as many questions as possible while you’re at University to make the most of your education."
The facilities for both Music and Drama are excellent and far better than any of the other universities I visited before choosing to study at Huddersfield. In the Drama Milton building, there are many studios, which are great creative spaces and with multiple practice, seminar and performance rooms in the Creative Arts Building as well as St Paul’s performance hall, the facilities could not be better.
Personally, I found that the course offered a brilliant range of opportunities to study every area of Music and Drama with modules ranging from classical music history to working on acting and directing techniques in the theatre. As a combination, they work very well together and can often be combined to aid work in either subject.
The course content was great for music, in particular the second year conducting module as well as the scoring and arranging module. These provided the opportunity to learn new skills that have been extremely useful, and through enthusiastic teaching and practical seminars, the tutors were always keen to draw out our full potential. The practical workshops and performance projects helped to develop confidence that were in turn be fed into Music performances and were followed up by private research.
I'd recommend the University because with such great academic staff and some of the best instrumental teachers in the country, the quality of learning could not be higher and with approachable staff and designated student ambassadors, if you ever have any issues or questions they are easily and quickly answered.
Jess is studying Sports Journalism BA(Hons). She chose Journalism at the University of Huddersfield as it offered the best facilities she'd seen at any Open Day. Watch Jess rehearse in a TV studio as she describes how the University has given her confidence and experience to help pursue a career in television after graduation.
Why did you choose your course?
The course is so varied it allows you to gain experience in many different fields, these can then be chosen to create a more specific degree depending on your individual interests.
Which modules do you particularly enjoy? Are there any that have inspired you to consider a particular career path?
Performance skills has been a great module for me, as I’m involved in the Orchestra, String Orchestra and Early Music ensemble. It's allowed me to build on my existing ensemble skills which has helped me gain work outside of University playing in a variety of concerts across Yorkshire.
What are the best aspects of the facilities here at University of Huddersfield?
The staff are fantastic, always willing to go the extra mile to help their students. The work that's put in to develop the different courses and to ensure the smooth running of the department is fantastic.
What career plans do you have when you graduate?
I’ve taken a music education module and want to gain more placement experience before deciding on whether to apply for a PGCE. At this stage I’m open to most options and look forward to seeing what opportunities my third year brings.
Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of applying to study your course?
I would advise students to get involved with as many different opportunities as possible, University is a great way to gain experience in many different areas and can open many doors.
How would you sum up your experience at the University?
Challenging at times but always varied and exciting!
"What were the highlights of my time at Huddersfield:
Socialising, access to resources, expert advice, well-informed modules, interesting texts."
"The second year placement module was vital in securing me a place on my Secondary PGCE course."
Currently I am at the University of York working on a Master's by Research, focusing on small town America in the 1960s and the differences between their press and the national media; also looking at the Vietnam War and how that affected small town communities.
During my time at the University of Huddersfield I secured a placement working in the Houses of Parliament as an aide to my local MP. This experience gave me vital experience in building my career. One of the most important skills I gained was how to communicate at a professional level. This has been very helpful in building my career as it has enabled me to apply successfully for grants, and other research positions after I leave education. Another key skill I gained was working in a high pressure environment - many of the situations I had to deal with were of importance and on a timescale. This led me to learn how to prioritise tasks and deal with pressured work, which has proved vital in my current research tasks.
I had an amazing time at the University of Huddersfield. I loved begin part of two sports teams and this gave me a real sense of community and involvement in the University. I also had a lot of fun and met some great friends. Another great experience was studying, I had some fantastic lectures and even better lecturers who guided me throughout University and enabled me to go on and get a great degree and helped me to move onto what I wanted to do after I graduated.
Since leaving the Uni I have been involved in full-time work at Sky's inbound call-centre in Leeds. In my particular role as a sales advisor I use the confidence and the language skills that I harnessed at Uni to do well in my job. At the moment I'm enjoying myself at Sky and my goal for the moment is to just earn some money so when in the near future I look to maybe get my own house, I can!
It sounds really cheesy, but my highlights of Huddersfield are really is just the people you study with day in, day out that should be anyone's fondest memory of Uni, including the tutors! I do have to say though if I was to pick one particular highlight it would be the grad ball, as at that point we were coming to the end of a tough three year journey, and it was really nice to see everyone so relaxed and actually enjoying themselves after the dissertation hand-in.
Since leaving University, I have set up as a private music tutor teaching piano, trumpet and music theory, also as a peri-teacher in my local school.
I enjoy working as an accompanist, regularly playing for concerts, exams and workshops. As a pianist I continue to perform at weddings, parties and corporate events as well as solo recitals.
Whilst at University, I formed part of a function band, 'Elements', which continues to perform together and have most recently launched a website
During my studies, I didn't take a year's placements or a 'year in the industry', but, as part of the Work and Professional Practice module, I undertook a short placement in my final term with the Kirklees Music School. During the placement, I got a taste of life in Music Education and inspiring young musicians. This was an invaluable experience for me and I also picked up some useful methods for teaching and getting groups of young children interested and involved in music - as well as making new friends and connections in the music world.
Highlights of my time studying at Huddersfield include: touring to Rotterdam with the University Big Band, performing a concerto alongside another pianist, accompanying fellow musicians in recitals, setting up and performing with the Elements Function Band, and going to watch concerts from internationally acclaimed musicians in concerts all over Yorkshire.
Huddersfield is my hometown, so having lived on the other side of the country for five years I wanted to come back to experience not only my roots, but University life. I must say that my time in Huddersfield couldn't have been any more positively life-changing...
In my second year, I established the Huddersfield University TaeKwon-Do Club, of which I was Founder and the first President. Having recruited many students in our debut year, it was a wonderful feeling to see our newcomers transform from inexperienced white-belts to Martial Arts Champions. One of my course tutors, Dr Elizabeth Dobson, deserves the utmost credit for her support with both my studies and extra-curricular activities as she is one of our black-belt instructors at the club.
Another highlight was my graduation day - never would I have imagined that my particular ceremony would be attended by Sir Patrick Stewart. Not only was this his very last ceremony at the University prior to retirement, but it was also his birthday. To shake his hand and receive a congratulations from not only a legendary Hollywood actor, but a fellow Yorkshireman, was simply wonderful.
I moved straight into my final year studies in order to go into working full-time as soon as possible. This decision was also to keep the momentum going with my education and adapting to the tight deadlines. I took a two-week placement with Warner Brothers at De Lane Lea Studios located in Central London to gain some insight into the post-production industry. Having shown initiative and enthusiasm, two days after my graduation WB-DLL employed me as a full-time runner. This is the perfect company and it will surely lead to my dream profession of an ADR Engineer.
Have a look at Jordan's portfolio
"I'm now employed as a Copywriter for the travel company, Destinology. We specialise in luxury, tailor-made holidays. In essence I create and maintain the content for hotels and resorts, as well as some of the product guides.
I work closely with the product managers who look after each area in the world to maintain a great standard.
About my studies:
"One of the things that I remember most fondly is the group of friends I made from my course and around campus. Although I might not speak to them as much as I would like anymore, they will always be a crucial part of my University experience.
"The course itself was intriguing and definitely helped me improve as a professional and as a person. I had fantastic tutors and the broad range of skills they taught us has now stood me in great stead. So much so that I felt confident enough to apply for jobs that were outside of, what you might call, my core profession.
"I volunteered at a local library in Manchester as part of my final year practical project. I helped to organise an event which aimed to raise awareness of equality in the community. I later stayed on to volunteer over the summer and we hosted an Our Big Gig event which was absolutely fantastic. It did teach me a lot about promotion, organisational skills and marketing. The library is self-sufficient, so it is using innovative ways in which to reinvent its image and reach in Manchester and that resonated with me a lot."
Highlights of studying at Huddersfield?
Great teaching.
Work experience - Garforth Town Football Club
Work placement - Club Doncaster Foundation
I visited a lot of universities and nothing felt right until I visited the University of Huddersfield. I listened to my gut and I’m glad I did. Broadcast Journalism not only offers journalism skills but also offers a multitude of skills that can be made useful by a lot of employers. My favourite module in the second year was “TV Studio”. To work with high-tech equipment and be part of a multi-skilled team has been most enjoyable, especially when we had to get creative with the studio itself.
Best aspects of my course would have to be the facilities; nothing gets you more excited about your career knowing that you get to practice in industry-standard environments and know that you’re capable of operating them. I covered the Tour De France, Le Grand Depart for ITV as it went through Keighley. My content was used on the ITV website and was also featured on live television, an apparent first, my tutor told me! In the future I've been recommended by an ITV employee to get some work experience within ITV itself.
I come from a business background where, before starting my course I ran and operated a music journalism online presence. The main reason I enrolled at University was to better my journalistic skills so I can train my own employees rather than hiring outside help. I’m currently working on a family project to create a video memory of a certain event. For me, Broadcast Journalism has been less about focusing on obtaining marks and more about taking every available opportunity to further your potential prospects. You'll be given plenty of opportunities, just make sure you show your interest. But make sure you still get the marks! I’m extremely glad I didn’t miss the opportunity to go to university, even after experiencing the workforce for three years beforehand. My skills, not only from the course but from life as well, have progressed dramatically and have given me a new, enhanced perspective on making it in the world.
Composer, Musician and Developer.
Compose new and interesting music, as well as write arrangements for existing songs. Spent some time writing music and learning new skills as well as improving my passion of music.
SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/jn646
MixCloud - https://www.mixcloud.com/jn646/
Content writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper for both online and print editions. As a freelance contributor to the publication, I produce various content focussing on sport and music and the arts.
I produce features, reviews and news articles. My duties included liaising with music management and PR's, producing interesting online content and working towards strict deadlines.
I was originally made aware of the placement opportunity at the back end of my second year. Ruth Stoker explained that a student currently in his third year had received a substantial amount of work from his placement at Barnsley Council and that he gained a really good mark for his practical project. I initially enquired with Ruth about the placement, as being from Barnsley, I knew the area well and I wanted to gain a good mark and diversify my portfolio. Ruth provided me with the e-mail address of Kevin Smith and advised me to send a covering letter and my CV. Kevin then got back to me and invited me in for a little chat. I met with both Kevin Smith and Rachel King (the head of corporate communications) and presented some of my work that I had done throughout my time at university. They were both suitably impressed and agreed to take me on a work placement, one day a week, for the remainder of my time at university. I now attend every Wednesday up in the council offices.
Although I have yet to submit my work for gradation, Ruth assures me that the work I’ve done while at the council is more than enough to cover what is needed as part of my project. The people who I work with are incredibly kind and considerate, and as I’ve explained to them that my deadlines are approaching, they are dropping the work-load so that I can concentrate on gathering all the work that I have completed so far. A lot of work that I have completed on my placement went in to my PDP which received an overall grade of 65. However, the “submission of work” part of this received a 72, because of the diversity of work and the quality of work that I was able to provide as part of my placement at Barnsley Council.
I would recommend this graduate placement to anyone wanting to diverse their portfolio and gain a great understanding of how internal communications works with the outside world.
Watch Julian's film to hear him talk about his degree in Music Technology and Popular Music BA(Hons). He says he feels like he's grown as a musician and composer during his time at the University of Huddersfield. Interested in Music? You might also like to hear Fraser talk about his course in Music Technology and Audio Systems BSc(Hons) or Chloë talk about Music BMus(Hons)
Editorial Assistant- Mondodr Magazine
PR intern at Mondodr magazine. Writing and editing articles by using WordPress, Photoshop and InDesign. Fast paced, efficient work was required in order to get stories up on the day of release. Editing to a certain house style that the magazine insist on was something I adapted to immediately.
Transcribing interviews from all over the world and understanding the subject specific jargon used, as the magazine genre is 'technology in the entertainment industry' and not something I was familiar when I started out here. However, it's something I adapted to quickly.
Since graduating I've worked with bands on tour, documenting the experience and producing content for social promotion. During my course I created a magazine from scratch in two months for a music website called On Record for one of my final projects, and I've since become their acting editor. I'm currently working on producing a regular print circulation of On Record. This helped me get my current job at Discovered Magazine as part of their editorial team - http://khmltnphoto.com // http://discoveredmagazine.com
The highlight of my experience studying at Huddersfield was meeting new people, I have good friends from the course who now work with me on magazines and photography. I also was able to connect with industry professionals that I wouldn't have been able to without the course. Photographers, management, publicists and bands - it has created a network for me to expand my own career and has helped me find friends within the industry too.
When some people look for a university all they seem to worry about that its league table ranking. This is a mistake; sure, the likes of Oxford or Durham might be higher in the rankings, but lifestyle and location are just as important. Not only is Huddersfield one of the most creatively exciting places in the country, it’s also surrounded by beautiful countryside and is only half an hour away from Manchester or Leeds.Because it was so specialised. Most universities offer courses in journalism but not everywhere will allow you to focus on the specific area of an industry so rigorously. In the modern job market, that focus could make all the difference.
Radio Production It gave me the chance to be creative whilst teaching me industry-level skills. I now work freelance for BBC Radio Manchester, something that wouldn’t have been possible without studying at Huddersfield. The radio studios are fantastic. They are chock full of the equipment that helps make great radio journalism possible. In the summer of 2013 following my second year of study I secured a month long placement at BBC Radio Manchester working on content for a local charity they were supporting.
At the end of my first year I was elected the Students’ Union Magazine editor and in my two years in charge have transformed the publication. My team and I re-branded the magazine across campus and the web, to completely re-energise a part of the student media that had become a little tired. First and foremost you have to love writing. Whilst you do some radio work and other practical things, if you have no desire to write then you’ll struggle to make it through the course. Being a mature student, I can honestly say that I’ve found my time at university more valuable than the money I earned from my jobs after I left school.
Kristina talks about the modern languages she's studying as part of her course and how she enjoys the newly renovated facilities on campus. She is amazed by her qualified and passionate tutors who give her the full support she needs. Kristina’s career ambition is to be a face-to-face translator from Russian to English or English to Russian.
I’m a musician from Australia and I am pursuing a PhD in the music department at the University of Huddersfield, arriving here from Brisbane via Manchester. During my time living in the UK I had heard about Huddersfield’s reputation in the field of new music, but it wasn’t until I visited the campus and met some of the extraordinary performers, scholars and composers who comprise the staff and student body in the Department of Music that I became aware of the breadth of expertise that exists here.
A feature of my time as a student at the University of Huddersfield has been the stimulating, challenging, frequently entertaining and regularly bemusing interactions that I've had with the members of my supervisory team. As my PhD topic underwent development and was subjected to a series of ‘re-imaginings’ during my first year, I was encouraged to seek expertise in the research methodology that I felt best fitted the project, which resulted in an expansion of this team. To this end I now have access to the diverse musical talents of Dr David Milsom and Professor John Bryan in the Department of Music, as well as the sharp analytical eye of Graham Gibbs in the Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences. This situation makes for some fascinating learning experiences as I negotiate and attempt to find a shared space for the vocabularies that belong to music.
A PhD is typically quite a solitary journey, but there have been some opportunities to meet and share ideas with my colleagues through the activities of the new research centre I would advise a prospective international student to consider pursuing the opportunity to learn in the unique environment that is offered by the University of Huddersfield. I would also advise them to think very carefully about the limitations that come with living in the UK on a student visa, and to prepare themselves thoroughly for the financial implications of being an international student.
I am currently living and working as an Au Pair near Düsseldorf, Germany. I am taking a language course to improve my German and I'm taking in as much of the culture and history that I can! When I return in 2018 I will begin a PGCE, with the intention of becoming a secondary school history teacher.
I did a 12-week placement during my second year at a secondary school. In my third year as part of my dissertation project I worked with a local primary school in preparing a series of history lessons for their Year 6 classes. Both of these experiences were fun and rewarding and will come in very useful when I begin my teacher training.
I loved the course, all of the lecturers were helpful and approachable. My two favourite modules were Tim Thornton's "Henry's Empire" and Katherine Lewis's "History and Myth". Both Tim and Katherine were fantastic lecturers and helpful tutors, who both always gave helpful feedback and were always happy to help. The University itself was also fantastic in its provision of sports and societies. I joined the horse riding society in my third year and it was so much fun!
I'm currently in further study, training at Manchester Metropolitan University to do my PGCE. I have recently finished at Crompton House Church of England School and now training at The Co-operative Academy of Manchester.
My highlights of University were meeting like-minded people, creating lasting friendships and having opportunities to explore topics I never would have explored.
I loved working with one of my tutors, Julio D'Escrivan. He is so professional, and caring in the way that he teaches I don't know what I would have done without him! The assignment tasks for the Scoring for Film and Sound Design for Picture modules were so much fun because they were fully focused on building up my skills and preparing a portfolio for my future career in the Film Industry.
The facilities that were available in the Music and Music Technology department were so outstanding I practically lived at University in my final year. The vast collection of music software and packages installed in the studios was of a really high standard and so it allowed me to create some really high quality film scores and sound design.
InsightOut Productions is also run by a previous student/graduate from University of Huddersfield
I chose my course because I thought that I could fully reach my potential by doing a joint-honours degree. I had heard from a few people that Huddersfield Uni was fantastic, so when I applied for university I made sure it was one of my priority choices. The facilities for Drama were absolutely beautiful - from the moment I stepped into the studio I decided that this Uni was the one for me!
The course content is challenging but amazing. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some fantastic tutors and done some great workshops which have helped me develop as a performer. My favourite module was one we did last year, called Creative Devising. It was challenging and I had to push myself, but it really developed my skills and confidence.
The Milton Building is amazing. It’s an old building which has been converted into Drama facilities, and it’s beautiful. Some of the rooms have big beautiful stained glass windows, which makes it a magical place to study. The studios are fantastically equipped and the building is always clean and tidy. The teaching staff are excellent, in every sense. They are supportive and push us to our limits to help us grow and develop as students. I would recommend the University as a place to study as it is fantastic and it’s shaped me as a person and I’ll take some much from my time here.
I have done freelance work as an F1 journalist at ESPN UK, writing and sub-editing news stories, co-running social media feeds and live commentary.
I completed a work placement at FC Halifax Town during my final year and also completed work experience at Sky Sports, ITV Granada and Autosport.
The highlights of my experience of studying at Huddersfield were - great standards of teaching from supportive tutors with excellent experience and knowledge of the industry, outstanding facilities and industry-standard equipment.
I currently work as a cover supervisor in schools around Lancashire. Whilst doing this, I am also building a portfolio for film/game composition.
SoundCloud
I am currently in my training year of teacher training at Trinity Teaching School Alliance. I am teaching Maths to Secondary School aged pupils. I have a job lined up for me in September at Trinity Academy Halifax.
I completed a module that required work experience for which I used my work as a tutor. I have used this experience to progress into teacher training and got a job.
I enjoyed meeting new people and the achievement of having written a dissertation.
Shadowed Leeds correspondent and Calendar News presenter Victoria Whittam at the ITV studios in Leeds. I was also able to watch the professional work of presenter Gaynor Barnes, Duncan Wood and weather presenter Jon Mitchell both on set and behind the scenes. After sitting in on the morning news meeting I took part in filming for a news package and watched over it being professionally edited.
Lucy Usher talks about Broadcast Journalism.
I'm developing a portfolio career in area of Composing, Producing, Performing, Film Composing and Song Writing - which has lead me to finishing my EP which will be released online.
Check out my soundcloud and youtube with my earlier work that I'm really proud of and aim to develop further.
I've made a lot of friends throughout my studies; and I especially enjoyed using all of the fantastic facilities. Moving into student accomodation was the best decision I made as I gained confidence in myself, took on more responsibilities and met some amazing people.
Through studying Sports Journalism I gained strong understanding and knowledge of Print, Television and Radio production as well as the skills of recognising a good news story.
During my final year work placement practical project, I worked as a sports correspondent for the Huddersfield Examiner by carrying out interviews at Gladiators Boxing Academy (Linthwaite Business Park), attending fights, press conferences and training sessions. From the interviews, I wrote up features and news articles which were then published in the Examiner on a weekly basis and on their website. This experience helped improve my communication with other media colleagues and professional sportsmen that I interviewed. Furthermore, it has driven me to pursue a career as a freelance journalist.
I am self-employed - my time is split between composing for visual media and at a recording studio. I did a placement year based at Peak Studios in Bradford where I now work part-time as a freelance sound engineer. Most of the skills I developed and improved during my placement year I use now.
I am a trainee music teacher studying at Manchester Metropolitan University. I am currently working at my Block B placement school and have been praised for my innovative teaching strategies and resources. Both of my placement schools have taken on ideas created by myself and I am currently applying for jobs in the London area.
Hear what Lydia Sykes had to say about studying a Combined Honours course at the University of Huddersfield
/media/universityofhuddersfield/content/videos/courses/subjects/comb/testimonials/LydiaCombHons.flv
A fun, relaxing, vibrant and diverse facility of study with tutors and students alike being extremely approachable and helpful, no matter what the problem is. The tutors are fair, honest and very professional in my opinion, and other staff around the campus have also been just as helpful.
I've ended up loving the town. It’s not too large and it’s not too small and is easy to navigate around.
I hopefully will be undertaking a Masters in Linguistics when I graduate, then I will hopefully move to America to become a fully trained working teacher.
What attracted me to the University was initially the proximity to my home, as I’m a single parent and couldn’t stay near campus. The facilities at Huddersfield are excellent though. The Drama facilities are fantastic and the ability to use them in your own time out of class is extremely valuable. The library is brilliant too and the staff couldn’t be more helpful. I cannot speak highly enough of my main tutors (Eric and Hillary) and the classes they taught. They were so knowledgeable about their own fields of study.
If you're looking to study Drama, try and see some of the performances put on by current students. If seeing the campus and the facilities available doesn’t make your mind up, I’m confident seeing the calibre of work done by those students will definitely make you want to be a part of it.
The highlights of my course involve our class music performances and the time spent with fellow students creating music in and out of university.
I didn't take a placement, but I did take the Music in Education course which involved teaching in local schools and colleges.
In my case study, I interviewed famous musicians as a part of my research. This involved meeting members of Amy Winehouse's Band, musicians from the BBC Orchestra and I attended a concert performed by Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra - I met Jools and all of his band which was a highlight in my musical career. These experiences were a great credit to my University Course which helped me to get a high first degree classification.
I now work for North Lincolnshire Council as a specialist instrument tutor, and also have a private drum tuition business. I'm also a British Army Reserve Musician - I belong to the Nottinghamshire Band of the Royal Engineers and I've performed concerts, marches and other performances all around the UK and across the world..
Through perseverance and an acknowledged bit of “punching above her weight”, she has recently gone from Assistant Publisher at the academic publishing group Emerald, to Research Copywriter in the central Marketing and Communications team at the University of Huddersfield.
Megan says that she “has great memories from my time at Huddersfield as a student”. She “got involved with the environmental society and took part in the student panel” as an undergraduate. And as she took her MA, she took part in the annual Postgraduate Conference. This gave her the opportunity to present her work to peers and helped gave her an insight into what’s needed to publish an academic piece of work.
Megan acknowledges that she struggled at University to find her career direction. “I found it hard to make the link between my life at University, and what I would be doing when I left. But there was plenty of advice from the Careers department at the University. And, I know it sounds dull, but I’d recommend perseverance – I learned after finishing my BA that it takes time in today’s job market to get where you want to go”.
She advises “don’t be afraid to punch above your weight. By taking a chance you will learn and develop much quicker”.
Good luck in your new job, Megan!
I chose to study English Language at the University of Huddersfield as the subject can lead to a wide range of careers and helps develop the skills that are used in many businesses. I visited the University several times as well as other universities and it seemed that this was the one where the students were happiest and got the most out of their experience. The lecturers use innovative techniques in their teaching, keeping your attention and helping you to understand complex ideas. The English staff encouraged all students to take part in extracurricular activities – I was a member of the student panel and I wrote articles for the student newspaper.
"My time at the University was absolutely fantastic, so much so I cannot begin to put down highlights as I loved all of it. I got to work alongside some excellent music tutors, both academically and through performance. A key strength of Huddersfield's music course is the vast amount of ensembles and music studied throughout the year. I was part of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra, the Brass Band and the Percussion Ensemble. Performing at Leeds Town Hall was a brilliant experience and the various concerts at St Paul's.
"I enjoyed being able to study a wide range of music: from historical music dating back to early baroque, the art of historical performance, through to experimental and 21st Century music. I also gained the opportunity to study music and gender - which I must say was a highlight of my third year - we looked at a variety of music and the way it portrays an artist's ideas, gender and their identity.
"The tutors are fantastic; they never have enough time for students and constantly go the extra mile to help students with their work and any aspects of performance, or even just to talk to if you're finding the course difficult. When I began in my first year I was consistently gaining mid range 2:2 grades; through the combination of the effort I put in combined with the dedication of the tutors to develop my academic writing I gained consistent higher 2:1 grades by the end of my third year; and I got a 1st in my final 21st Century music project.
"I wonder had I gone to another university would I be in the position I am now: graduating with a 2:1 and training to be a teacher on a Primary PGCE at Hull. The music department and all its staff (as well as the music office who always went out their way to help the percussionists with organising equipment set ups) are an asset to the University."
"The facilities at the University of Huddersfield are top of the range, modern and attractive. I'd recommend you use all the facilities available to practice your skills and take advantage of work placements and any other opportunity that comes your way - it's not just what you know, it's who you know.
"The main highlight for me at University was becoming Station Manager of RadioHud, the student radio station. It was a fantastic achievement and allowed me to put into practice a lot of the skills and professional insight I had learnt whilst studying.
In the future I hope to gain a career in radio - hopefully presenting on a high profile radio station.
Listen to RadioHud here
I'm currently employed as a sales and photography team member with Magic Memories, based at the Wheel of Manchester. My responsibilities include photography, photography programming, basic business knowledge, sales skills and meeting targets. I take photos of our customers as they enter the Wheel.
I also work as a freelance jewellery maker and designer, currently running my own small business - Iridis.
You can read my music blog here or see my Linkedin profile here."
I didn't do a placement during my course but since graduating I've done work experience with Go Think Big (partnered with o2 and Bauer Media)."
Michelle Sammet must already be the best-travelled graduate of the University of Huddersfield, even though she only left the Sports Journalism course in 2014.
In her job as editor of the IAAF athletics magazine Spikes, she’s covered meetings from China and the US to Monaco and the Bahamas, where she spent a day working with the legendary Usain Bolt.
She says: "It's really quite exciting having all the travel and getting to meet the athletes, working with them and actually getting to know them not just on the track but off the track as well."
Michelle believes the final year Multiplatform Newsroom module, taught by Sports Journalism course leader Dave Devenport, helped set her up perfectly for the demands of the job.
"It's become more of a multimedia journalist role, working with a lot of video content as well as audio. You have to be able to turn it round really quickly which is something that particular class really taught us."
"It’s not only writing up a summary of a press conference but then also going to training, filming the athletes, editing it quickly and then putting that out on various channels."
Michelle’s got another busy season planned for 2016, including the Olympic Games in Rio.
University of Huddersfield sports journalism graduates have a deserved reputation for getting some of the best jobs in the industry at the likes of the BBC, Sky Sports and big name clubs and sports organisations. Experienced sports journalism industry tutors and great workplace opportunities while studying at Huddersfield are two of the keys to the success of graduates now making names for themselves as sports journalists in their own right, from football to rugby league, cricket to darts and bowls to squash.
Nathan Clarke – from the RFL to the World Professional Squash Tour
When Nathan Clarke graduated from the course in 2010, he immediately joined the Rugby Football League as communications executive, working at the likes of Wembley, Old Trafford and touring with the England academy side to Australia. He was recently appointed PR and Communications Manager for the World Professional Squash Tour, working in the United States, the Middle East and Asia.
Nathan, a regular back at the University to talk about his experiences and pass on workplace opportunities for students, says: "Studying a sports journalism degree at Huddersfield offered me an opportunity to combine my passion for sport with an education in written, broadcast and online media industries - an education which has been invaluable in my professional career so far. The fundamental basics which were covered at Huddersfield, from understanding of media laws to training on audio and video editing software, have played a major role in developing me and taking me to the position where I am now. They're all skills I use in my job.
Some highlights of my experiences studying at Huddersfield:
- Recording my EP in Phipps Hall.
- Working alongside talented fellow musicians
In my third year I did a work placement at Rhino, Warner Music during my course. After I graduated I was asked to work in the global marketing team during September 2014 covering for a member of staff. In January 2015 I went on to get a full time position in the Licensing department at Warner Music.
For the application, I just put down all my previous experience. As I had limited experience teaching, I went to my sister, who teaches music to smaller kids and asked for advice. I looked at all of the activities that I’d be able to use out there and used that in my interview. Also I travelled a lot before I came to university, I took a year off, and I think that helps me. I kind of think that all the feelings I will get in the first week when I will go out there will be similar to what I experienced before so maybe I will cope a little bit better than others.
These are massive opportunities to learn from cultures as well as getting experience, especially for me. Just teaching so intensively over 8 weeks is something I’ve never done before, so I think that will teach me a lot of things about myself, my teaching style, my limits with controlling kids of that age. Just coping away from home is a good skill to reinforce; it strengthens your confidence within yourself to know that you can do this, I can be put in front of x amount of children and I can make a fun activity, I can keep them under control. I think it will be a massive learning experience.
I'd like to pursue composition, but when I graduate I’m not sure, I might try and go to do a Masters or something - maybe stay at university for longer. But I like doing composition for films and games, a job in that sort of area would be like a dream.
Rewarding! There's a lot of work to do, but it’s great when you put the time and effort in and you see good results. I think you get what you put in basically and I've tried to put as much as possible in my second year. Come to university, so not to sound kind of sentimental, but I think a part of me will miss it when it's finished!
I'm doing Work Experience at Trinity Academy. I also have a conditional offer at Trinity Academy and University of Huddersfield for a School-centred initial teacher training (SCITT), to gain a PGCE and QTS. In my final year at University I shadowed two tutors in order to gain experience in teaching. This meant that I could go into their seminars and lectures.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University because of the faculty members and the support services who were willing to go above and beyond to ensure that I stayed on the correct path.
Digital Marketing Manager at Horus Music
• Implemented an inbound marketing strategy and improved website SEO
• Marketed Horus Music and their sister brands across multiple digital and social media platforms
• Promoted musicians to a wide variety of music blogs and publications to gain coverage
• Developed a consistent brand identity
• Managing brand connections and affiliations
• Writing press releases and gaining press coverage for the company
Oliver talks about his first degree at Huddersfield. He's now studying for his MA by Research and you can hear him talking about the benefits of studying a language as part of his degree here.
"I wasn’t exactly sure what career I wanted to embark on, but when I finished 6th form I set myself 3 goals: to obtain a solid academic qualification; to take my drumkit playing to a professional level and to achieve fluency in Spanish. Huddersfield is one of the few places to offer such a diverse course and I’m confident that by studying here I can achieve these goals and leave with great career prospects.
The course includes a year abroad in Spain between years 2 and 3. I worked as a teaching assistant in a school, via the British Council. It gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand the language and culture and is standing me in good stead during my final year. I think not to spend time in Spain would be like studying cookery without doing any cooking!
Our tutor is a native speaker and she’s able to offer insight into the language and culture of Spain. The tutors are very supportive; lessons are informal – there are lots of opportunities to introduce your own topics of discussion and ask questions.
I'd definitely recommend my course. Studying both Music and a language sets you apart from the crowd in terms of job prospects after your degree.
I've been really happy at Huddersfield - it’s a great place to study. I’ve made some great friends here. I’m enjoying living in the centre of town – I’ve even traded my car for a bike.
At University, I found it to be a bit of a shock at first because it's so different from the way I learnt languages in the past. The class is a mixture of French, English and Danish people which is completely new for me; but it's been great being in such a mixed class, because there's a range of people to talk to who all have different life experiences - which is interesting to be a part of. It's a lot more grown up and laid back than my other classes and more fun in the sense that you know you're learning even by having a conversation with someone else in the class.
I think the main advantage is the career prospects and increased employability that come with learning a language but I have to say I think the personal benefits of being able to speak another language are just as important as they make you a more confident person who perhaps takes more chances - which is useful for whenever an opportunity arises.
I'm working part-time as a sports masseuse and studying part-time to be a teacher at the University of Huddersfield, doing a teaching PGCE in life long learning. I am self-employed, in further study and I have done freelance work for a client.
The best thing about Huddersfield for me was the freedom to pursue a huge range of creative interests. Not only were the facilities superb and readily available, but my tutors and peers also helped showcase different styles and techniques to me in a practical and beneficial way. This all culminated with the release of my debut EP, 'Yonder'. The EP was a big success, and I've no doubt that I owe most of that success to the university and the experiences I shared there.
During my third year I undertook an internship at the creative marketing agency Banter Media. The experience was very positive - not only was I able to be involved in a large variety of interesting projects, but I also branched off and developed skills across a range of creative disciplines. These new skills, and the experience of being part of the workplace, set me up not just for my final year but for the start of my career post-university.
I am currently working in a freelance capacity, focusing primarily on branding and design work.
My design portfolio: Click Here
Youtube Profile: Click Here
Why English Literature with Creative Writing?
"I've always loved stories of any kind so was extremely drawn to the Literature course. I am primarily a creative person so the chance to also study creative writing was extremely exciting and also gave me a good balance of creative and academic study."
Poppy on the teaching she received
"All of my creative writing modules have been very inspiring and encouraging to me. I haven’t had the best confidence in my writing in the past but the modules and the teachers have really boosted my self-belief and taught me a lot, and I am now keen to pursue a career in writing.
"I've particularly enjoyed the modules ‘20th Century Fiction’ and ‘Modernism, Literature, and the Arts’, as the casual, involving style of teaching really suits me as a student and makes me feel really enthusiastic about what I’m studying.
"Writing my Dissertation has been one of the best highlights of my time at the University. It is a big challenge, but has really allowed me to develop my own ideas and get stuck into a serious, extensive piece of academic writing."
What are the best aspects of the facilities here at University of Huddersfield?
"I think that the Unilearn and Summon systems are really fantastic and make studying a lot easier. I've always found the staff very friendly, encouraging, and happy to help if I need a chat about my work."
Future plans
"It's my aim to become an author and illustrator of my own books. The creative writing modules and the course as a whole have given me the confidence and knowledge to pursue my career as a writer."
After watching a documentary two years ago called India's Missing Girls featuring the work of the Vijay Foundation Trust (VFT) India, I decided to spend the summer in Kadapa, a remote town in south east India, doing my work placement. The Foundation's facilities include a home for abandoned girls, a school, and a training and empowerment centre for women from the poorest villages, and for the first 4 weeks I taught English to 9-12 year olds at the school. The second half of my stay was spent interviewing the children about how they came to the home.
Not only did I get the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives, I learned I can do anything if I try! It was the most amazing and diverse work placement I could have chosen and I will never forget it
She worked on the new series of Mastermind - hear what she says about here experiences:
Since being young I have always loved to learn, and the concept of learning a new language sounded like a great challenge. From my very first day in secondary school, French was my favourite lesson.
As I progressed through school, my language skills became even more important for my career opportunities in the future. My chosen career is primary teaching, and languages are now being introduced into the education of younger children, especially French, so my skills will be vitally important and helpful when applying for jobs. If I hadn’t chosen to study a language, I would not have the advantage in my desired area of work that I have now.
I am a Communications Officer at Arts Council England. I advise customers via telephone and email of grants available at Arts Council England as well as giving further information. I will be carrying out further study September 2017 undertaking a Primary PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University.
While at Huddersfield I worked as a teaching assistant with special educational needs children helping them to develop reading, writing and communication skills. My highlights of University were making friends, gaining independence and developing deeper knowledge of English and linguistics. I enjoyed getting to know like-minded people and working together on projects and presentations. I enjoyed all aspects of life at the University.
I currently write for two entertainment websites, thisisthelatest.com, based in the UK, and PopWrapped.com, based in LA. I produce around 20-25 feature pieces for per week a month, consisting of book, live performance and album reviews together with a number of video premieres and interviews with upcoming bands and artists. For TITL, I focus more on general entertainment stories, adding in current news events and features where I feel it is appropriate to do so. I am currently applying for work in all journalism and PR sectors and would like to find myself ideally in Manchester or London in the near future.
I regularly submitted live performance/theatre show reviews for events at the Lawrence Batley Theatre to the Huddersfield Examiner and while writing for the student magazine T'Hud during my first two years at University, I also attended a number of press nights for shows at the Manchester Palace Theatre. As part of my practical project module in my final year, I completed a two week placement with Chuff Media, a music PR company in London who, at the time, I had been in communication with for a number of years. The placement helped me understand what working in a professional environment was like and the company's director Warren Higgins wrote me a glowing reference which I now include on all job applications.
I share my work on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gigtripper86
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.haslam
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haslamrebecca
I was grateful to be awarded the Crabtree Prize for All-Round Achievement and the Chancellor's Prize for Outstanding Achievement upon completion of my BA.
Throughout my course, I liked having the freedom to work on original projects that I found really interesting. I couldn't program before I came to Huddersfield, but I was able to adapt many of my projects to maximise the programming content and therefore my learning potential.
I spent the third year of the course working at IRCAM in Paris. I worked on a variety of projects while I was there, including analysis software, synthesis programs, and GUI audio-editing applications. The placement really allowed me to learn how to write software in a team, and forced me to become competent with industry-standard build and version control systems.
Have a look at my Github page
I’ve always had a love for music, but found I could talk about it much better than I could ever play it. It is something I enjoy which really helps with the work. The Music Journalism course covers a wide range of aspects within the music journalism industry as well as that from within the media. It allows enough specialised skills as well as a range of knowledge to take into many similar lines of work.
Since being at the University I've had my own radio show on the Students' Union radio station. I’m also part of the American Football team which has helped me meet new people and I’m now on the committee which gives me added responsibilities.
The teaching staff are professional with a mutual level of respect towards students. It is an advantage that many of them are fresh out of the music industry and have further links into it, helping us on a realistic, professional level as well as an academic one.
I came here because the campus felt very alive with activity; it felt as though good things were happening here. The BMus degree offered so much diversity and manoeuvrability while still being a traditional music course.
I loved Solo Performance, it gave me so much one-to-one time with my tutor, who was excellent, and it gave me opportunities to perform live and to improve and grow in the performance situation. I think you can learn plenty from one-to-one tuition, but eventually you need to put it into practice to actually apply it.
I also loved Historical Performance which I took in my second year. I really enjoyed my research for this module and it took me away from the University and to a monastic community in Mirfield, to research and record plain chant being used in functioning, day to day worship.
I think that the Creative Arts Building is fantastic. There are some amazing facilities: two fully equipped Mac Labs, several concert spaces, a tech store full of equipment available to all music students to borrow, and a whole host of various recording spaces.
I was in both a four piece jazz band and a vocal quartet. With the quartet we did many concerts at the Uni and outside. Both our jazz band and vocal quartet performed at a 30th wedding anniversary over the summer in Wells. We also had an 8 piece pop/funk band in the first year which I did some gigs with.
I would love to be a professional singer. The Solo Performance module and my singing teacher were both large influences in this. I hope to go on to do further postgraduate study for this.
I'd advise you to come on the course with a completely open mind and take chances with modules and projects you wouldn't have considered before. My course has never failed to be interesting and engaging, and the course leaders are constantly updating and innovating. More than any other university I looked at, Huddersfield's Music facilities seemed the most 'for the students'.
I am in further study - on a Museum Studies Master's at Newcastle University. The Museum Studies course is preparing me for a job in the museum and heritage sector. It teaches all grounds from conservation skills and understanding the challenges faced by the sector to different forms of education programmes and project management. By the end of my Master's I hope to get a job somewhere in the sector, either as a curator or as part of a museum's learning team.
In second year at Huddersfield I did a placement at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum for six months. I really enjoyed working there, which confirmed that I wanted to work in a museum. They also advised me which course to do and where to do it. The staff were always so helpful, I couldn't have got the result I did without them. I also made lots of amazing friends on my course who I still keep in touch with now.
The community was good and all the staff were brilliant. The biggest highlight for me was working with saxophonist Snake Davis and other professional artists on my own music.
I first got involved with The Huddersfield Literature Festival during my second year of University. As a volunteer my role was to steward events, help with ticket sales and help to set up events. My experience of the festival increased my interest and knowledge of contemporary literature and I really enjoyed meeting and conversing with authors.
During my third year I got more involved by setting up a student committee with a few other Creative Writing students. The aim of the committee was to increase the profile and attendance of the festival by putting on monthly events leading up to the main festival in March. After helping to promote events, arranged and booked by the Festival Director, we were given the opportunity to locate, book and run an events of our own. We asked other students what kind of event they would attend.
The co-editors of the company, Ra Page and Jim Hinks, were very understanding about the demanding nature of the final year of a university degree and in turn were very flexible in the amount of work and responsibility that I took on during my placement. I was able to take on as much or as little work as I felt able to, always making sure that my degree was the priority. The projects that I participated in ranged from research to helping run launch events. The project that I enjoyed the most was when I was given the opportunity to contribute to the long listing process for Comma’s forthcoming anthology.
This experience was very valuable because it allowed me to gain knowledge of different aspects of the publishing industry and contemporary literature as well as meeting influential people. Although job prospects within the company are slim, because of its size, the placement has equipped me with knowledge and experience of the industry which will help when applying for jobs elsewhere.
I am a freelance journalist and scout supporter- I write updates for sporting events such as football, rugby, NFL, and do a bit of data analysis.
In my second year I got some work experience at an amateur rugby club - the Shaw Cross Sharks. For my compulsory placement in my third year I did a year with the Huddersfield Giants Rugby Club. I'm still using the skills I developed in Organisation and Multitasking as going the placements helped me take that to a new level. You take away the work ethic to use in other areas of your studying and career.
My highlight of studying at Huddersfield was my final year. I had really good tutors and the people around me supported me really well. I really enjoyed doing my Dissertation because it was on a topic I was interested in.
Website
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I attended the University of Huddersfield where I obtained a 1st class Music Technology BA(Hons) degree, and it was there that I found my love for writing music and designing sound for film and game. The expertise and knowledge of the tutors was outstanding and gave me the drive to pursue a career in the media industry. University gave me the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded students, whom I still work with since my graduation.
My placement year at HQ Recording Studio (Manchester) was an experience that has propelled my career vastly. Not only did I learn new industry skills, I was able to build relationships with other audio engineers who have offered advice and provided me with work. I would highly recommend a placement year to all students, as knowledge alone will not always get you your dream job, it's crucial that you meet experienced people in the industry.
"I'm now developing a portfolio career as a performer and at the same time studying for my MMus at Trinity Laban College of Music in Greenwich. Whilst playing in a variety of ensembles and scenarios within the university, I am also a regular member of 5 external ensembles, ranging from Big Bands to a Saxophone quartet. Since graduating I have organised a solo recital of my own, and am a playing in small company musicals in the South London area.
I have also built my own website, with a blog that I post to on an ad hoc basis, as well as listing events and biographical information.
About my studies:
"One of the many highlights of my time at Huddersfield were the many masterclasses with visiting performers. My final year saw the first Huddersfield University Saxophone Day, with Jérôme Laran as the guest artist. In his masterclass Laran's mastery of various styles of music was obvious, and I took the opportunity to explore contemporary repertoire with him. He helped me to understand how my classical training could be transferred to other styles of music, and, with his guidance, I turned a piece that I was unsure I could work with, into a highlight of my final recital. Laran helped to instil a level confidence and understanding of contemporary music that opened a whole new avenue of performance to me.
I'm currently studying my MA in Intercultural Communication at the University of Huddersfield. I also volunteer at a local library while I study.
During my time at Huddersfield I've made friends for life. One of the highlights of my time was a trip to London with the Literature department at the end of my third year. My fondest memories will always be my friends, studying just wouldn't have been the same without them; as well as the numerous excellent members of staff across both the Language and Literature departments, with a special shout out to David Rudrum and Todd Borlik who made my third year the best of my three years by far.
I now work in the area of Events and Marketing. I'm the Marketing Manager of the Beacons Festival - a 10,000 capacity music, food and art festival in Skipton, North Yorkshire. And also Events Manager at Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen, where I book, run and organise events in one of Leeds' busiest bars and venues.
I also work as a freelancer in Artists Liaison and Stage Management, dealing with artists across a number of other festivals and events across the country, such as Festival Number 6, Live at Leeds, Mint Festival and The BBC Music Awards.
About my studies:
"The module 'Interactive Sound Design' was important for me. Using the knowledge learned to programme VJ performance software with the purpose of using this at clubnights and gigs got my foot in the door at venues in Leeds and other cities.
My placement year at Beacons Festival and The Iron Wagon Events was critical for my career in events and live music."
I am currently working as Administrator for a busy Self-Storage and Removals company based in Wakefield. My main duties include contacting new/existing customers, invoicing, signing contracts, and responding to general customer enquiries.
I have done a short work placement for an indie film production company 'Yorkshire Bulldog Productions', based in Pontefract. I was managing company's social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr to promote an upcoming film project 'Felo De Se.' The work placement made me feel more confident about my promotional skills and decision making. Before the work placement l lacked confidence in making quick and important decisions, but by managing different media platforms, I learned to ratify the right information for the right audience, at 'the right time and place'. By doing this job I developed my promotional skills to a much higher level than I had before. The work placement definitely has enhanced my CV.
Overall I had fun experience and I would highlight the positive and welcoming atmosphere that surrounds the university on the daily basis. Being an international student could be a bit tough, but I always felt support from tutors and other staff members. The most memorable moment must be graduation, it was very traditional in the most positive way and made me feel proud of my academic achievements.
I am about to enter the 3rd year of my English Literature with Creative Writing degree at the University. When I first began to consider university three years ago, I applied to three in all, and I am entirely grateful for the circumstances which led me to accept my place at Huddersfield. One thing that I’ve grown to admire about its sterling English department is how incredibly helpful my tutors are; even if I drop in unannounced at a time that is clearly inconvenient, they will always go out of their way to answer any queries that I might have about my work. As I embark upon my final year of undergraduate studies, the guidance and support offered by them makes me feel confident about the challenging road ahead. I would recommend this course to anyone who wishes to gain a diverse knowledge of the field and a chance to build their creative muscles in an encouraging environment where everyone knows everyone by name, and students do not hesitate to ask questions because we know that we won’t have to wait weeks for the answer.
Sarah is studying an English Literature BA(Hons) degree. In her film, she describes how helpful and friendly she has found her tutors and how her work placement with Bradford Magistrates Court has increased her confidence and shaped her career ambitions. Interested in English? You might also like to hear from Elliott talk about his course in English Language and Linguistics BA(Hons).
I work in an international school in Thailand teaching English.
Sarah is studying an English Literature and Creative Writing BA(Hons) degree. She chose the University after attending an Open Day and fell in love with the campus. She likes the new Student Central building where all the main social and study facilities are in one place. The best thing about her School are the lecturers who are passionate about what they teach. Sarah also talks about the modules available on her course - see the full video
Learn more about our English Literature and Creative Writing courses
Come along to one of our Open Days
I embarked on my first degree as a mature student so I really liked the fact that the University was local, meaning I didn’t have to move away from friends and family to study on the course I wanted to. I also knew a couple of people who had studied History there and had heard positive things from them about the course. The campus wasn’t too big and sprawling yet was still well equipped and offered everything I needed. I liked that fact that I didn’t feel swamped or intimidated when I came to have a look around, which was important.
The campus was great - it was only a short walk from lectures to the library for example. I lived off campus and being a mature student meant I had a life separate from University so I probably didn’t make full and proper use of the social facilities available. I did occasionally meet up with friends from my course at Milton which was the Student Union bar back then and remember some good nights out at Eden which, if my memory serves me well was a nightclub on campus.
I completed a 6-week work placement in a museum as part of my History degree. I was involved in working on an educational pack for visiting school groups and also helped out with several school visits (which was a challenge!). While I enjoyed the placement I’m not sure it benefitted my career directly; I was undecided at the time with regards to the sector I wanted to work in after graduation. Having said that, it did make up my mind that I wanted a career in libraries rather than museums.
Working in a variety of schools and education centres gave me the experience I needed and the chance to realise my potential in teaching. Additional to the individual guitar tutor sessions I provide, I volunteer at a school in the Mathematics department because that is where I aim to be once I graduate with a PGCE. My newly started YouTube channel demonstrates the music I like to learn, and gives a taste of my ability as a guitarist.
I contributed over 100 hours of work experience collectively in separate schools over the last two years of University. This helped me to decide that teaching is where I really want to be. The latest of those placements is what has directed me to Maths instead of Music.
The highlights of studying at Huddersfield for me have to be the contacts I have made through University, and the ways of which I have met them: the weird and wonderful bands that I formed with friends; receiving tuition from top-class musicians that I will undoubtedly keep in touch with for the foreseeable future (more notably Mik Crone and Toby Martin) and having the opportunity to watch so many recitals held by professional musicians and student alike.
Why did you choose to study at University of Huddersfield?
I chose the University because of its situation in a large town nature rather than a city. And I chose the Broadcast Journalism course as it was more specialised than just a general media production course.
Which modules do you particularly enjoy? Are there any that have inspired you to consider a particular career path?
"Television Journalism" - it's led me to realise I want to become a professional camera operator because I'm interested in the world of on-location filming.
What are the best aspects of the course here at University of Huddersfield?
In my opinion, I think its the location and the access to equipment.
Have you done any projects with outside clients during your course? Or have you got any coming up?
I have - I'm self employed and am used as an out-source camera operator for a production company.
What career plans do you have when you graduate from University?
I want to pursue being a journalistic videographer and photographer. And I want to complete an MA degree at some point in the future.
Do you have any advice for anyone thinking of applying to study your course?
Work for as many people as possible in your own time; build up your contacts and don't be tied down by course specifics. Take from it what you need!
How would you sum up your experience at the University?
Full of opportunities.
Upon writing this I'm about to embark on a 2-week placement at Sky Sports News (August 2015) whilst also taking my free weekend during that period to work with Sky News. In the past I've worked with Sky News on location for their General Election coverage, whilst also being part of the Radio Hud management team which included presenting on air.
To look at the various other projects I have been involved in, including my work in print, radio and television journalism, please visit my LinkedIn
I am developing a portfolio career and have done freelance work for a client. I run a blog which revolves around mental health issues along with my approach about current and world affairs.
I'm in regular employment at Hull FC Rugby League Club as a media executive which includes media enquiries and social media management.
During my time at Huddersfield I did a placement at the Rugby Football League in my final year as part of the compulsory module. What I was doing helped me with my job now because it was in the same business which allowed me to build relationships with those I worked with and develop contacts in the industry. It also it helped me develop skills in writing press releases and managing social media.
The University was very good because of its links with industry. The tutors all had experience in the field and I could get experience for the career I wanted to go into.
I am an Interactor at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter. My job involves giving tours to visitors, answering any questions about the Harry Potter novels and films and interacting with people of all ages. I work forty hours a week, as well as having begun to develop my acting portfolio.
I was allowed to take a creative writing course in my final year, which has helped me develop my script writing skills. In my final year, I took part in and helped develop the Musical Theatre Society, performing in the final musical of the year. Also, in my final, I played Viola in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and this made me realise that I would love to be a Shakespearian actor. And, of course, I made a great deal of friends at University, who I adore.
Shauna is studying a Journalism BA(Hons) degree - take a look at her video. She talks about our facilities such as the TV studio, which gives a feel for what it's really like to make a news broadcast programme. She also talks about writing for the University student magazine. She says her tutors still work in Journalism and are up to date with what's happening in the industry. She incorporates a placement one day a week as part of her degree and explains how there are plenty of work opportunities available.
I am a self-employed actor, dancer, creative writer, radio presenter, marketing field interviewer and support worker in primary schools
My interests lie in creative writing, acting and dancing; I like to think creatively and analytically. I enjoy meeting new people of all ages and backgrounds because it gives me an insight to different cultures and varied views about the world. This also excites me as I can learn from their experiences and gain further knowledge. I express myself through writing and performing arts. Overall, I have a liberal approach to life, I believe anything can be obtained if you are dedicated to make it happen.
Market Field Researcher: In this job role I am working for a marketing company who have clients from the Science Museum Group, Hepworth Wakefield and The Deep. My job role entailed me to carry out interviews with the public that visited these venues. To carry out research through a feedback survey, the gathered information was then produced in a form of a report. I have travelled to different venues such as Manchester Science Museum, York Railway Museum and Bradford Media museum; this also included events such as Torquay’s Air Show and Northumberland’s Tall Ships. Interacting with the public increased my communication and confidence with dealing with various members of the public. Doing exceptionally well in my field research work, I also worked at the main office, working on the reports and making presentations out of these reports. Furthermore, I am currently training new recruits.
I am part of the actors pool at Collingwood Learning and I have a radio programme (the morning breakfast show) on the radio frequency 1413 AM, Bradford Asian Radio.
The highlights of my chosen degree at University of Huddersfield was building up my confidence, learning and gaining knowledge in Drama.
Simona Tiskute is a Lithuanian student who started as an undergraduate on the History with a Modern Language BA, going on to receive a first class degree and winning the Renaissance Prize. She recently completed her Master’s in History. Hear how she settled into life at the University of Huddersfield and made the most of her opportunities.
"I'm currently studying for a PGCE in Secondary Music at Manchester Metropolitan University which will allow me to become a fully qualified Secondary School Music teacher by July 2015. I am halfway through my first placement and already reaching on teaching 30 lessons independently. The course is very challenging but is also very rewarding. I also play the saxophone in different bands for fun and teach the saxophone and other woodwind instruments freelance.
"I keep my Twitter account up to date with what I am up to on a regular basis.
About my studies:
"For me, taking part in all of the vast variety of bands were most rewarding. Not only was it fun playing in all of the different bands, but it also great for socialising, particularly with students from different years. The Music department in Huddersfield is like a large family; I felt like I knew everyone and everyone got on with each other which made my whole experience at University as a whole very enjoyable. There was also a great variety of modules to take that can be tailored to your interests and needs.
"In my second and third year, I took two modules that involved professional practice. This allowed me to have placements in schools or Music Services and gave me some invaluable school experience that really helped me get on to my PGCE course. It also gave me a taste of what I wanted to do as a future career and helped me confirm that this was what I wanted to do."
“In my first year I studied the ‘Introduction to Narrative’ module and the ‘Writing for English Studies’ module. These two modules in particular challenged me, but also helped me to realise that my interest and abilities stretched beyond linguistics."
“The University is extremely student-focused. The staff within the English department have always encouraged and assisted me with my path of study, informing me of further opportunities that were open to me that I would otherwise have remained unaware of. I was allocated a personal tutor, but found that in addition to my tutor, many other tutors have an open door policy which means I am able to discuss all aspects of my study - both academic and otherwise - with approachable and helpful staff." “In October this year I reviewed a Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel by a member of the Psychology Department. This was a paid project which brought me to the attention by the Head of Creative Writing, Michael Stewart, and off the back of this I've been asked to review more of this author’s work. I've also made professional contacts for similar, future projects.
“My goal is to continue into postgraduate study, with a view to one day becoming a lecturer. I intend to explore writing and editing as a possible means to help me to fund further study, whilst expanding on the skills I have already acquired at university. I’m keeping my options open! “Do it! I have found the whole university journey extremely enlightening and liberating - so much so that I don’t plan on leaving just yet. I would encourage anyone applying to study English Literature, Creative Writing and/or Linguistics at Huddersfield to go for it, safe in the knowledge that the University staff will support and assist you, whilst also allowing you to fine-tune your own pathway through your degree.”
Highlights:
I enjoyed jointly organising two conferences. The first was Class, Culture and Community: Labour History in Action, which was held in association with the Society for the Study of Labour History, in 2010. In 2013 I jointly organised an interdisciplinary conference with a colleague from Manchester Metropolitan University, called Northern Identities: Constructions of Space, Place and Region.
As a part-time PhD student I was rarely on campus but I enjoyed giving papers about my research at many conferences and talks to local community groups.
Having worked in regional newspapers with a wealth of advertising, marketing and business management experience for fourteen or so years, I took the opportunity to go back to University with the aim of changing my career to that of teaching. So for the last three years while studying at the University of Huddersfield, in addition to a number of part-time jobs to pay for the obligatory student nights out, I have had the opportunity to build on my experience and hone my business development skills at Karonia Surfaces. September holds a new challenge for me, I start my teacher training at Trinity Teaching Schools Alliance in Halifax.
Due to my previous success, I'm currently studying a PhD in History focusing on the potential application of Forensic ballistics in 20th Century conflict archaeology, although my work has applications outside this time frame too. My thesis is primarily focused on experimental testing and battlefield archaeology at a number of European sites, most notably Crete, the Aegean and Holland.
I completed a dual work placement spread over few months. Mainly this involved the design, implementation and execution of an event and workshop at the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield but I was also heavily involved in collecting oral history interviews from members of the public sharing their insight into the changing face of the town itself.
I enjoyed every minute of my university course, it was a challenge but nothing of value comes easily.
I worked hard to become a pop and dance producer, but I became more than I expected - a film composer.
I am self-employed and specialising in TV/Film Music Composition
Currently I'm working as a self employed composer doing mostly TV commercials. I recently made a score for a short film and I'm looking for more opportunities like that.
On my course I didn't take a work placement, but I worked with a few local musicians and course mates, who constantly kept me busy and helped me prepare myself to write different kinds of music and to be able to work well in a team.
When you talk to a lot of students, they've never thought about Huddersfield. Since I can't, then, ask them to think again, I'd tell them to think about it for the first time.
A compact and friendly placed nestled in Huddersfield (which the BBC called "Yorkshire's hidden gem"), the University itself has a plethora of approachable staff and what feels like a genuine commitment to improving the student experience. On the History course though, this experience is already pretty top notch.
With a very broad spectrum covered in its first year, gradually allowing you to focus on the topics and periods you'reinterested in the most, you're almost always assured of a lecturer with obvious expertise and passion for their subject. Friendly and mindful of the needs of their students, the staff do their best to offer support beyond lectures and seminars to ensure you achieve your potential.
The placement programme in the second year is great. I worked in the local MP's office, carrying out case work and getting a sense of how things work in politics. It was a highly worthwhile experience, as I've gone straight into a full-time job as a direct result of it: I'm now a researcher and case worker for the same MP. That's what Huddersfield's especially good at - getting graduates into employment.
I enjoyed my three years at Huddersfield. Aside from the interesting course content and varied means of assessment, the nightlife is fun and there's plenty to do. The University, like the town, is a hidden gem and I'd recommend anyone to arrange to visit. Enjoyable education, supportive staff and promising prospects? History at Huddersfield is at least worth a thought.
"For my final year project I was originally going to do a standard dissertation on the 1984-85 miners’ strike; however the tutor that I was going to do it with was leaving and Rob Ellis's module still gave me the opportunity to work with the history of coal mining with a chance to work at the National Coalmining Museum. I helped make an exhibition which is expected to be viewed by up to 100,000 people and even made BBC's Look North! On top of this, the placement gave me work experience to put on to my CV.
This museum experience proved vital when applying for a part-time job at the Royal Armouries. Whilst I already had experience in teaching and other work, I needed curator specific experience to apply. The work involves giving talks and demonstrations to platoons on both historical weapons and weapons that could be used against them in modern times.
I managed to get a first class degree overall and also won an award for the Military Swords Ltd best Arms and Armour student. This allowed me to win a Master's degree scholarship and tuition fee waiver. My Master's will be on 'Why did the British Army adopt the Magazine Lee-Metford rifle over its competitors in 1888?' - and my work at the Royal Armouries ties nicely into this topic. My goal is then to go on and study for a PhD."
I'm from Wakefield, which is only down the road from Huddersfield but still chose to live over here to make the most of student life. I joined the University's Gaelic Football Society, as throughout my whole life I had always played football and rugby and wanted to try something I'd never heard of. By the third year of Uni I'd won the most improved player.
I loved my time at University so much that I'm delighted to be staying at least another year. Huddersfield is close to other big cities, so I often go over to Leeds, Sheffield or York to do research for my course or to try out the nightlife.
I am currently studying for an MA by Research in History at the University of Huddersfield. My research is on religion in the early modern era, using material culture. During my second year of studies, I completed an eight-week work placement at the Huddersfield Library. My role was as a volunteer researcher for a First World War centenary project. This helped to build some work experience in a relevant field which utilised my history skills. I built up strong working relationships with tutors which have helped with my MA studies.
Freelance songwriter/performer working with various artists.
Performed with Brad Kavanagh at the Nickelodeon Fruit Shoot Skills Awards, and TeenHoot UK at Under The Bridge. Also performed with Jess Bell and Jess Cunnah of Belvadere.
My final major project at University was to compose, record, produce and mix a 7-track EP. You can have a listen or even buy it for £2.99 from https://tylerrhys.bandcamp.com/album/this-day
My time at the University of Huddersfield was everything I expected, and more. The course I studied was exactly what I want.
I chose to go to the University of Huddersfield for many reasons, but the main one was the course and the balance of music and German. I knew that I would like to carry on learning this language, but studying mainly music. This course allowed me to do this perfectly.
Another reason I chose to study here was the amazing facilities. The Creative Arts Building is equipped with computer labs, seminar rooms, a performance hall and a large number of individual practice rooms, which are reasonably sound proofed. Also, the majority of performances take place in the onsite re-designed church, which is stunning and amazing to perform in. There is a good selection of scores, CD’s and music books in the music library. The languages department is also well equipped with a media room and language labs.
For the third year of my 4 year course, I went to Germany to further my languages experience. We were well prepared for this year abroad, by learning useful things like how to use public transport, which was harder than it sounds, considering Germany has many different kinds of trains for different purposes!
I grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin and study at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I graduated in May 2015 with a BM in Theory Composition and am now taking graduate study in Music Composition.
Whilst at this University, I really enjoyed the Music, Gender and Identity module with Dr Lisa Colton. I found the module really interesting with good reading material and great tutors. The lecturers and tutors were all really knowledgeable, their lectures and presentations well prepared and organised. I found all the classes at the University fun and interactive.
The most interesting thing I did whilst here was being a steward for the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. I was able to see various shows, seeing performers from all around the world. One of the biggest difference from my college in America is that this University has twice as many students and has more international students. Huddersfield is much more metropolitan than the city I go to college in.
Studying here allowed me to visit London for a weekend. It was very exciting to experience such a large city. I was able to experience the culture and see various famous landmarks and attractions. One of the things I learnt as a foreign exchange student was seeing myself professionally in a global way and experiencing different cultures and their music.
Overall, it was amazing, a massive eye-opener experiencing Huddersfield and the British culture. I met some great people who I’m still in contact with. I loved experiencing music in a different culture.
Composer (contract) - Sigtrap Games
I composed the music for Sublevel Zero, a 3D six-degrees-of-freedom space shooter with procedurally generated levels, aiming to match the game's visual style, the soundtrack combines a chiptune style with modern production and acoustic/orchestral elements.
The game's soundtrack is designed to adapt dynamically as the player encounters enemies or moves to different areas in each level. I implemented all of the interactive music using FMOD and some custom tools I developed.
Listen to a demo here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327880/
I am developing a portfolio career specialising in composition and sound design for film, games and other media - audio software, games and website development. I've worked as a composer and sound designer on several small games. I'm also working on several software projects including a browser-based physics game and several audio plugins.
Website
When I made the decision to pursue a career in secondary teaching I decided to specialise in English Language because it's a compulsory subject on the National Curriculum as well as being taught in colleges – I chose to do this so that with my degree I have a wider scope of vacancies to apply for.
I particularly enjoyed Corpus Linguistics, Language of Humour and Language of Power. They were all very interesting and taught by excellent lecturers. The Work Related Project module in second year was also excellent. It meant I was gained experience to further my career in teaching. All the modules increased my passion for English Language, inspired me to become a specialist in my chosen field, introduced me to the linguistics element and put me in a position where I subconsciously analyse language everywhere I go.
The lecturers and academic support staff on my course were simply excellent; they all supported me throughout my studies and assignments. And the Careers Service was really good in offering help on personal statements, arranging talks and interview tips.
"I am self-employed working in the area of Creative Media. I have started a company called Blue Teapot Media which is still in its first year and going very well. We offer services such as Photography, Video Production, Audio Production and Recording. We are currently based in Scunthorpe but can travel all over."
About my studies:
"A great university! So many different courses and options within the courses. The lecturers were great and really helpful. So much collaboration and networking also.
I took a placement year between 2nd and my final year... that was the best decision I ever made."
Before coming to Huddersfield, I was studying elsewhere but not enjoying it - but still wanted a degree. All my friends who chose Huddersfield were telling me they loved it so I threw caution to the wind and moved.
People have been telling me for years that I'm a good writer and should pursue a career that would involve the written word. I decided to test that theory. Currently, I just enjoy being able to write and say it's productive, and the module “ Principles and Practice” enables me to do this. However, “Politics, Society and Journalism” is also an interesting module. I look even more professional when I show people my lecture notes. I'm open to considering a career in politics.
The best aspect of the facilities is simply their availability. My course requires occasional access to the Radio Suite. It's easy to arrange time in there and there's always an available member of staff when I inevitably forget how to do something. Myself and a fellow student went to report on the Tour de Force bike orchestra in Huddersfield in the run up to the Tour de France. What we thought would be simple filming ended up with me building instruments out of bike parts and performing in the town centre. Not something I ever thought I'd do with my life - not something I regret either. I review music and write for a website. Other than that, buying gig tickets with the intention of writing about it is the most I'm doing at the moment.
It's hard to pin down one specific career plan as I want to do a bit of everything with my life but this has certainly broadened my horizons. My second year will likely bring with it a clearer idea of what I want to do with my life. Do it. Make friends. Bother to attend lectures. Regret nothing. I love it. There's always a perfect balance of having something to do and having enough free time for hobbies.
I am currently working in a bar until I can get a job that I can use my degree in. I'm hoping I can do in the near future as working in TV is what I would eventually like to do especially in the directing and editing divisions.
My Highlights of University were performing in shows and making friends that I will have for the rest of my life. Also learning so much about the subjects I love.
I'm currently looking into further study having done a work placement in my second year of university at a secondary school which helped me gain relevant experience in the career field I want to go into. It came in useful for my PGCE application and interview process. I am able to put the knowledge and skills I learnt into my volunteering today. The social life is a major highlight of studying in Huddersfield. Alongside the tutors who were happy to help with any difficulties with assignments.
At the moment I am completing an internship with BBC Asian Network as a production trainee. I also work with a YouTube channel where I produce their online content, such as their videos and social networks.
Whilst I was doing my degree I did many different voluntary jobs such as working at Sunrise Radio and British Muslim TV. I would say to anyone who is at university or going to university that doing work experience or a placement year helps and it gives you a feel of what the job is going to be like, as that is what my experience was like and it gave me more drive to achieve my final goal which was to pass and get the job that I am doing today.
Going to university at Huddersfield was a great time for me. The highlight of my time at Huddersfield was learning, I really enjoyed it because I was able to write about what I had a passion for which was Indian cinema and I got to introduce people to my culture. For example in my second year I produced a portfolio on Asian weddings.
The team in the Journalism and Media department were the best; they gave me a lot of support and help with everything. I would like to personally thank Alistair Billam, Amir Saeed and Martin Cooper - these guys always supported my ideas and guided me through them and if I was stuck or felt lost about was I was going to do afterwards I knew I could talk to one of them.
I am in further study exploring how circus aesthetic can be incorporated into Greek tragedy for a Drama Masters. For this I am using Antigone along with some dedicated first and second year drama students who have given up their time to help with this research. There will be a performance at the end of the academic year.
During my final year we put on a festival which we were required to ensure that all we needed was set up by ourselves. Help was on hand in order to obtain the correct set/lighting/props etc but it was entirely our responsibilty to sort these, giving us an experience in how creating and holding a show worked.
I also really enjoyed the two week intensive course at the end of our first academic year at the University. The whole building became a performance space for the audience to explore themselves.
I work as a teaching assistant in a high school, aiding teachers with the behaviour in the classroom, sometimes doing cover work, supporting students and raising their confidence levels to a 'can do attitude.' I am also a junior editor for i2i publishing; I edit fictional stories as well as non-fiction, ensure the book is polished and ready for print.
For my placement during my course I worked at a high school which has helped me with my teaching. The skills I learnt during my degree have aided me as I am creating a portfolio for my editing. At University I had the resources available and the tutors were friendly and supported me.
My placement provided me with valuable hands on experience that I believe can only really be obtained from actual work experience. As well as developing practical skills, I think that undertaking a placement or some other form of work experience is hugely beneficial to one’s confidence.
As a passionate student of History, taking a degree in this subject was a fantastic experience that I heartily recommend to anyone. Whatever interests you, there’s something in history that will suit you. I relished the challenge of pushing myself and achieving the best grades that I possibly could. I thoroughly enjoyed the extracurricular aspects to University life. I have made some wonderful friends and have great memories of my time at University.
I work as the distribution manager at a record wholesaler. I distribute worldwide for a number of record labels that are rooted in electronic/bass music. A significant portion of my work involves customer service; maintaining a healthy and personal relationship with the shops that I offer records to is a key part of my role. Additionally, along with my boss, I spend some time managing the labels on our roster. This involves keeping the labels up to date with sales performance, planning future releases and offering advice if needed.
My placement on the Sound System Culture project was key in the development of my career. Before undertaking the placement, I saw my love for music as a hobby rather than something that I could build a career on. My time working with SSC gave me the opportunity to work on a topic that I am particularly keen on, and gave me the confidence to decide to pursue a career in something I love. Furthermore, it served as evidence for my employer that I had a significant interest in music.
I am currently studying Modern History at MA level at the University of Leeds, which continued on from my undergraduate study at the University of Huddersfield. In this I am studying Britain and the Slave Trade, Stalinist Terror and The Continuation of War by Other Means.
During the 2nd year I did a work experience placement with Dark Cleo Productions. During this, I wrote several reviews and attended an event whereby I promoted the company via presenting what the company represented.
My Highlights of Unversity were studying various key points throughout history, ranging from the Crusades to Nazi Germany, inspiring the in-depth research to understand and sssess them in detail.
I'm currently a teaching assistant at a local high school, working specifically with children who have special educational needs in a high school setting. I hope the experience I gain in this role will help me move on into a teaching qualification.
I am in regular employment as a Business Support Officer for the Kirklees Youth Offending Team (Huddersfield and Dewsbury), working for Kirklees Council. My role includes basic admin (photocopying, creating letters etc), data input and retrieval, handling money, screening phone calls and signposting as required.
One of my modules included a 3 month placement, where I was introduced to "real" working life for the first time and gave me solid experience that extended past my previous spells which only lasted a week or two.
The main highlight of studying at university for me was the development of my confidence, not only with the help of tutors, but also the Disability and Wellbeing team who supported me with my mental health issues. As a result of their support I was able to complete my placement, control my workload and meet assignment deadlines. The support from the University throughout my time of study gave me the confidence to take opportunities such as visiting Coronation Street and Emmerdale on my own, as well as the confidence to apply for my Masters. The enthusiasm of my tutors (particularly my Creative Writing tutors) also developed my passion for writing and helped me finally find my ideal career path.
I supervise a small Oxfam store in Manchester city centre. This includes leading small teams of staff members in running the store to its best standards. It allows me to be creative and show leadership skills, whilst raising as much money as possible. In addition, I run a self-hosted book blog, managing a team of five writers in total. This started as a hobby and has developed in to a small business. We write reviews, create recommendation lists and updates with the 'book world'.
I started working at Oxfam Bookshop Huddersfield due to a 'Language in the workplace' module during my second year of Uni. I stayed in that position after my module ended and progressed within the company. I took on more responsibility in the Huddersfield shop and moved to the Manchester stores to become a supervisor and run one of their smaller stores. Working at Oxfam made me love customer service work. I am planning to keep working my way up within Oxfam, having tried my hand at other jobs within the company such as Street Fundraising.
While I was studying at Huddersfield some of the staff went above and beyond in order to get you the grades that you needed to make it through. They offered more than just help with work, but any emotional and personal support that was necessary with the course. It was an honour to work with the staff in the English Department. I had the opportunity to be involved in projects such as T'Hud (the student paper) whilst at Uni, and it was a highlight for me to be able to be a part of something a larger audience would read. I had the opportunity to write about things I'm passionate about with a very focused, determined and lovely team of people. Similarly the atmosphere of studying at Huddersfield was great. The campus is relaxed yet focused and really enhanced my time studying there.
