What will your story be?
Â鶹AV is for people who want a story worth telling. Our students come from all walks of life. What unites them is that at Â鶹AV they discovered what they were capable of.
Read their journeys and see where a degree from Â鶹AV could take you.
Undergraduate student stories Postgraduate student stories
Undergraduate student stories
Finola Elmes – BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice (Distance Learning)
Finola found part-time distance learning a perfect way to refocus her career, with plenty of practical work experience opportunities.
Evgenia Georgieva: You can thrive academically and create lasting connections with like-minded individuals
Evgenia says the teaching and clinical experience is excellent on her Dental Hygiene degree at Â鶹AV. Find out why.
Cerys Coppins: Â鶹AV is such a wonderful place to live while you're studying
Cerys from Cornwall tells us why she chose to study BA (Hons) Musical Theatre at the Â鶹AV
Adam Charlton: Product design felt like my way out of the classroom and into the workshop
Adam's BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree led to a job in Hong Kong and his own product design agency.
Adele Gibb: We race the Formula Student Car in July and spend the year designing, manufacturing and testing
Adele's MEng Mechanical Engineering degree set her up for a Chartership in engineering.
Adele Miller: University has taught me to trust my gut instinct
Adele followed her passions and graduated in BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design.
Adriana Jumin: After seeing how respected the university’s architecture course was, I was ready to pack my bags
Adriana’s decision to combine art and maths by studying BA (Hons) Architecture abroad helped her achieve her dream to work internationally.
Aina Barceló Jordana: I fell in love with the idea of being an architect
Aina moved countries for a BA (Hons) Architecture degree that fit her perfectly.
Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi: I wanted a city that had everything going on, but I also wanted somewhere with a sense of community
From developing art to meeting new friends, read about Alecsandra's time studying BA (Hons) Photography.
Alex Saunders: Getting to put the skills I’ve gained into practice has allowed me to see how much I’ve learnt
Alex's time studying BA (Hons) Journalism at Â鶹AV taught him to see the world in a different way.
Amber Burton: The part of my degree that I enjoyed the most was being inspired by my lecturers daily
Amber's BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Statistics degree helped her to secure her dream job before graduation.
Anjali Kugarajh: My wish to become an astronaut grew into a wish to study and research the universe
Anjali joined our seaside city from Norway to study MPhys Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology.
Aurora Way: It was the first time I voiced that I was a female artist and really believed it
Aurora studied BA (Hons) Photography and developed her technical skills and confidence in her own artwork, which prepared her for her career after uni.
Ben Willets: There’s no doubt I’ve changed since starting university
Ben moved to Â鶹AV to study BA (Hons) Journalism and combine his love of sports with his future career.
Beulah Waritimi: If I was going to study a subject I loved, I was going to have to apply through Clearing
Beulah changed subjects after studying sciences at A-Level and secured a place in Clearing on BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages.
Bo Sun Lam: What really stood out was how Â鶹AV mixed creativity with the business of art
Bo followed his dream of becoming an artist, and started by studying BA (Hons) and MA Illustration.
Byron Melton: I always thought university was only for the rich and privileged
Byron's work placements and network opportunities on his BA (Hons) Journalism degree set him up for his career.
Charles Dalby: My four years at university transformed me
Charles’s time at university studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Psychology helped him learn how to advocate for himself and begin a career he feels passionate about.
Chris Choy: At Â鶹AV there are always people here to help
Chris made the most of every opportunity while studying BSc (Hons) Mathematics, and graduated with the tools to succeed.
Christopher Fisher: I wanted to study a subject that would challenge me and allow me to see applications of maths in the real world
Christopher combined his interest in maths and space with MPhys Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, and took an industrial placement year to build his experience.
Coline Lejeune: It wasn’t an easy decision to go back to university at 25
After completing a law degree, Coline took some time to decide what to do next. Coline's love for cinema steered her to BA (Hons) Film Industries.
Cristian Ionut Necula: I was keen to participate in as many projects as I could to really get the most out of my degree
Cristian worked on projects in the UK and abroad during his BA (Hons) Film Production degree.
Daniella Faulkner: I went to Luxembourg with my co-worker to start the final part of our project on placement
Daniella's placement helped her become more decisive, independent and confident in my own abilities during her BA (Hons) Business and Management degree.
Delia Gadea: Â鶹AV had one of the few courses that mixed lectures with actually learning in the field
Delia's BSc (Hons) Environmental Studies degree built on her work and helped launch her career promoting sustainability and environmental action.
Eddie Koppoe: Before my year abroad, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my degree
Eddie's study abroad experience helped him to discover his passion for sport finance while studying BSc (Hons) Sports Management and Development.
Eleonora Chioatto: I'm studying at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, before returning to Â鶹AV
Building industry experience and knowledge was a key consideration for Eleonora when choosing her BSc (Hons) Criminology with Psychology degree.
Emily Haysom: I was accepted for a year’s internship at The Walt Disney Company
Hear from Emily Haysom, BA (Hons) Media and Digital Practice graduate who completed a placement year to boost her studies.
Emily Merrit: I found a course and a career where I can use my creativity alongside my problem solving skills
Emily's BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting degree and careers support helped her to develop her goal of working in audio and visuals for events.
Emma Elson: After the first Open Day I knew that this was where I wanted to study
Emma overcame her fear of moving away from home to study BA (Hons) Film Production and pursue her goal of becoming a successful film producer.
Glen Wicken: University made me realise that I can be entrepreneurial and not be afraid to give things a go
Glen transformed his career and set up his own business with his BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree when he returned to education after a brain injury.
Holly Esson: I found out about Foundation Degrees, a kind-of ‘pre-degree’ course where you can top-up your skills and progress to a full degree afterwards
After being disappointed in her A-Level results, Holly studied a foundation degree and went on to study MEng Mechanical Engineering.
Imogene Goodman: I now recognise how rewarding broadening my creative gaze can be
Imogene explored a range of skills and topics to find her passions during her BA (Hons) Animation degree.
Isobel Linsel: Finally, there are people as passionate as I am about this!
Isobel's BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies degree helped her discover a passion for campaigning for wrongly convicted prisoners.
Javier Dieguez: I wanted to work in games since about 15
Javier learnt software engineering principles and developed his passion for game programming on his BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree.
Jerry Zezhou Li: The city grabbed me – the history, the sea, the liveliness of it all
Jerry’s research is helping him develop packaging to better suit the environment, customer experience and sales with his BA (Hons) Hospitality Management degree.
Josiane Wilson: I wanted to take some time abroad before starting full-time employment
Josiane spent a year in France as an au pair and studied BSc (Hons) Psychology.
Katie Duxbury: Without my placement year, I don’t think I would have as much certainty about where I want my career to go
Katie's BA (Hons) Media Studies degree and placement experience led her to winning an award for Best Placement Student of the Year 2018.
Katie Purkis: I found the tutors so welcoming and understanding
Katie's BA (Hons) Illustration degree allowed her flourish and find her illustrative style after dealing with with loss during her A-levels.
Kristie Thorne: My placement gave me a career goal
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies student Kristie completed a placement as a forensic technician, which developed her knowledge and prepared her for her future career.
Kunwen Chen: After seeing how nice the city and staff were, I realised that the Â鶹AV was a really good choice for me
Kunwen discovered new filmmaking opportunities through a study exchange between Beijing and Â鶹AV on BA (Hons) Film Production.
Lena Lee Vun Shin: The thing that really hooked me? The facilities.
Lena's BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology degree gave her the insight she needed to write her next book.
Lisa Van Hees: My dissertation combined everything I’d learnt in film and allowed me to become a more established writer
Lisa moved to the UK to build on their existing film knowledge and develop creative writing skills with BA (Hons) Film Industries and Creative Writing.
Livia Fierro: I feel like I’ve found a University that cares about me and who I am
Livia secured a place on her BA (Hons) International Development Studies degree through Clearing.
Lorna Tan: The course pushed my skills to a higher level and showed me what it takes to be a professional animator
Lorna's BA (Hons) Animation degree led her to work with the BBC as a professional animator.
Madison Ford: My course has really allowed me to grow as a person and as a creative professional
Madison studied BA (Hons) Illustration, and used her placement year experience to improve her final year and freelance work.
Megan Cato: My placement was life-changing
From the perfect placement to first class honours, BSc (Hons) Criminology with Psychology student Megan takes us on her inspirational university journey.
Mihaela Pavel: The financial implications of studying in the UK made me quite nervous
Mihaela's BA (Hons) Animation degree helped her discover her animation passions and her first freelance clients.
Mimi Nwosu: When I applied for university, I didn't have an A-Level in Physics or Maths. Â鶹AV took a chance on me.
Mimi’s BEng Civil Engineering degree equipped her for life beyond university, where she won a Rising Star Award from ICE.
Naomi Morris: I can put my academic thinking into what I see in the field, then bring my experience back to the classroom
Naomi's Master's and experience in foreign aid led to her role as a lecturer in Humanitarian Emergency Response and Recovery after studying Bsc (Hons) Environmental Hazards.
Ndanu Brown: The idea of analysing crime scenes was so interesting, like real life mysteries
Ndanu's BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies degree helped her find a passion and focus for her life through helping others.
Niamh McEnery-Cartwright: My internship helped me obtain my dream job
Niamh’s passion for forensic science, developed during her BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies degree, allowed her to bag her dream job.
Nick Hook: Thank God I took the time to find the path that was right for me
Nick’s BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree led him to a job in the automotive industry, just a week after graduating.
Oliver Whitehead: I’ve worked with the University as a freelance photographer
Oliver's BA (Hons) Photography degree gave him the confidence to pursue a photography career in London.
Petar Ganov: My passion for languages helped me to study abroad
During his year abroad, BA (Hons) Applied Languages student Petar experienced a whole new world which allowed him to grow both personally and professionally.
Pia Ewers: My accredited course combines practical journalistic skills with theoretical knowledge
Pia's international experience gave her the opportunity to develop as a person and a professional while studying BA (Hons) Journalism with Media Studies.
Precious Mshengu: If I, as a single parent, didn't set an example for my children, who would?
As a mature student and mother, Precious found the perfect balance between her studies and home life to achieve her BA (Hons) Business Enterprise Development degree.
Rob Milne: The University really encourages personal development — and not just academic achievement
Rob's accredited BSc (Hons) Property Development degree opened doors for his future and led to his interest in property law.
Sam Stenton: My placement transformed my final year
Sam's degree led to a placement experience that enhanced his understanding when he studied BSc (Hons) Computer Science.
Samantha Chihuri: Studying here gave me the confidence I needed
Discover how BA (Hons) International Relations student Samantha’s confidence-building university experience supported her personal and professional goals.
Sanjeevan Ananthasigamany: Academically, my biggest achievement has been obtaining and completing an industrial placement at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Sanjeevan’s degree and industrial placement year have been highly transferable, which helped him find a job at Airbus
Sára Kozáková: Taking a passion for languages abroad
BA (Hons) Applied Languages student Sára found her second home here at the Â鶹AV.
Savannah Pascall: When I was in college, I used to feel quite lost. I don’t feel like that here.
Savannah put her passion for computing and projects into practice on her BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering degree.
Shashi Kaur: I never imagined I would be capable of achieving so much in such a short amount of time
While studying LLB (Hons) Law with us, Shashi was elected Secretary and then President of the Law Society.
Simon Ian Scully: Â鶹AV is a fantastic place to live, explore and study
Simon's BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree helped him to develop both technically and creatively, as well as to build a great portfolio of projects after he graduated.
Sohavi Kaur Bhamber: The highlight of my course has been going on placement
Sohavi studied BA (Hons) Architecture and Interior Design and worked with the Creative Careers team to secure a placement with RPA Group.
Thomas Best: It’s been quite challenging to balance a job, coursework and a personal practice, but the results have been worth the effort
Thomas balanced his job, coursework and personal practice to pursue his academic goals in BA (Hons) Photography.
Tom Storey: For someone like me, who needed this degree to help me get on and get a job, that focus on employment was huge
Tom's role as a new father led him to a new career path as a practicing lawyer after completing his LLB Law with Business degree.
Tom White: Whatever I go on to do in the future and whomever I go on to be, it will all have started here
Tom’s BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree put him on the path to an internship in theatre and a Master’s at acting school.
Tranee Pope: I developed my skills as a musician, beat maker and producer in college; but I knew I needed to develop my skills in the technical aspects of music
Tranee's BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology degree is helping her pursue a goal of starting a record label and increasing diversity in the industry.
Tyler Truett-Bond: I started exploring how I could combine my passion for video games and Esports with my future development
Tyler's BSc (Hons) Computer Games Enterprise degree gave him experiences that influenced his career path.
Venus Haochun Chen: This university made me the person I want to be
Venus's BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles degree led her to the Batsford Prize shortlist and a feature in Graduate Fashion Week's Talent of Tomorrow photoshoot.
Vincent Pericard: They didn’t just look at my grades, they looked at me, the person behind them
Vincent's BA (Hons) Business and Enterprise Development degree helped him kickstart a new career in mental health and business after leaving professional football.
Postgraduate student stories
Tolani Olabamiji – PhD Architecture, Interiors and Urbanism
When Tolani was considering where to pursue a research degree, it was clear Â鶹AV is the ideal place
Andrew Nomoja: The University helped me get to the point where I really consider myself as successful
Andrew's PhD in Physics helped him become an outstanding educator, with the course flexibility supporting his part-time work as a Physics teacher at an independent school.
Angelica Timblick: I was ready to challenge myself, even if that meant changing everything
Angelica's MA Marketing experience as a mature student saw her overcome challenges and tragedy to chase her dreams.
Temisaren Odeka: I was overwhelmed because it was my first time travelling internationally, but the experience was far beyond what I expected
Temisaren travelled internationally for the first time to study MSc Geographical Information Systems Master's with us, which prepared him for his career in the UN on the world food programme.
Arthur Tolley: I'm confident I made the right decision choosing to pursue my PhD here
Arthur's PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology is opening doors for him to become a published researcher.
Baboo Kunalsing Askurn: I chose Â鶹AV because of the high employability prospects
Baboo's LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad CG degree led him to a graduate role in Corporate and International Banking at Barclays.
Beatrice Ashton-Lelliott: My PhD supervisor is one of the only other people in the world who has the knowledge and experience necessary to supervise my work
Beatrice’s PhD in English Literature led to funded research trips and the confidence to explore the impact of her work.
Beth Thomas: I was determined to start this research and Â鶹AV were willing to help me do it
Beth's is growing her knowledge to improve the lives of children with her MRes Childhood Studies Master's.
Charles Hervey: The University has helped me take up opportunities and been there for me when I need assistance
Charles’ MSc Sports Performance Master’s has helped him work toward his goal of working overseas in youth development.
Charles Oduk II: I enjoyed my undergraduate degree at Â鶹AV so much that I wanted to come back to continue my studies
Charles returned to Â鶹AV for his MSc Digital Business Management Master’s after completing BA (Hons) in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, and is building his skills to pursue his goals as an entrepreneur.
Conner Murphy: My degree apprenticeship has been a great way of studying while still working full time
Conner built a solid foundation for his career by growing his knowledge and understanding with our Postgraduate Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (Engineering Competence) PgDip.
Danielle Hayter: I got involved in the research culture and community at the University and wanted to continue being a part of that
Danielle received competitive internal and external funding to pursue her research with the PhD ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership.
David Jones: I want to finish my PhD and make a difference to ocean conservation
David started working on the ocean plastic pollution issue in 2009, and started their PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences after completing MSc Coastal and Marine Resource Management with us.
H Plane: What's special about the MA Graphic Design course is that I was able to join it despite doing a different undergraduate degree
H's MA Graphic Design Master's gave them the freedom to explore new topics and become a confident designer.
Hannah Coombs: Â鶹AV helped me to build the confidence to not fall straight into a career, and to follow paths what I enjoy
PhD in Literary Studies student, Hannah Coombs, went from not knowing what she wanted to do after uni, to finding the perfect path to research.
Hasan Altooq: I've lived in and visited many cities across the UK but never found "Home" in any city other than Â鶹AV
After studying MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management here Hassan joined us for a PhD in Mathematics, thanks to our inspirational academics and available support.
Hayley Irvine: The simulation suite facilities are second-to-none
Hayley's MSc Physician Associate Studies Master's led her to achieve her goal of becoming a physician associate.
Jakub Budzioch: From the first day, my course concentrated on the impact of digital technology on the business world
The pandemic led Jakub to re-examine his career path and make the most of his MSc Digital Business Management studies.
Jeremy Ali: Â鶹AV seemed to be uniquely centred around student health and well-being
Support from both his employer and the Â鶹AV have been key in enabling Jeremy to gain a first-class Master of Architecture and Professional Practice (MArch) degree.
Jon Brooks: This Master’s has assisted me in progressing my career
A flexible and supportive approach to learning has enabled Jon to achieve an MA Business Management Master’s degree as well as progressing his career.
Joshua Mason: Â鶹AV is one of the few universities where my course is professionally accredited
Joshua's MSc Building Information Management Master's gave him the support to develop his curiosity in his field.
Linda Kemoli: My Master's is centred around creating a final major project, which has allowed me to bring my two passions together
Linda's MA Illustration Master's equipped her to pursue her passion to improve road safety in Kenya through illustration.
Lucy Oliver: What really attracted me to Â鶹AV was how flexible it was
Lucy's LLB (Hons) Law and MSc Sports Management Master's degrees supported her role in the Football Association and helped her be part of the movement within women’s football.
Mircea Iustin Dobrean: I’ve learnt how to be a professional, and what it means to collaborate with the local community
Mircea’s MA Architecture Master’s gave him the freedom to shape himself as an industry professional.
Nic Hesse – MBA Strategic Leadership (Senior Leader Apprenticeship)
Nic’s Master’s gave him the confidence to lead his corporate division’s strategic planning process, a role previously performed by someone much higher up in the organisation.
Rachel Dominey: The University offered me courses that can be applied in a work-based environment
Rachel's Professional Doctorate in Health Science allowed her to apply her research in a clinical setting while working for the NHS.
Rania Azmi: For me, Â鶹AV bridged the gap between academia and practical work
Rania was able to meet some of the finest minds in her field through her experiences during her Goal Programming Research Doctorate.
Robert Lawrence: I've always been supported by the staff in my department and I will certainly stay in contact with them after my PhD
Robert's Molecular Microbiology PhD gave him access to careers support and research opportunities to kickstart his career in academia.
Roxanne Smith: You are never alone with services like Wellbeing, the Student Finance Centre and Careers and Employability
Roxanne's MSc Health Psychology Master's showed her how much she can achieve by stepping out of her comfort zone.
Rubie Targema-Takema: Pursuing a postgraduate degree in technology equips me with the skills, network and information to solve real problems
PhD in Computing student, Rubie Targema-Takema followed her passion for technology and her dreams to implement change in the world.
Russell Moreland: I felt like the ambitions for the course matched my career ambitions
Russell's MArch Architecture Master's developed his voice and confidence in his role in the architecture industry.
Samuel Brooks: I chose to do a postgraduate degree to complement the practical knowledge I'd gained in the workplace
Sam’s MA Conservation Architecture Master’s helped him explore his passion for conservation architecture and inspire his future research.
Serena Cunsolo: My research will contribute to a better understanding of how efficiently different types of wastewater systems remove microplastics
Serena's Civil Engineering PhD is helping her promote technologies that prevent microplastics from entering our oceans and research the environmental impact of plastic pollution.
Sophie Quintin: I have a fantastic supervisory team, love the sea and all things maritime so I'm very happy living and studying in Â鶹AV!
Sophie's PhD in International Relations exposed her to a vibrant research community and gave her a drive to make a difference to ocean governance.
Swapnil Upadhyay: It took time to adjust to a new culture and education system - but Â鶹AV made this transition easier for me
Swapnil's experience as an international student saw him overcome challenges and gain hands-on experience in Civil Engineering with MSc Construction Project Management.
Toni James: Students are not only taught academically, but also trained for a future career
Toni’s MSc Economics, Finance And Banking Master’s prepared her for the start of a new career in corporate employment.
Kaouthar Stambouli: At Â鶹AV, I’ve learnt excellent teamwork skills, excellent practical skills and great theoretical knowledge
Kaouthar's MSc Electronic Engineering Master's gave her the practical experience to develop her knowledge and confidence in her subject.
Gold rating in national assessment of teaching excellence
Our TEF Gold rating ranks Â鶹AV amongst the top universities in the UK for teaching.