Student Life Apply Edition 2022 by University of Plymouth

STUDENT Apply Edition HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY FOR YOU

YOUR WELLBEING AT UNI THE FUTURE OF OUR CAMPUS OUR STUDENTS INFLUENCING CHANGE

PLYMOUTH.AC.UK/STUDENTLIFE

Admissions +44 (0)1752 585858 admissions@plymouth.ac.uk plymouth.ac.uk School & College Liaison Ruth Bennett, Education Liaison & Outreach Manager outreach@plymouth.ac.uk University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon PL4 8AA United Kingdom

Beautiful beaches and green spaces are right on your doorstep in Plymouth

Inside...

APPLY EDITION

HOT TOPIC P. 4 Your wellbeing at uni Our students share their top tips for taking care of your wellbeing

Welcome to the Apply edition of Student Life. Inside you will find tips on applying, advice from current students and what exciting things you can expect when studying in Britain’s Ocean City. Going to university isn’t just about exploring the subject you love. You’ll be joining a new community and making lifelong friends. In this issue, our students share their experiences of university life and how they found where they belong. If you like what you see, come along to one of our open days where you can experience it all for yourself.

Meet some of this issue’s contributors:

Alvania Lawen BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainbility student Alvania shares her passion for environmental conservation and explains how Plymouth has equipped her for her future career. P.6

Antony Ewart MNurs (Hons) Adult and Child Nursing student Find out how Antony returned to education after being inspired to take a huge step out of his comfort zone and change his life’s pathway. P.30

Eleanor Rockett LLB (Hons) Law graduate From a Law degree at Plymouth to building a successful fashion business, one of our graduates, Eleanor, shows how doors are opened by studying a degree at Plymouth. P.32

Rhys Jones BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability student Read about Rhys’ student experience, how he found his community and his best memories of his time in Plymouth. P.14

D O N ’ T BE A ST R AN GER Visit us at an open day

When it comes to finding out if uni feels right for you, nothing compares to an open day. Talk to current students and quiz lecturers about your course. You can register to attend right here:

FEATURES P.24 Buildings that inspire Explore our ever-evolving campus and world-leading facilities. Find out where you could be studying P.10 Saving our seas from plastic Interview with Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS P.42 Student Life with Plymouth podcast The Outreach team host a podcast dedicated to helping you prepare for university

Discover more – order a prospectus

Make sure you don’t miss out on crucial course information, top tips from students and insights into university life. Download or request a prospectus at:

THE GUIDE P.36 Open days guide Discover the benefits of visiting our city and University

H T TOPIC W H AT M AT T ER S TO O UR ST UD EN TS ...

YOUR WELLBEING AT UNI Following what has been a challenging couple of years, we share advice from our students on taking care of ourselves and each other. Charlie

BA (Hons) Architecture student “Taking time away from your work is really important. I have found this surprisingly useful, even right up to the deadline, as it gives you an opportunity to step back and think about your work without getting too wrapped up in it. Taking a break for a short walk or to enjoy some good comfort food is always worthwhile!”

Christina

Dave

te ography gradua contact with BA (Hons) Phot g hydrated, in in ep ke I’m at th re su y mind, e m ak g “I just m and occupyin h as possible, uc . I’m trying m m fil as a g ds in en ch fri a book or wat g in ad re Self-care is . be rk it whether in just doing wo n w do ed gg not to get too bo important.”

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science student “It is so important to find a work and social life balance, so don’t neglect things that bring joy to your life! My top tip is to make a timetable with all your classes and time for studying, while remembering to factor in time for breaks, sports and societies.”

Lauren

Emma

BSc (Hons) Psycholog y graduate “I have fou nd studyin g at the Univ ersity of Plymouth, near the se a, near beau tiful natura l spaces like Dartmoor and Burrat or Reservo ir good for m y mental health. The University even has D rake’s Place Garden an d a small reservoir o n campus, which you can go to if you need so me time out.”

BA (Hons) Acting graduate “I love bein g outdoors and Plymo uth is full of amazing places to discover. Fr om walkin g around the Barbican to discove ring forest s right on m y doorstep , it gives me a great balan ce between th e exciting city life as well as bein g minutes aw ay from th e peaceful co untryside.”

Gaius

BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and Geology graduate “My time at University would not have been the same without the huge network of support and friendship I discovered within my sports club.”

Louise

BSc (Hons) Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology “One of my favourite ways of bringing joy and warmth in my daily life is through food, and especially cooking. I LOVE cooking, spending time in the kitchen, at markets, picking a variety of fruits and veg, and making colourful drinks (juices, smoothies etc).”

7 Hear more from Alvania. Head to her takeover on our Instagram highlights.

Get to know our BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability student from the Seychelles, looking to make a difference and impact change.  Grew up on a farm in the Seychelles, loving and caring for the environment  Enjoys getting hands-on with practical work on her course  Hoping to continue on to a masters degree  Aspires to be an advocate for her island nation

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY YOUR COURSE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH? Since a very young age, I have been incredibly passionate about environmental conservation. I have tried to help my country to the best of my abilities through volunteering. I knew that it was time to put the knowledge behind the passion. I found the BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability course perfectly equipped with what I needed to help my country. CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PASSION FOR THE SUBJECT AREA THAT YOU STUDY? The natural environment to me is literally everything. To put into context, I grew up on an island and to narrow it even further, I grew up surrounded by a farm. All I know is how to love and care for the environment. I’ve seen the beauty of the ocean, the plants and the animals. My country’s economy depends explicitly on that: tourism, fisheries and agriculture. We have an economy that thrives on nature. Understandably, it was quite alarming to me when I learnt that our planet was under threat. As a small island state with such a

large oceanic space, we absolutely cannot afford these threats and no one is coming to save us, we must save ourselves. And for that, knowledge is imperative. GIVEN YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR SUBJECT AREA, WHY DID YOU DECIDE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH WAS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU TO PURSUE YOUR STUDIES IN THIS SUBJECT AREA? Coming from an ocean country, it was essential for me to be reminded of why I am pursuing this degree, and what better place than Britain’s Ocean City! I have been searching for the perfect university for this course since I was 15 years old, and along the way I got many great reviews about the University of Plymouth. These reviews came from past Plymouth students and people who knew of this university. I must say, the most prominent review came from Dr Sylvia Earle, whom I had the humble opportunity of hosting a beach cleanup with. She asked me about my future plans and when I mentioned that I was considering Plymouth, she confirmed that the University was a great one and added that it had one of the best marine labs in the world. That for me sealed the deal.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR COURSE? I love that we get hands-on experience on the course. Being able to see and do the practicals we read about really helps with understanding the purpose of certain methods and the module itself. I also really love the staff on the course – especially knowing that they themselves are incredibly passionate about the environment – and getting to read papers they write about our current climate situation. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT LIVING IN PLYMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREA? I love that the city is not huge. As someone who comes from a small island, a huge city would have been very overwhelming for me. I therefore appreciate that this city is not massive, but still has the awesome aspects of a modern city which can’t be found on small islands, like the convenience of deliveries.

Find out more about our BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability course.

WHAT MAKES STUDYING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH SPECIAL?

“I truly feel like I belong to this course and to this University. Everything about it resonates with me.” I love how accessible the library is, how I can speak to someone from the Caribbean, France, Mexico, South Africa and Seychelles all in the same day. I love the societies and how active and passionate they are. Everyone is fully engaged with what they choose to do and that is really motivating. Also, going up the education ladder really brings you closer to what you are most passionate about. I am now in a place where I am surrounded with like-minded individuals with different experiences who are willing to share and I love it.

HOW HAVE ACADEMICS AND SUPPORT STAFF SUPPORTED YOU IN YOUR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT? A great concept that I have been met with during the course is tutorials. I felt relieved that I would be able to ask as many questions as I needed if I did not grasp a concept well during the week. My group has a great tutor who is approachable and great with tips which I appreciate. Also, on one of the field trips, I had the opportunity of meeting my then ‘future lecturers’. WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS BEYOND GRADUATION? If I find a way to fund it, I would love to do a masters degree in marine conservation or environmental sustainability. Prior to starting university I interned in two fantastic organisations in Seychelles and feel that knowledge from such degrees would bridge many gaps there. WHAT’S YOUR LONGER-TERM CAREER AMBITION FOR THE FUTURE? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5, 10 OR 20 YEARS’ TIME?

I see myself advocating for my island nation through organisations within Seychelles and coming together with other small island states to live a naturebased life to mitigate climate change. In 20 years’ time, we would have hopefully convinced our ‘big brother’ countries to stop using fossil fuels and find better alternatives. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY WHO’S CONSIDERING STUDYING ON YOUR COURSE WITH THE UNIVERSITY WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CONVINCE THAT PERSON TO GO FOR IT? I would tell them about all my great experiences so far: that the cost of living is significantly cheaper than other cities within the UK, that the level of safety is better than most other cities, that the University is very hands on, the staff pay particular attention to our questions during lectures as well as through emails, that the course is well organised and planned well in advance which means that we can plan our study times well and be organised ourselves.

SAVING OUR SEAS FROM PLASTIC PROFESSOR RICHARD THOMPSON OBE FRS

 Influencing global change around plastic pollution  Coined the term ‘microplastics’ in landmark paper  Research led to UK ban on microbeads  Awarded OBE for over 20 years of service to marine science  Named one of the world’s Highly Cited Researchers by Web of Science  Director of the Marine Institute, University of Plymouth  Founder of the University’s International Marine Litter Research Unit  Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society whose past membership has included Isaac

Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Dorothy Hodgkin and Stephen Hawking

Sustainability rankings We are in the top 10 universities in the UK in the new sustanaibility rankings – 2021 People and Planet University League.

Richard's story

he University was presented with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2020 for its pioneering work towards reducing microplastics in our oceans. Our world-leading research into the effects of marine plastics on our environment, led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, has received the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a higher education institution. “We don’t yet know how long it takes plastic to degrade in the natural environment. We’ve only been mass producing plastic for around 60 years and

the likelihood is that all of the conventional plastics we’ve ever made are still with us on the planet, unless they’ve been incinerated.” Richard, Professor of Marine Biology and Director of the University’s Marine Institute, continues to set the international agenda on research into the causes and effects of marine litter. A decade and a half on from his seminal paper, which for the first time described the accumulation of ‘microplastics’ in the oceans, he has mapped out much of the territory upon which our understanding of both the impacts of plastics

and the potential solutions are based. Under his leadership, Plymouth has produced more scientific publications on the subject of marine plastic than any other university worldwide, with Richard himself having led or co-authored more than 180 scientific papers. INFLUENCING GLOBAL CHANGE AROUND PLASTIC POLLUTION He founded and heads the University’s International Marine Litter Research Unit, which has charted the global distribution of microplastics from Arctic sea ice to the deep seas. Among its many high-profile research

QUEEN’S ANNIVERSARY PRIZE THE QUEEN’S ANNIVERSARY PRIZE FOR PIONEERING RESEARCH ON MARINE MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND CHANGING BEHAVIOUR It is the third time that the University has been honoured with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize which celebrates excellence, innovation and public benefit. The last occasion was in 2011 when the University was recognised for the breadth and excellence of its marine and maritime research, teaching and training.

The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes For Higher and Further Education

2019

Find out more: plymouth. ac.uk/marine

findings are that a single wash of clothing can release more than 700,000 microfibres into the environment; that facial scrubs could contain up to 2.8 million microbeads; that carrier bags labelled as biodegradable are still usable after three years submerged in soil and seawater; and that of the marine species known to encounter litter in the environment, the vast majority are with plastic. FROM MICROBEADS TO ROAD DEBRIS This ongoing research has directly influenced UK and international government policies around taxes on plastic

carrier bags and the use of microbeads in cosmetics, with Richard also contributing to government-funded research research and inquiries into road debris and sustainability within the fashion industry. He has for many years acted as a scientific advisor to national and international organisations, including the United Nations and European Commission, and in 2018 was made an OBE for services to Marine Science and Higher Education, as well as receiving an Impact Award from the Natural Environment Research Council.

“We don’t yet know how long it takes plastic to degrade in the natural environment. We’ve only been mass producing plastic for around 60 years and the likelihood is that all of the conventional plastics we’ve ever made are still with us on the planet, unless they’ve been incinerated.”

“I think the work we have done at the University has had a really major role in raising awareness of this topic. There are a number of independent accounts that cite the early work we did, particularly the description of microplastics and their accumulation in the environment, which was a tipping point in the level of interest in the whole topic in the academic community and wider public. Society knows the general direction of travel towards potential solutions, but charting the course to specific actions is much less clear. We can’t get there just by banning plastics – we have to learn to use them more responsibly. We need independent evidence to guide intervention, and that evidence should be provided by the academic community. The challenge is bringing together different disciplines – environmental, behavioural and material scientists, economists, and legal experts so we can evaluate options from a range of perspectives.”

MAKING A HOME IN

PLYMOUTH

BSc (Hons) Environmental Management and Sustainability student Rhys shares how he has built a life in Plymouth: why he chose Britain’s Ocean City, his exploration of our unique location and his favourite memories of his time here. WHY PLYMOUTH? When I was picking a university, I was stuck between two – it was Plymouth and another uni – and what swung it for me in the end was the modules. I remember I sat down with my dad and I looked at all of the modules on offer for first year, second and third year. Plymouth just had the right mix for me between environmental science and the management and sustainability side which is my interest. To be honest, it just felt right. I came on a couple of open days and my feeling was to come to Plymouth.

It also encouraged me to come to Plymouth because he made me believe that it would be the place to get the best education and give me the best tools to make the change that I wanted to make.

MAKING FRIENDS Coming to Plymouth, I was a bit apprehensive because I’d never lived in a city before. One of the best things about Plymouth is you have all the benefits of living in the city but because it’s not a very big city you don’t get any of the pressures. One thing I found is everyone down here OPEN DAYS is just so friendly. In my opinion, it’s a very university-orientated city – you’ll I actually came to two open days see people from your lectures in at Plymouth! I went to the first one and really enjoyed myself, but I town, you’ll see them out and about wherever you’re going. I think that had to come a second time just to makes it really easy to settle, just be sure and I’m really glad I did. I remember when I was coming down, seeing familiar faces. You’ll even see it was the time of the Six Nations your lecturers out grabbing a coffee which is quite cool. As soon as you and there was a rugby match being come here, you settle in, you meet shown at the Students’ Union. It was pretty cool to see students living everyone. Everyone’s in the same their normal life and I remember position as nearly everyone’s new thinking, ‘this could be me next year’. to the city. It’s really friendly which makes a hard task quite easy! Another thing I remember from the open day (apart from the free pasty!) was a really inspiring talk by one of the environmental science lecturers – John Bull. He gave a really empowering and inspiring talk to all of us prospective students. It was something that will stick with me for a long time and it made us ready to fight for the environment.

FINDING A COMMUNITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH If I was speaking to anyone before they came to university, I’d say have a look at societies and sports clubs and see which ones you’re interested in. Make a list before you come because that’s how I’ve found some of my best friends at university. I was lucky in my first year to live in a friendly flat and I also made some good friends on my course, but another way I met some great mates was through joining societies and sports clubs. You meet people who you know have the same interests as you and you get close with people who are on completely different courses, from completely different backgrounds, who you probably never would have met but you have this interest that brings you together. They can form some of the best friendships that you make in uni. THE BEST OF PLYMOUTH I’d say my favourite place is Dartmoor. Before I came to Plymouth, I didn’t really know a lot about it but in my first year especially we had a lot of field trips; we came up to Dartmoor quite often and in the second year we even camped out overnight, which was a really good experience. I’ve been up here a good few times with my friends, whether that be to go for a nice hike and then treat yourself with a pub lunch or you can even find somewhere really cool to do a bit of climbing or bouldering. It’s such a huge place, you can do so many things on Dartmoor.

MEMORIES One of my favourite memories would be the field trips in the first year. We had a residential field trip to Slapton, and we had a good couple of nights there. That was right at the start of my course, so they threw you into the deep end having to meet people, which was really good fun. I’d also say Bonfire Night in Plymouth is amazing. I’m not the biggest fan of fireworks but Bonfire Night in Plymouth on the Hoe is a must-see. It is spectacular! Another favorite memory would be to do with a sports club I’ve joined this year. I’ve never played American football before, but I joined the club because, being my final year, it was my last chance to join it. I’ve met some amazing friends.

“I wouldn’t swap my time in Plymouth for anywhere else.“ I’ve had such a great time. Whenever I bring friends from home down to Plymouth, they’re always jealous. I’ll take them along to the Hoe and the Barbican, and they say it’s such a beautiful place. I don’t regret coming to Plymouth for one second.

Find out more about your Students’ Union.

Photo: instagram.com/lilleyphotography

WELCOME TO THE

YA R

Now one of the South West’s buzziest neighbourhoods.

D PHOTO: ALAMY PORTRAITS: SEAN MALYON

here’s a unique corner of Plymouth that survived the Blitz, whose 19th century warehouses provisioned ships that sailed to Australia, and whose men worked 60-hour weeks to keep the Navy fed and watered. With imposing granite houses and manicured lawns, Royal William Yard still exudes order, but appearances can be deceptive. From hip restaurants to a selfserve wine bar, a rustic bakery and galleries of contemporary art, this former victualling yard is a masterpiece of urban regeneration. It’s where start-ups thrive, artists find inspiration, and young professionals rent waterside apartments. It’s also where a talented bunch of University of Plymouth graduates hang out.

1. The marina, cafés and shops of Royal William Yard are just a waterbus ride from central Plymouth 2. The spectacular Illuminate light festival at the Yard 3. Seco Lounge is tailor-made for Sunday morning coffees

Laura Rosser, a University print technician, graduated from a three-year MA in Fine Art. She has previously exhibited her work at Mills Bakery in the Yard – a former biscuit and bread factory now a contemporary professional space. “There’s something pretty special about displaying your work at Royal William Yard. It has a really quiet, calm feeling about it.” There are two commercial galleries in the Yard, home to an array of resident and visiting artists. “The Yard’s just going from strength to strength,” says Laura. “Ocean Studios is a really big, vibrant artist hub in Plymouth.” The Yard is host to a number of cultural events, such as the spectacular Illuminate light festival. People flock to the Yard to witness the mesmerising

The Fine Art graduate Laura Rosser “As a University print technician and Fine Art graduate, I live and breathe art every day. My degree has totally changed the way I see my work, which is what I wanted it to do. I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist. I used to do paintings depicting Ronald Reagan with Michael Jackson and cats. My teacher at parents’ evening said I’d never make it as an artist. I’d like to see him again. I’d say ‘nah nah’!”

“We carry the boards over some rocks and within five minutes we are paddling round Plymouth Sound.”

The SUP instructor Will Batho, South West SUP

PHOTOS: URBAN SPLASH, ALAMY, ALI WOOD

“I flew Sea King helicopters for nine years, but after leaving the Navy I had to find something else to do with my life. So I decided to start South West SUP (stand-up paddleboarding). It wasn’t an easy decision but I’ve no regrets. It’s been great. It’s easy to learn SUP on flat water. I’ve taught primary school kids and grandparents and they’ve all stood up on the first session. Firestone Bay is sheltered from westerlies and is a great swimming area. You also get a few waves when the Plymouth to Roscoff ferry comes in, which can be exciting!”

“The Yard is definitely an inspirational place” displays of light projections and indulge in the delights on offer from the local and artisan food stalls set up for the occasion. Former Fine Art student Amber helped with the set-up of the festival. “The Illuminate festival is an exciting time for art students at Plymouth. You have the opportunity to be a part of something so beautiful and in the now. Making ties between art and technology, and interacting with the community in ways that you wouldn’t have dreamt of.” As well as being a cultural hub, the Yard is also host to a number of luxurious establishments including a bistro, a boutique hotel, a salon and Le Vignoble wine bar. Le Vignoble’s owner, a friendly Parisian called Yannick Loué, is determined to share his passion for wine with the younger generation. “Our motto is forget what you know and discover,” says

Yannick, who also runs ‘Meet the Winemaker’ events, and gives talks to the hospitality students at the University. So what’s next? Due to be developed in the not-too-distant future, the renowned Everyman Cinema is expected to create three intimate screening rooms within an iconic Grade I listed building at the heart of the Yard. The boutique cinema aligns perfectly with the classy aesthetics and upmarket vibe of the Yard, offering cosy and atmospheric screenings paired with a selection of food and drink. Already a foodie heaven, Royal William Yard is set to become the place to eat and drink in the city. The Yard is ever evolving, attracting new and exciting venues and events, cementing its place as Plymouth’s cultural hub.

See & do

Take a refreshing dip in the little seawater pool at Firestone Bay.

Take your parents to Bistrot Pierre, for French classics like Boeuf Bourguignon.

CHA MPIONING

INCLUSIVITY S I M R A N KO O N ER  Founded Women in Computing and STEM Support System  Passionately encouraging and supporting women in STEM  Our BSc (Hons) Computing graduate

WHO ARE YOU? AND WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? I’ve lived in Bristol all of my life. When I moved to Plymouth to study computing, I realised I had the opportunity to expand my friendship group, develop my skills and learn about my weaknesses as a person. Being an introvert, I had always struggled with talking to new people and presenting in front of others. I became a student ambassador, a course representative and a PALS (peer assisted learning scheme) leader. Within these roles, I not only helped other students but also developed as a person. It made me realise that I know more about my subject than I think, and that I have skills that I can apply to whatever I do and whatever company I work for. With this new-found confidence, I secured a graduate position. I strongly believe that it is the different experiences that I had at Plymouth which have pushed me to do things I would never have thought possible. Struggling with anxiety means that

it was a huge achievement to go for a job interview in a different town, on my own, and to apply for a role which I wasn’t fully confident with. In the end, it was my personality and willingness to go for such a role that set me apart from the other candidates. My passion is to achieve a work-life balance. I went to university to get the skill set needed for working life and to find something I could enjoy, but not make work my entire focus. Plymouth helped me to find out who I am. YOU DO A LOT OF WORK SUPPORTING WOMEN IN STEM SUBJECTS – HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT TO CHANGE IN TEN YEARS? I knew that as a girl studying computing I’d be in the minority, but I wasn’t prepared for how alone I could feel. It was this that sparked the idea of setting up the Women in Computing and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Support System.

Almost straight away I realised that the group needed to be expanded to all women in STEM subjects. The aim was to provide both academic and personal support; sometimes it simply involved going out for a chat and some food. It highlighted to me how many students actually need support. I also created links with the BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) group at the University as I realised that there can never be too much available support from a cultural point of view. Looking to the future, I would like to create a similar support system in the workplace. I believe every company needs one. A lot of women don’t feel that they can speak their minds unless they have a support system behind them. HOW DO YOU RESPOND WHEN FACED WITH A PROBLEM? Being a planner, I analyse the situation. I draw up a mind map of the pros and cons and go with the best

“I strongly believe that it is the different experiences that I had at Plymouth WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THAT YOU BELIEVE COULD REALLY CHANGE which have pushed me to do things I OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER? That’s easy – recycling! We are all would never have thought possible.” aware of the problems our planet solution. If this doesn’t work, I don’t knock myself down, I just go for the next best solution.

is facing and I try and do the small things to reduce my footprint. From campaigning for more water fountains at the University to taking metal straws with me on a night out, I believe every small act is important. WHAT DO YOU WANT THE WORLD TO LOOK LIKE IN TEN YEARS? I would like to see technology used to the absolute benefit of mankind, but there needs to be a balance. Continuing improvements in artificial intelligence can be useful in so many ways, but it needs to be controlled – I don’t want robots to take over. From flying cars, to automatic systems on our phones, these can be

really good ideas that solve potential problems, but they cannot be at the cost of human safety and security. Our personal information – whether in banks or social media – needs to always be rigorously protected. It is so important that data safeguard measures are continuously built into our developing computer systems, so our online identities, and therefore our personal lives, do not get taken advantage of. My hope is that we will see a world where more girls are empowered to help guide us through the advancement of AI and contribute to technologies which benefit everyone. So it becomes a world where girls working in STEM are not

simply the minority, but an integral part of industries making a positive difference.

Find out more Get to know our BSc (Hons) Computing graduate who found her self-confidence through helping others.

IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHARE ONE MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Be you and don’t be scared. I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression and insomnia and took a gap year before my final year at Plymouth to work through these issues. I am now in a stronger place and am working on creating a mental health app for my dissertation. I’d like others to know there is a great deal of support available and that there is always someone to talk to.

hen you are choosing a university, you want somewhere that will fully prepare you for your future career. That means learning about technologies and techniques that you will use on a day-to-day basis in a state-of-the-art environment. As one of the UK’s top modern universities, the University can live up to such expectations. In recent years, we have invested significantly to ensure our current and future students have access to modern facilities that will inspire their learning. Our principles of innovation, enterprise and sustainability are evident in

every new development, as we evolve and expand what we can offer in the future in a way that minimises our carbon impact. That investment currently includes the development of a new engineering and design building on campus, and a new integrated health building next to the city’s railway station. These buildings will re-energise and transform our city centre campus and the surrounding area. They will create outstanding new facilities where you can learn, work and socialise. We hope they will inspire you to study, learn and become first-class professionals in your future careers.

For centuries, engineers and designers have developed solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing challenges. That situation is unlikely to ever change, but as technologies advance, you will need the skills and expertise to keep up with that pace of change. Our new engineering and design building will give you the tools to do that. A cutting-edge facility, it will house the latest state-of-the-art technologies within 10,000m2 of research and teaching space. Learning to use them, and benefitting from the expertise of our world-leading academics, will help you to contribute to the world’s economic, environmental and societal wellbeing in the future.

It will give you the chance to learn about artificial intelligence and robotics; materials technology and composites; nano-sized and megasized structures; digitally enabled design, manufacturing and simulation; virtual and augmented reality; and sustainable energy solutions. Specialist equipment from existing laboratories will be complemented by a significant investment in new technology. That will include: a new control and autonomous systems laboratory; a wind tunnel facility; an energy and sustainability lab; fabrications labs; a virtual engineering suite; a precision manufacturing facility; and a nano-magnetics laboratory.

In additional to these facilities, the building will have a wide range of social and outdoor spaces that reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Landscaped terraces, a woodland edge and wildflower area will bring a tranquil environment to the heart of the campus. There will be a roof garden providing views to Central Park, breakout spaces and further outdoor teaching space.

Professor Deborah Greaves OBE FREng, Head of our School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, said:

“This new building will offer a state-ofthe-art setting to inspire the engineers and designers of tomorrow. It will give us the ultimate place to bring together students, academics and industry in an environment that not only benefits them, but also society as a whole. “Housing engineering, science and arts together will enable holistic and creative approach to problem-solving. It will allow us collaboratively to address some of the world’s biggest issues, such as climate change and healthcare challenges. Through this we can apply a ‘systems thinking approach’ to real-world problems. It will ensure we don’t solve one problem and inadvertently create another.”

The past couple of years have shown just how much the nation relies on its healthcare professionals. With over 1,900 hospitals in the UK and the number of employed healthcare professionals at an all-time high, now is a really exciting time to be studying healthcare at the University of Plymouth. The University provides one of the broadest portfolios of health and social care professional education in the UK. It is also the largest provider of healthcare training in the South West. The University’s new Intercity Place building demonstrates our commitment to equipping the next generation of nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for 21st century healthcare. Adjacent to Plymouth’s railway station, Intercity Place will serve as the base for our allied health students. It will be an exciting addition to our existing cutting-edge clinical skills simulated settings. It will also complement and enhance the practice

placement work which students undertake in hospitals and healthcare settings. The building will be home to students on a range of specialist health programmes such as: Midwifery; Adult and Mental Health Nursing; Child Health; Paramedic Science; Podiatry; Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy; Optometry; Dietetics; and Nutrition. As well as learning your specialist subject, you will get the chance to work closely together, mirroring how you would work in a real hospital or clinical setting. As well as dedicated classrooms, teaching and social space, the new building will house simulated healthcare environments such as hospital wards, consultation and counselling rooms, podiatry suites, and optometry practice labs. There will even be two simulated ambulances for you to practise paramedic emergency scenarios. The building will also be home to a fully-equipped ‘home environment’ featuring a kitchen, lounge and bedroom so that students can practise care in the community in a lifelike environment.

The opportunities and “At Plymouth, we are at the forefront of integrative education facilities available will enable and research in health and social interprofessional learning care. Our investment in Intercity and working. Contemporary Place is a physical embodiment healthcare professionals need to be patient-focused, dynamic and of this commitment. able to think on their feet. These fantastic new facilities will enable We know that the future of healthcare is effective teamwork us to introduce creative and innovative approaches to our and bringing together our learning, and give our students Schools of Nursing and the best possible immersive Midwifery and of healthcare experience so that when they professionals in a single high quality shared environment will graduate, they are ready and help us build the workforce of the able to enter and lead positive change in health and social future. care.”

THE MOMENT ANTONY REALISED... Antony shares how caring for those close to him gave him the drive and focus to pursue a career in nursing. What inspired you to enrol on this course at Plymouth? My biggest inspiration is my desire to help those that need it most during times when they are at their lowest. Being involved in the nursing process for both my parents when they passed from cancer was perhaps my biggest insight into the dedication health professionals put into caring for others. Shortly after this, I worked with a family whose child passed from sepsis. Their story and dedication to helping reduce the incidences of sepsis together with my parents passing became the catalyst that drove me to give back in any way I could. An opportunity then arose for me to take a huge step out of my comfort zone and change my life’s pathway. What’s the course structure in nursing like? The course is amazingly well structured. Currently 50% of it is academic and 50% is placement over the three or four years depending on whether you are doing BSc or MNurs respectively. Within the academic part, we have our skills sessions which are great fun and perfect to practise the proficiencies necessary to go into placement while in a safe environment. What has been your most challenging moment so far? One of the most challenging moments came during my last placement in the emergency department. I was working with a patient who had begun to decline from their illness. It became apparent that they didn’t have long to live and appeared to not understand or react to anything we were saying. Knowing this, I could only comfort the patient while we waited for their family to arrive. Some time passed and I was coming to the end of my shift.

As hard as it was, I had to say goodbye and leave before the family arrived. This was a tough day. The lady passed shortly after I left but, thankfully, she got to see her family. I will never forget this moment and am honoured to have been able to offer what comfort I could. What was your applicant journey like? When did you apply? I grew up in South Africa and found schooling difficult. As such, I dropped out aged 16 with no qualifications. This meant I needed to gain GCSEs. So, in 2018, I embarked on a Nursing Access Course with Truro and Penwith College adding Maths and English GCSE. While extremely well structured, this placed immense pressure on me as I balanced family life with academia, but it was worth it. During this time, I made friendships with other applicants who remain an integral part of my life. As I went through the year, I began to find my flow and came out of college with GCSE and Access Course qualifications. This put me in a good place to apply for MNurs Adult and Child Nursing in January 2019. The hardest part of the application was my personal statement. Trying to put so much of my passion into so few words was extremely difficult. With the amazing help from my college professors, my application was accepted, and it was off to interview. The interview team helped relieve any pressure we were feeling and calmed the group ready for interview. Part of our interview was to watch a video on an episode of nursing care and report our findings. The portrayal was terrible, and I couldn’t help but comment on how bad the nurse treated the child and the parent. I didn’t realise the person acting the part was interviewing me. We all burst out laughing, despite my blushing.

Have you found a community at University? If so, how and where? Absolutely! The biggest community I have found is my cohort. Being male and a mature student, at first, I feared how I would be accepted by a predominantly female group. Now, I would not dream of being without the amazing nursing students I am working with and who have accepted me as part of the team. Whether it is lunch in Drake’s Kitchen or an impromptu night out, we have a lot of fun. We are also a huge support network that in times of tears we can all talk and get through the problems together. The Nursing Society is an amazing team who love creating parties and helping other students relax and have some down time, creating an environment where students can meet others from their course. What has been your favourite memory of being in Plymouth so far? By far my best memory comes from my first year. As students we get to spend more time with our patients than trained staff do, and this allows us to build better therapeutic relationships. I worked extensively with a patient who was living with an eating disorder. Initially the patient had communicated that they didn’t get on with males, but circumstances had changed and I needed to sit with the patient for meal times. During these times we would chat about things that interested her and family matters and over time, conversations became easier. As with all students, feedback is a vital part of the process, and I knew the patient was going to be discharged so asked if she could fill in a form for me.

Find out more about our MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Child Health) degree.

The patient agreed and I left the form and envelope with her. I never read the feedback until I got home. When I opened the envelope, she had written very kind words in every box. I noticed some writing on the back and when I turned over, she had written me a letter thanking me for being so kind and changing her feelings towards males. Well, first, I cried as the letter was so lovely and then I thought how amazing it is that someone took the time to tell me I helped them. I felt overwhelmingly humbled and privileged to work in a role where I could unknowingly change someone’s perspective on things, helping them to recover from their illness.

Where do you hope your career will take you? This is a really difficult question to answer. As strange as it may sound, the more placements you become involved in as a nursing student, the more it opens your eyes to just how vast nursing is. From surgery to stopping-smoking services, the world as a budding health professional has so much to offer. I started off thinking I wanted to work in a GP surgery as a children’s nurse. However, I had such a great time in hospital placements that I really love the wards or emergency medicine. The two have different things to offer and being within a pandemic, each area is at maximum output. I have another year and a half to go so we will see.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in studying to be a nurse? My advice to anyone thinking of studying to be a nurse is, firstly, buy a great pair of shoes. Doing a nursing degree is hard, and when you’re in placement, the wrong shoes can make your shift harder and give you sore, smelly feet. When you’re on campus, make sure you ask lots of questions. Talking to people in nursing is what it’s all about and seeking knowledge of your subject will stand you in good stead moving forward. Most importantly, be yourself and have fun. Yes, a Nursing degree is hard and yes, you must be serious at times but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

Graduate Eleanor shares how a Law degree from Plymouth has allowed her to realise her dream career as she builds an exciting and successful business in fashion.

Find out more about about our LLB Law degree.

Tell us what you have been doing since completing your studies. After graduating with a first-class Law degree from Plymouth, I began an MA in Fashion Design Management at London College of Fashion. Using my knowledge and experience from studying law, I then started Rockett Fashion, a business consultancy company, in January 2020. I also now work part time at the University of the Arts in London as an Intellectual Property Educator. What was your main reason for choosing to study your course at Plymouth? I actually joined the University through the Clearing process on results day, as I didn’t achieve a place on the dentistry course I initially applied for – I know, things have completely changed since then! I loved the University and the city when I visited for an open day, so my decision to apply through Clearing was a quick one. The leap from the sciences to a law degree felt scary at first, but it soon turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life – I couldn’t have loved my time at Plymouth more.

How did studying at Plymouth change your career aspirations and plans? I spent the first two years of my degree absolutely convinced that I wanted to be a solicitor and it wasn’t until I started working on my dissertation – “Trashion”, which explored IP and copying in the fashion industry – that I considered an alternative career in fashion. I had so many opportunities during my time at Plymouth which exposed me to various career options, and I was both Vice-President of the Law Society and Chair of the Fashion Society. I think my experiences are testament to the fact that a law degree can prepare you for so many different careers, and it is always highly regarded by employers. The research skills that I gained through my law degree have set me up very well for the academic work that I am now involved with part time, and I hope to undertake a PhD in Fashion Innovation in the next few years.

The leap from the sciences to a law degree felt scary at first, but it soon turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life – I couldn’t have loved my time at Plymouth more.

Find out more about The Cube – offering advice, funding and support to all students and graduates starting, or hoping to start, their own business.

What is your favourite memory of studying for your degree at Plymouth? Freshers Week and my graduation day will always stand out in my memory and living by the sea was a huge bonus when choosing Plymouth. Still, I would say that the last months in the run up to final exams form some of my favourite memories at University; I would spend my days in the library with a big group of law students, revising together and finalising our last few pieces of coursework. We knew that our time would be up soon, and everyone would be moving to different parts of the country, so we wanted to squeeze everything out of those last few weeks together. After a long day of revision, we’d head to the SU open mic nights or Wednesday sports socials; I still don’t know how I managed to cram so much into our last few weeks! How have the funding opportunities at Plymouth helped you? The funding opportunities offered by the University have been invaluable to my growth as a businesswoman over the last two years, and my brand would not be what it is today without the opportunities provided by The Cube (a business support facility offered at Plymouth).

In an effort to gain pitching experience and meet business experts, I entered as many competitions for funding through The Cube as I could, and I was lucky enough to win a few too. I found the free legal and accounting advice offered by The Cube particularly valuable, especially for those areas of business in which I lacked experience. What has been the most exciting moment in your career so far? A few weeks into running my consultancy business, one of my clients launched her brand at London Fashion Week. It was so exciting to see how her brand had evolved from idea to reality in such a short space of time, and then get to support her during her brand’s first showcase. Of course, waiting backstage, knowing that the seats lining the runway were filled with celebrities, buyers, and fashion icons, was incredibly nerve wracking, but I’ll never forget that experience. Since then, my client’s successes have only continued; she has dressed celebrities including Kanye West, and her designs have been stocked at Browns, a top London store.

Why would you recommend undertaking a course with the University of Plymouth? I can’t recommend the University enough; I had an incredible three years and part of me wishes I could do it all over again. There were more opportunities than I can count through sports and societies within UPSU, and the staff of the Law School were dedicated and inspiring as they helped me to explore my routes into the fashion industry through my law experience. Compared to other universities that I have studied and taught at, Plymouth has an unrivalled sense of community.

“Even now, when I am running a business and beginning my career as an educator, I continue to receive outstanding careers and enterprise support from the University of Plymouth team.”

THEGUIDE H O W TO FIND T HE R I GH T UNI F O R YO U

THE

BIG QUESTION

WHY ATTEND AN OPEN DAY?

Nothing beats visiting a university There are loads of reasons to gain an idea of what your time studying and living there will to visit a university open be like – open days offer many opportunities which will help you day, so don’t just sit there make your big decision. Have a flicking through a prospectus coffee in one of our many cafés, ponder your course choice in a wondering what life could lecture theatre, quiz a tutor about career aspirations or visit be like – take action, book a your the halls of residence. This is your to imagine yourself visit and say “hello!” to your opportunity actually there, as a real-life student, having the time of your life! future!

Meet students and staff

Chat with current students – hearing about being a student firsthand provides you with that all important insight into the reality of what day-to-day life is like. You also get the chance to meet like-minded students who are at the same point in their student journey. There will also be many staff on hand during the day – meet academics, admissions staff and student support staff – they can answer your questions about pretty much anything, from enrolment to navigating your way around campus.

Ask questions about your course

Parents and guardians

Ask our academics all of your burning questions about your chosen course. How is it structured? What choice of modules do you have? What are the options for placements? What’s the style of teaching and assessment? What do they like about teaching here and what are past graduates doing? Test their knowledge!

Students often bring families, friends and guests to our open days. Remember, they want you to be happy with your choice so it is important that they get to see the campus, the facilities and have a chance to speak to University staff. They’ll be eager to see what the University and city have to offer.

“Campus tours give you a flavour of the University. You can talk to current students about nightlife and lectures, and learn a bit about Plymouth’s history as well.”

Check out the clubs and societies

Matt, BA (Hons) Illustration

Take an accommodation tour

This may be the first time that you will be living away from home, so now’s the chance to see what your new home might be like. Walk around the Student Village, take a look at the showroom in the Mary Newman Building and have a chat with the Accommodation team about your options.

Explore the campus

Have a look at our state-of-the-art facilities. Check out those that are important to you and your chosen course, as well as visiting the more general facilities such as the library, the Students’ Union and sports facilities. Ask questions and find out from student ambassadors where the local hotspots are. This is your chance to get a feel for the University and its wider location.

“Bring your mum! I wanted to be all grown-up and independent, but I’m really glad I brought her –she wanted to know everything.” Sally, BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practitioner

Sailing, architecture, amateur dramatics, geology – whatever floats your boat, there’s more than likely a club for you. Going to university offers you the chance to try something new, so be open-minded and check out all of the societies that the University has to offer.

Get advice on money

Managing your money can be daunting at first, so let the Finance team help to prepare you with one of their budgeting talks. There is plenty of help available, including some top tips for living on a budget. Open Days are crucial in helping with your research and making that all important decision. Get yourself booked onto one of our dates now:

Order yourself a prospectus A good first step is to go online and order yourself a prospectus. It’s quick and easy to order your 2022 edition.

This details the courses, qualifications, information about student life and how to contact us.

I F YO U C A N ’ T M A KE I T

Plymouth On Demand

If you can’t come to Britain’s Ocean City then we’ll bring Plymouth to you! Plymouth On Demand is an exciting collection of virtual experiences that provide an opportunity for you to register for Q&As, meet your lecturers, and take a tour of the city and campus.

Student Life with Plymouth Podcast

Another great way to hear first-hand insights into student life at Plymouth is through our brand new series of podcasts. The podcasts help potential students, parents and guardians with advice and guidance about the next steps into higher education. We cover topics including mental health, careers, the application process and so much more. Join the conversation!

Chat directly to our students

Still have questions that need answering? You can chat directly to our current students with Unibuddy and read all about their Plymouth adventures via their blogs. Go ahead and ask whatever uni-related questions you have about studying in Plymouth, find out more about our courses, student life and much more.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE DO YOUR RESEARCH Look into the detail of each course that sparks your interest. • Does the course cover modules that are suitable for you? What are the tariff points you need to achieve to apply for the course? • Are you studying the correct subjects required for entry on to the course? • What are the studios/facilities like? • How is the course assessed and does that suit your learning style? • Is the uni city or campus based? • What is the city like? • How far would you have to travel to get to your lectures? • Are there any work placement opportunities, field trips or experiences offered on the course that would help your studies or your future career? • Visit online forums and blogs to see what current students and graduates think of the courses and institutions you want to know more about. • Get prospectuses and course brochures (online or hard copies) to find out more.

T YOU DO PICK A SUBTJEECABOUT ARE PASSIONA

bject you’re er if you love the su You work much hard studying. reer path you g hand onto the ca • You’ll get a helpin want. you through a e careers open to • Find out about th subject you love.

IVERSITIES DO VISIT THE UYN R RADAR THAT ARE ON OU like

t what life is best way to find ou Open days are the en to explore. ke e rsities you’r ive un e th at nt de stu as a nd interview peers and tutors (a ial nt te po ur yo t ee • M interview you!). tutors before they n’t visit in al events. If you ca tu vir r fe of ey th if • See s online. ill get great insight person, you can st

DO GET ORGANISED If in doubt, write everything down or make a spreadsheet of pros and cons to disc uss with your family or friends.

DON’T BELIEVE MYTHS OR STEREOTYPES Institutions want students who are enthusiastic, engaged and passionate about their chosen course. They won’t be concerned with what you look like or where you come from.

DON’T CHOOSE SIMPLY BECAUSEA COURSE ELSE TELLS YOU SOMEONE TO It’s your lif

e, and you are the one spending thre more years studyin e or g the course of yo ur choice.

THE UCAS APPLICATION FORM

This is obviously a very important part. Make sure your application and personal statement reflect and detail everything that universities need to know about you.

01.

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH UCAS.COM VIA THE USERFRIENDLY APPLICATION FORM.

EDUCATION SECTION DETAILS WHAT YOU ARE 02. THE STUDYING NOW AND WHAT

GRADES YOU ARE PREDICTED TO GET, SO THIS INFORMATION CAN BE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT.

LITTLE BITS OF YOUR FORM 03. DO OVER TIME. YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPLETE IT ALL AT ONCE AS YOU CAN SAVE SECTIONS AND COME BACK TO THEM AT A LATER DATE.

04.

THE FORM IS SPLIT INTO SECTIONS. DON’T WORRY ABOUT MISSING ANYTHING OUT AS YOUR APPLICATION CAN’T BE SUBMITTED UNTIL ALL OF THESE ARE COMPLETE.

SEARCH FUNCTION 05. THE LETS YOU SEARCH FOR THE UNIVERSITIES AND COURSES

YOU WANT. YOU CAN EDIT AND REMOVE THESE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT BEFORE YOU SUBMIT. YOU DON’T NEED TO PUT THEM IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE AND THE UNIVERSITIES DON’T KNOW WHO ELSE YOU HAVE APPLIED TO.

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT IT’S ALL 03. ABOUT YOU!

Remember to be honest

This is the bit which causes the most stress for applicants but don’t worry! As long as you plan what you want to say and get it proofread as many times as possible, it’s not too hard.

Think about what makes you interesting, special or unique. Try and show your passion for your chosen course.

04. Map out your ideas Set your thoughts in writing and then build these up into paragraphs.

05. 01. You can only write 47 lines and a maximum of 4,000 characters There is also a minimum of 1,000 characters so use these wisely!

75% of your statement should cover your academic strengths, motivation and interests Why did you choose this course? How will it benefit you studying on it?

02. The form does not have spell check We recommend completing and spell checking it in Word or equivalent and then copying the text across when you are ready. The form also times out after 35 minutes, so save it regularly as you don’t want to lose your hard work.

06. The remaining 25% should cover skills not directly related to your course For example, this could cover your personal achievements, career aspirations, life skills and strengths.

“As an admissions tutor, when I read your personal statement I look first for enthusiasm about the subject. Which topics have already engaged you and which books have you read? Your statement should paint a picture of why you want to study your degree. If you know what you want to do after the course that is great, but it is not essential. Your outside interests and work experience can show more about you – including important communication skills. Have you been a trusted person at work? Have you volunteered to help others learn at school? Have you trained people in a sport? Any of these things makes you a stronger applicant.” Dr Martin Lavelle

STUDENT MELANIE’S TOP TIPS: • Don’t copy another personal statement as it wouldn’t mean anything to you. By changing a few words here and there you show no commitment to the course you want to study and you would not be doing yourself a favour. • Do some further reading into your chosen subject. It may not be a lot, but you would be able to add it in your personal statement – with knowledge comes power! • Use all the help you can get. I used my friends to help proof and check the grammar I used, but my teachers (form tutor and teacher within the subject area) to help with subject-specific

language in places where there weren’t any. It may be daunting rewriting your personal statement over and over again, but it is so worth it in the end. • Always relate whatever you have taken part in in school with what you can bring to the university. Whether it be your enthusiasm, charity participation or empathy, universities like to see what you have done outside of school, what you have accomplished and what you can bring to them. • M ake your introduction and conclusion short and straight to the point, within your chosen subject area.

Your personal statement checklist  Look at course descriptions and identify the qualities, skills and experience it requires – you can use these to help you decide what to write about.  Tell the reader why you’re applying – include your ambitions, as well as what interests you about the subject, the course provider and higher education.  Think about what makes you suitable – this could be relevant experience, skills or achievements you’ve gained from education, work or other activities.  Include any clubs or societies you belong to – sporting, creative, or musical.  Mention any relevant employment experience or volunteering you’ve done.  If you’ve developed skills through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, ASDAN, National Citizen Service, the Crest Awards scheme or Young Enterprise, include them in your statement.  If you took part in a higher education taster course, placement, summer school or something similar, include it.

STUDENT LIFE IN PLYMOUTH PODCAST JOIN THE CONVERSATION JOE

GEORGIE

Suggestions and feedback If you have suggestions about any other topics you would like covered, we would be delighted to hear from you – just drop us an email at outreach@ plymouth.ac.uk

MATT

The University’s Outreach team is here to help potential students, teachers, parents and guardians with advice and guidance about the next steps into higher education. We run talks and workshops, taster days, shadowing schemes, campus visits and now we are delighted to say we have a series of podcasts! During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Outreach team discussed how we could offer more in a world where social distancing continues to be a limiting factor and so the Student Life with Plymouth podcast was born. In this podcast series, we aim to cover a variety of topics important to you and have students, alumni and staff as guests to provide their insight into what life at university is like. The series currently has five episodes and is continuing to grow! “The podcast series is a great way to get perspective on life as a University of Plymouth student. We chat with current students about how they engage and get the best out of their University experience so you hear it first-hand.” Joe, Outreach Officer and Podcast Host

EPISODE 1: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES Outreach Officer Joe speaks to student Jemma and graduate and now mental health advisor Ben, about looking after the mental health of students and the wide range of support services available to them while studying at the University of Plymouth.

EPISODE 2: EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREERS Joe speaks to Pippa and Charlotte from the University’s Career Service. They chat about the support available during and after your University experience and tips for employability and how you can make your degree work for you.

EPISODE 5: REVISION TIPS AND ADVICE Georgie speaks to Student Learning Manager James and students Elyssa, Ethel, Sam and Anya about revision techniques, how to look after yourself during stressful times, the Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) and more.

“Our new podcast series has enabled “Launched at the end of 2021, the us to reach potential students, podcast has been incredibly well parents, and current students in an received and we have listeners exciting and engaging way. We’ve from all over the world including been involved with and spoken to Germany, Italy and Malaysia! current students and staff to give Look out for future episodes which our audience a unique insight into will cover topics such as applying life at the University. The podcast as an international student, student not only answers questions people finance, life skills and the clearing might have about university, but process.” also covers topics and queries that Matt, Outreach Campaigns Officer are new to them.” and Podcast Editor Georgie, Outreach Officer and Podcast Host

EPISODE 3: APPLYING TO UNI AND PERSONAL STATEMENT Georgie speaks to Marine Biology student Caroline and Admissions Officer Tracy about the process of applying to university, hints and tips about what to put in your application and much more. EPISODE 4: STUDENTS’ UNION, SPORTS AND SOCIETIES Joe speaks to current Environmental Management student Al and Architectural Engineering graduate Mads, about their experiences of the SU, sports and societies and how it can benefit your overall University experience.

Student Life with Plymouth Podcast The podcast is available across multiple audio streaming services and can be found at the QR code below:

Listen now!

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