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FEATUREPOST GRADUATE
Lauren Heslop completed her undergraduate studies at Teesside University before joining as a member of staff. She spoke to Graduate Magazine about how she is taking her education to the next level with a postgraduate degree.
There are certain decisions we make in our lives that truly change its course. Coming to Teesside University to study journalism is one of mine; as well as providing me with the best possible education, it paved the way for my career. Fresh from college, I was looking to pursue my undergraduate degree. Teesside University blew me away, and I knew it was where I needed to be. I fell in love with the course and the outstanding facilities, and I met tutors who were truly passionate about their teaching.
I enjoyed everything about university life. It gave me opportunities to expand my horizons, develop new skills and build lasting personal and professional relationships.
In the summer of 2021, I completed my undergraduate studies with a first-class honours degree in BA (Hons) Journalism, starting my career within Teesside University's Communications and Development team soon after.
It was a real privilege to kickstart my career as a content producer at an institution I've felt so connected to in my adult life. Through my professional role, I've been able to put everything I learned from my studies into practice, and my content has even been shared by print and broadcast media, which was a goal of mine.
Pursuing a postgraduate degree was always my ambition because I love learning. I was excited to build upon my undergraduate work, dive deeper into the practical and theoretical aspects of a career within communications and take on a new challenge to support my professional goals. So, I jumped at the chance to study MA Digital Media and Communications within the School of Arts & Creative Industries.
Teesside University's focus on all things digital and its Future Facing Learning initiative, which gives students and staff the power to harness new technologies, were hugely important to me given the nature of the course. Thanks to the University being the first Adobe Creative Campus in Europe, students are able to benefit from free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
And I chose the perfect time to begin my studies, with the newly refurbished Buttery building [see page 15] quickly becoming my new favourite spot on campus for private study and collaborating with other students on my course.
Once you’re part of Teesside University, you never really leave it and it never really leaves you. As I work towards achieving my postgraduate degree, I’m immensely grateful to have the opportunity to take my skills and career to the next level here.
A year into my work, I was presented with another life-changing opportunity – to take up further study at the University alongside my career. Pursuing a postgraduate degree was always my ambition because I love learning. I was excited to build upon my undergraduate work, dive deeper into the practical and theoretical aspects of a career within communications and take on a new challenge to support my professional goals. So, I jumped at the chance to study MA Digital Media and Communications within the School of Arts & Creative Industries.
UK students who graduated from Teesside University in the last 10 years are eligible for a 20% fee discount on postgraduate study
> International graduates are also eligible for a £1,000 alumni scholarship if they progress to a new postgraduate programme.