Planning your first move away from home and choosing where to study and live for the next three years of your life, can be a daunting prospect. Picking a University can be a tough choice, with so many great ones out there and you may be overwhelmed by all the factors you need to consider, in addition to the required grades and courses on offer. If in doubt, here are the main reasons I chose to go to Teesside University, which will give you an idea of what to look out for when choosing where to study and should hopefully help you decide where to apply.
After starting off as a technical college in 1930, Teesside University achieved University status in 1992. As a modern University, Teesside isn’t as well-known as some of the longer-established higher education facilities in the UK, but it has recently achieved a Silver Rating in the government’s new Teaching Excellence Framework. This essentially means that it consistently exceeds the national quality requirements for higher education and it provides a high-quality learning and student experience. Teesside University was also ranked no.1 of 120 World Universities of overall average satisfaction in the International Student Barometer 2017 and its popular Students’ Union is multi-award winning!
Teesside University also has several famous alumni including Stephen Uppal from Hollyoaks, Hollywood actor Jamie Dornan and journalist and broadcaster John Sergeant. Its great reputation, particularly in the local area, is one of the reasons why I chose to go to Teesside University!
Teesside University is located in the centre of Middlesbrough, in the North East of England. Middlesbrough is a multicultural town with a variety of shops, cinemas, restaurants, museums, bars and sports facilities. There is lots to do in the surrounding area, with both the coast and countryside only a short drive away and several local beauty spots nearby. Middlesbrough has good transport links, so if you want to commute, you can take the bus, train or travel via road and there is also a smaller campus based at Darlington.
Despite having around 18,000 full and part time students, I chose Teesside University because of its friendly, safe, community feel, which was apparent during my open day visit. Its small campus has everything you need in one place, including the library, gym, shop and university buildings, just a short walk from both student halls and the town centre. There are also several pubs located in the middle of campus and an array of restaurants and shops on Linthorpe Road adjacent to the University.
Teesside University provides a variety of courses from engineering to midwifery, sports leadership to art, business to games design and humanities subjects like English and History. Teesside offers full-time and part-time study options, so your degree can fit around other commitments, making it a popular choice for mature students. You can study everything from certificates to foundation degrees, to Bachelor degrees, Masters and PHDs. While most courses are taught in Middlesbrough, learners can also study at Darlington campus, local partnership colleges and even online through distance learning anywhere in the world!
Some courses are accredited or include an integrated placement such as healthcare, education and social work degrees, while others have the option of a placement year. Games Design for instance, offers the chance to gain valuable industry experience during a sandwich year. I chose to study English at Teesside University, due to the inspiring staff, variety of modules, course flexibility and the fact that over 80% of students gain a 2:1 or above in the subject!
Another reason why I chose to go to Teesside University, is the excellent careers service. With graduates working all over the world for companies like the BBC, HSBC, Disney, Microsoft and more, it is no surprise that Teesside University’s careers service received a 100% satisfaction rating in the International Student Barometer survey 2017. The service offers drop-in sessions for CV advice and interview tips, in-depth appointments with advisors to discuss your future career prospects and help you write application forms and cover letters, email advice for simple queries, mock interviews and an annual careers fair where you get chance to meet and speak to potential employers.
Teesside University’s career service also holds talks on particular career routes, such as ‘Get Into Teaching’ to give you more information and has a great website full of resources, including links to career choice tests, work placements, job adverts and volunteering opportunities to gain experience. The full service is open to full-time and part-time Teesside Uni students, including those those studying a University-accredited course at a local college, as well as alumni who graduated in the last two years!
Teesside University offers great value for money for students wanting to study in the North East and this is one of the main reasons I chose to study there! It offers some of the most affordable student accommodation in the UK, with first year halls starting from just £58 per week for a single room with internet access and bills included. The cost of living in Middlesbrough is also relatively low, with student discounts widely available and a number of affordable supermarkets nearby. Travel costs for commuters are also comparatively low and the University is within walking distance of the town centre, train station and bus station, so you’ll rarely need to take a taxi.
The Teesside University Advance incentive is also available to new full-time students in 2018, which includes an Apple iPad with Office 365, student portal and email, timetables, virtual learning environment and library resources, a compatible keyboard and up to £300 credit that can be used to purchase course texts. There are also several scholarships available to students who have been resident in the Tees Valley for over two years and select Teesside University as their firm choice with UCAS, so if you’re eligible, make sure you apply for a chance to get some extra funding!
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