We caught up with School ofÌý²Ñ±ð»å¾±²¹Ìýstudent Nikhara Korpal to hear about her university experience so far.
How have you found university life so far?Ìý
University lifeÌýhas been amazing so far,ÌýI amÌýcurrently in my second year studying BA (Hons) Media and Communication.ÌýI am really enjoyingÌýtheÌýcourse andÌýit’sÌýbeen exciting meeting new peopleÌýandÌýdeveloping my media skills.Ìý
What kinds of projects did you work on in first year?ÌýÌý
During my first year I have worked on lots of different projects as aÌýCameraÌýOperator andÌýPhotographer.Ìý
My first project was for the BBC West Midlands Community Sports awards, where we partneredÌýupÌýwith the BBC Sports Editor Nick Clitheroe to make a few short films for the Sports Awards. It was a great opportunity filming sports such as boxing, dancing and hockey. The crew was made up of a camera operator, a sound operator and a producer.ÌýÌý
Within our teams we filmed the nomineesÌýoutÌýon location, IÌýreally likedÌýthe project because we had the flexibility to be creative with the types of shots we filmed.ÌýÌý
In first year, I joined Scratch TV which is a media societyÌýrun byÌýsecond and third-yearÌýstudentsÌýwhere we create live television shows.ÌýIt was greatÌýopportunityÌýpart of a family of media makers.ÌýÌý
During the first few sessions we had a goÌýat trying out rolesÌýinÌýcamera, soundÌýandÌýpresenting. It was interesting toÌýlearn about theÌýdifferent rolesÌýand how they allÌýhelp create a TV show.Ìý
It was really exciting being part of Scratch Chat’s first live TV show, I was the camera operator which involved filming the presenters on the showÌýwhich wasÌýstreamedÌýlive to .
Another project I worked on was withÌýthird yearÌýmediaÌýstudentsÌýfor their final projectÌýwhere theyÌýcreated a company called Ministry ofÌýWomen.ÌýTheÌýcompanyÌýaimsÌýto give exposure to femaleÌýmusicÌýartists.ÌýÌý
For the project I took photos of each of the artists,Ìýwhich was used on their promotional material and social media. I took photos at their first event called New Wave which had local Birmingham artists such as Lady Sanity.ÌýÌý
What projects are you working on now?Ìý
In my second year, I am currently doing a collaborative module which involves creating a project with students fromÌýdifferentÌýsubjects. It has been great meeting people from different subjects, seeing their work and projects they have been involved with.ÌýÌý
The other module I am doing is TVÌýwhich involvesÌýworking in a large group and creating a live quiz television show.
What has been the most fun project you’ve been involved with during your time on your course?ÌýÌý
Last September, I took photographs during International Welcome Week. This was a week full of activities and games for International Students. It was a great opportunity meeting student from different cultures and backgrounds.Ìý
After this event, I got involved with creating a ‘We are International’ video for 91ÁÔÆæ’s Student Union. This was for international student day, to represent inclusivity and diversity at 91ÁÔÆæ. This was a project which I reallyÌýlovedÌýworking on because it was a simple and fun video, which we filmed in the green screen studio.ÌýÌýÌý
The video has had a positive response from students and through this I haveÌýmetÌýlots of students from different subjectsÌýandÌýjoinedÌýsocietiesÌýsuch as Indian Society and Salsa society.Ìý
Have you taken part in any masterclasses?ÌýÌý
Media Lab is a series of events which happen every week, where people from the industry come in to speak to students about what they do and their personal experiences of the media industry.Ìý
Verity Milligan is a photographer, she has worked onÌýcommissions for organisations such as Yorkshire Tea, Visit Britain and American Express.Ìý
Verity gave us interesting tipsÌýforÌýfreelancing, social media and ways of making money with photos she has taken.
Have you gone on anyÌýmediaÌýtrips?Ìý
Last year, we went to Manchester for a media trip. It was great visiting the Media City, we had tours around CBBC andÌýCbeebiesÌýstudios. Then after looked around the Sky News and sports.ÌýÌý
Through the day we had a chance toÌýhear fromÌýpeople who work in the media industry about their roles and asked them questions.ÌýÌýÌý
Have you had any work experience while you’ve been a student?ÌýÌý
In my first year I did digital marketing work experience. The first week was with Stan’s Café which is an independent theatre company. Through the weekÌýI did tasks such as analyse their social media channels, website, and I created a few infographics fromÌýsomeÌýsurveys.Ìý
The second week was for St Philips Chambers who are a law firm based in central Birmingham.ÌýThis involved shadowing through the week, where we completed tasks such as email marketing and photography. From this I developed my skills of using the Adobe software package.Ìý
It was really good gettingÌýdigital marketingÌýwork experienceÌýduring my first year, the two companies were completely different. Stan’s Café was made up of a small team and St Philips Chambers had a large amount of staff,Ìýthey both gave me different experiences in Digital Marketing.Ìý
What is the community like at the School of Media?Ìý
I love the community at the School of Media, there is a section in Millennium point where all the mediaÌý³Ù³Ü³Ù´Ç°ù²õ’Ìýoffices are. The lectures are all really supportive and passionate about the modules they teach.Ìý
Also, onÌýsocialÌýmedia the online presence is huge on Facebook there are groups for the School of Media andÌý91ÁÔÆæÌýmedia trips. On twitter,Ìýstaff and students regularly post exciting things they are doing at 91ÁÔÆæ.Ìý
Is studying at a university much different to studying at college/ sixth form?Ìý
Yes, the teaching is very different at university compared to sixth form.ÌýThe classes are mostly seminars or lectures.Ìý
In my Media and Communications course, it has all been coursework based where I haveÌýhad to submitÌýthree piecesÌýof workÌýevery Semester.Ìý
What advice would you give to students who are thinking of studying a Media course with us at 91ÁÔÆæ?Ìý
I would definitely say to come along to one of our openÌýdays,Ìýso you get a feel of what university life is like at 91ÁÔÆæ.ÌýÌý
The media course I am doing is really good because it’s a very flexible course and you can pick modules and topics which you are interested in.ÌýAlso,Ìý91ÁÔÆæÌýhas really helped me to get lots of experience in mediaÌýdeveloping myÌýpractical and theoryÌýskills.Ìý
