Sophie, a BA (Hons) Photography graduate, recently sat down and shared with us some of the highlights of her time studying at BNU. Initially drawn to BNU for the state-of-the-art facilities which stood out against many other universities, Sophie automatically felt at home. “BNU offered a higher level of photography facilities compared to the other universities, I was amazed by the equipment and could see myself learning in that environment. The lecturers advertised the course as structured but also self-led, and I loved how there would be the opportunity to express myself and tell a story through image.”

Sophie also stated that BNU’s award-winning Students’ Union was a key factor to making BNU her firm choice. “BNU also had a very good student union, which was a big part of my university journey – they had lots of great opportunities for potential students, whether that was playing in a sports team or volunteering in the local community. And that appealed to me, ultimately my mind was made up based on these two factors.”

University is an exciting and life-changing time for anyone, Sophie felt this first-hand. “I wasn’t sure what to expect on my first day and I was super nervous, but three years later I can say that going to university has completely changed my outlook on my career and how I perceived the way I planned my life to be.” Along the way she met some great people and learnt key skills to propel her career. “Fundamentally, my favourite thing that I loved from my time at Buckinghamshire New University was meeting new people – I have made friends for life and to this day I am still in contact with some of my peers. I also learnt so much that benefits me almost every day, from elements about the technical side of a camera, to how to run a business and brand myself as a photographer.”

When asked if she would recommend the BA (Hons) Photography course, Sophie stated “I would recommend the course because I personally learnt so much throughout my time studying there, not just about photography and the overall industry, but about myself in general. The course pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I did things I never thought I would do – I explored new areas of photography that I never dreamt of experimenting in, I met loads of new people and expanded my contacts within the photography world.”