Kirsty Black

BSc (Hons) Psychology

What appealed to you about Northumbria University / studying in Newcastle?

I am originally from Northern Ireland and was excited to study in the UK rather than stay at home, particularly Newcastle. The reasons for this include the fact that friends had informed me of the great night life and atmosphere at Newcastle, and so after a visit to the city and Northumbria’s open day, I felt it would be a perfect place to study.

What was it about the course / subject area that particularly appealed?

The various modules taught within the Psychology degree were all extremely interesting to me, in particular the criminology, alcoholism and child psychology topics. I felt all the modules offered were of great variety, therefore the potential to gain knowledge in many areas of the subject was offered.

What qualifications did you have?

I applied via UCAS with A Level qualifications: A (English Literature) B (Moving Image Arts) and B (History).

How did you feel during your first week at Northumbria?

During my first week at Northumbria, I was extremely excited due to the new living environment, the large number of events that were planned and offered to freshers and the opportunities provided for meeting lots of new people.

What do you like most about the course?

I enjoy all aspects of the course in terms of the different modules studied, and the different teaching methods. For example lectures are helpful and informative, especially when combined with the help of lecture notes that are provided on the University website, Blackboard. I also find the use of workshops and seminars useful when wanting more one-to-one feedback from teachers or to allow group work with other students to take place.

Can you give an example of a piece of work you’ve been involved with recently?

I have recently been working on my final year project dissertation proposal. This has proved very interesting and exciting as we have been given the opportunity to investigate areas within the subject of psychology that appeal to us the most. With the aid of help from my tutor, I have been constructing a design for an experiment, and deciding on what sort of areas I could research and what sort of people I can test. As we are given total choice and freedom of what to do, this has encouraged work for this module to be more stimulating.

I am currently in my final year of study and up until this point there have been times when some modules within the subject have proved more difficult than others. However some modules will be easier for some people to grasp, especially depending on what subjects you have previously studied at school. For example there is a statistic subject within the Psychology degree which has proved the most difficult for me personally. However there is lots of help and support provided at the University by the teachers and your tutor, and through their help and the use of the University’s library facilities, I was able to overcome the initial obstacles.

How do you get on with your tutors?

I get on extremely well with my tutors.

What do you do when you’re not studying?

When I'm not studying, I take full advantage of the University’s gym as it is of the highest standard and isn’t too expensive. The best things about Newcastle itself which appeals to me is the endless amount of bars and restaurants available, and the variety of venues in the city that provide comedy and music concerts.

What’s your accommodation like?

My first year accommodation was very clean, modern and I had my own personal bathroom. Myself and five other flatmates shared a large living area and kitchen and I really enjoyed living there. I am in my second year and currently I have lived in a four-bedroom house not far from campus or town, which is extremely comfortable and pleasant.