Ruby Connel

What's it like to study at Northumbria? 

It is a great, inclusive environment. No day is the same within the university. I especially like studying at Northumbria University as I get to see and make new friends on my course. This makes the learning experience so much more enjoyable! 

Best thing about studying Sport and Exercise Science 

The best thing about this course is how interactive it is. Personally, I struggle to concentrate for the full duration of a lecture, so I find the seminars and practicals extremely useful, as anything I may have missed or have questions about can be answered, so my understanding becomes clearer. Having lecturers such as Nicola McCullough, Tom Macpherson, Phil Hayes, Shaun Wilkinson and Georgia-Allen Baker and many more make learning feel effortless. No question is an issue; they are more than happy to help. 

Favourite thing to do on campus / community 

My favourite thing to do on a campus is meet up with friends. I have many friends within my course and many friends external to my course. I enjoy meeting up with them either in Habita or going into town after university to catch up with a coffee. It is a lovely community environment; there is nearly always a pop-up stand with something for you to get involved with, which is great for people who may have struggled to form connections, as I mentioned. 

Course & career goals / industry links 

The course will help me achieve my future goals with not only the grades I will hopefully achieve but the life skills I have learnt while being on this course. The placement I did in Year 2 had a huge impact on me, as it helped me feel comfortable in a sporting work environment while learning external skills and how to prepare for an interview, with the exam being based around that. 

A time you realised you were capable of more 

A time I realised I was capable of more than I first thought was when I got my grades back and thought that I may not have done as well as I could have. Especially given certain circumstances, I was more than pleased with the grades I received. 

Support that boosted confidence / ambition 

The placement, as previously mentioned, was huge for me. I struggle with speaking in front of a large group I am not familiar with, so with my course making a placement compulsory, I thought I would choose a college sports tutor placement to use the time to improve my confidence. 

Advice for someone considering Northumbria 

I would recommend coming to Northumbria even if you may not know anyone prior to coming. There are so many new people to meet and it is a great city to explore.