Why I chose Media and Popular Culture at university

Choosing to study Media and Popular Culture at Huddersfield was possibly one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make. From my first visit to Huddersfield on an Open Day, I just felt like I belonged there. The vibe, the surroundings, the people – all felt perfect. I knew I wanted to move away from home and the two-hour journey meant I had my independence, while still being close enough to travel back if I was feeling a bit homesick.

In terms of choosing my course, I have always had a passion for writing but I was stuck on what exactly I wanted to do. I toyed with the idea of journalism for a while, but after discovering media studies at A Level, I knew it was what I wanted to continue studying.

I was given a prospectus from Huddersfield at a university fair I attended, adding it to the massive pile I already had. After looking at other unis that I was initially drawn to, none of them really ticked every box. On a whim, I sifted through my other prospectuses and found the huge selection of media and journalism courses that Huddersfield has on offer.

The popular culture aspect of my degree, in particular, drew me in because it’s really modern in comparison to other media degrees I looked at. I was also a big fan of sociology at college, so the culture side of the course allowed me to explore that further, while still focusing on the media.

Once I had read about the course, I attended an Open Day – which is when I really fell in love with the University. The course was already sounding appealing, but being able to meet my course leader and speak to the informative and friendly lecturers just really affirmed how perfect the degree was for me. The campus itself is neither too big or too small, the facilities are fantastic and all the students I met on the Open Day were lovely and helpful. 

Huddersfield has a modern, visually stunning campus with a great atmosphere. Being someone who struggles to my keep focus all of the time, I find the library to be a really motivating space. The different areas in the library mean there is space to study in silence or in a group room if you’d prefer, and you can find pretty much any academic book to ever exist (don’t quote me on that though…)!

If you’re considering studying at Huddersfield or are interested in media-based degrees, I really recommend you look over the range of journalism and media courses available. They’re all fantastic in their own way, but each specialises in different areas, including music, sport, and film. It was really important to me that I found a course which fitted exactly what I wanted to do: and I found that at Huddersfield. Plus, my course benefits from great cameras, recording equipment (including a radio suite and newsroom) and all the latest Adobe software, so that’s a bonus!

There’s no denying that degree-level study is a big step up from sixth form, but I am so lucky to have such amazing lecturers and fellow students on my course. Many of the lecturers are experts in their field and they’re always there to support and guide us through our studies. I love my course, I love my Uni and I can’t wait to continue learning about the subject I am most passionate about.

To find out more about my course, click here: Media and Popular Culture BA(Hons)