A day in the life of an International Media and Communications student

9am: Korean language lecture

I start my day off by attending a lecture at one of our campus’ iconic buildings, Trent Building. As an international student, it is lovely to be able to study in this beautiful, white stone-walled building that is very representative of the UK.

I am here for my language module, Korean, with our tutor, Ms. Sang-yeon Park. I love this class as it is super engaging and there is never a boring class. We focus not only on the language, but also learn about the culture and play various games to immerse ourselves in it.  

11am: 'Understanding Cultural Industries' lecture

Following the Korean lecture, I head to my next lecture. This module, called 'Understanding Cultural Industries', convened by Dr Leora Hadas and Dr Cassie Brummitt, is my favourite module this semester. We cover all forms of media and how they work within the industry - in terms of marketing, advertising, audiences, producers, etc.

Today, we discuss Authorship and Adaptations - how these affect the way audiences view media, the difference in adaptations with the rise of technology and how these affect business models. 

12pm: Lunch at Subway

I head over to Portland Building, our Student Union, to grab lunch at my usual spot - Subway. I meet up with a friend to munch on my Italian BMT (that I never get tired of!) while we relax before we have to head out for our next lectures.  

2pm: 'Film and TV in Social and Cultural Contexts' lecture

My final lecture of the day is 'Film and TV in Social and Cultural Contexts'. Dr Alex Simcock holds an interesting lecture about the Golden Age of TV - referring to the late 1940s and 50s when television took a different turn. We learn how this era emerged, its stylistic implications and the discourse surrounding it.

I particularly enjoy this class as we often have screenings to further our understanding of the concepts.  

3pm: Portland Coffee

After class, I head back to Portland Building to Portland Coffee, to do some research for a group project with a classmate. With our iced lattes, we discuss a television show pitch for the 'Understanding Cultural Industries' module.

The atmosphere at Portland Coffee is perfect for a chill study session, relaxing and catching up with friends!  

6pm: Dinner in halls

As I live in catered accommodation, I grab dinner at Nightingale Hall with my hallmates as we discuss how our days went. I love this little ritual we have everyday - it feels like a family dinner at my home away from home! 

8pm: Badminton

In an attempt to stay physically fit, me and my hallmates book a court at David Ross Sports Village and play a friendly game of badminton for an hour.  

10pm: Nightingale Library

My busy day ends at the Nightingale Library for a short study session with a friend. This quaint library is a hidden gem. It is my favourite place to go when I have to focus on my work and, on the odd occassion, pull all-nighters to cram for an assignment! The small array of books here are also good to browse through when taking a study break!