BY Waqas Qaimkhani
16 Aug 2022
We had the opportunity to sit down with Rosa Brown, a recent UWE graduate and we asked her for some information and her experiences around attending university. This was a great discussion and Rosa gave us some real insight into the life of a university student.
What made you decide to go to university?
During my A levels, I was unsure whether I wanted to go to university or not. I knew I did not want to go straight into full time work, so I decided to do a foundation in Art and Design as that was my favourite subject throughout my years of secondary school. In the South Welsh valleys, where I am from, it is not common to go to university, but from a young age, my parents have encouraged me to go as they knew it would open up a lot of opportunities for me. I knew I did not want to stay in my hometown forever and realised that going to university would be a good chance for me to explore and find my place in the world.
How did you choose your course?
The foundation course in Art and Design went on for a year in a further education college. During that course, we got to experiment with lots of different areas of art such as fine art, illustration, graphics, animation, 3D, textiles, and photography. We had a set number of weeks to try out each area before deciding which ones we liked best. My favourite was Fine Art, and a few months into the foundation course I decided that that was what I wanted to study at university. Fine Art was my favourite because I loved the freedom it gave me to express in any way that I wanted through a range of different media. I had free rein as an artist to produce what I wanted and not be commissioned by anyone else.
How did you apply to a creative course?
My fine art tutor on the foundation course helped me with my university application. She suggested some universities that I might be interested in, wrote my reference, and helped me put together my portfolio of artwork for the interview. I was guided through each stage of the UCAS application by my tutors at the college. I applied to four universities but only attended two interviews as I was already finding it difficult having to choose between two and did not want to give myself any more options. The two interviews I attended were at Cardiff Metropolitan university and the university of the West of England (UWE). Both interviews were very different. The one at Cardiff Met was very interactive and relaxed. Whereas the one at UWE was a lot more formal. I had unconditional offers from both universities as I already knew my A Level results. I accepted an offer at UWE.
What were the highlights of your three years at university?
My highlights were getting to meet new people from all parts of the world which gave me a whole new perspective on life and different cultures. I also loved the sense of freedom I gained moving away from home and having to depend on myself made me feel a lot more confident in my abilities. I also got the opportunity to meet people who were more similar to me and who shared the same interests.
What were some of the challenges you faced during your three years at university?
Halfway through my second year, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK. I moved back to my hometown in South Wales for 8 months. Having to complete an art course online was difficult as I had no studio space or access to materials or creative facilities. Most of my art practice became digital and I had to find new ways of documenting and submitting my work. I also faced some personal struggles with my mental health which I overcame with support from my friends, family, and the university.
Outside of the seminars and lectures, where was the best place for you to learn?
My favourite places to learn and do work were the university library, the café in the Arnolfini or outdoors where I could read my texts and make notes ready for my essays. I also loved discovering new parts of the city such as the museum, where I learned a lot about ancient and local history.
Was there anything that you wished you had done differently on your course?
I wish that I had made use of the facilities and workshops that the university had to offer. I spent a lot of time creating art in my room instead of motivating myself to venture out into the studio and create amongst other emerging artists. I also wish I had put myself out there more and made more connections.
What advice would you have for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
The three years go very fast, so I would say, take a year or two after your A Levels to really work out what it is you want to do at university. Foundation years are a great bridge between A Levels and university courses, I would recommend them to anyone considering further education. There is no rush to decide what it is you want to do, you can go to university at any age and it is better to take the time to find what you love. It is a big investment of your time, so you want to be sure you have made the right decision. And most importantly, take every opportunity for experience! Meet new people, try new things, explore new places, these memories will last you a lifetime.