Meet Nia – she completed our university-level Extended Degree in Science last year, and now she’s working towards a full degree in Diagnostic Radiography at Sheffield University.
North Hertfordshire College works in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire to deliver degree-level study across both campuses – offering flexible university-level education without the high-costs. Nia decided to complete our university-level Science course at North Hertfordshire College so she could progress on to complete her full degree at university.
While studying, Nia moved away from home to live on campus at the University of Hertfordshire, making the short trip to our Stevenage campus for in-person lessons within our state-of-the-art science facilities. To reflect on her experience, Nia has written an insightful open letter outlining how North Hertfordshire College’s univeristy-level programme set her up on her journey towards her dream career. Nia has also offered valuable advice to this year’s new higher education learners.
Check out Nia’s open letter below:
The Extended Degree in Science at NHC was an extremely helpful experience that expanded my scientific understanding and prepared me for my future studies in diagnostic radiography. The programme provided a great foundation in essential subjects such as biology, maths, and physics, which I genuinely enjoyed.
The practical lessons, combined with the support of teaching staff, made difficult modules easier to understand, and as the course progressed, I began to feel more confident in what I was learning. NHC ensures that all students have caught up with each subject and, if you need help, staff are always willing to help and organise any sort of 1-1 sessions if needed.
One of the best parts of this course was that it was not just focused on exams. The combination of coursework and exams made it feel less stressful and gave me more opportunities to show what I know and understand.
Campus life was a whole experience! Living on campus is what made this course feel more exciting and really made my time at NHC a lot more enjoyable and memorable.
It was helpful that the library was just a short walk away and is open 24 hours, making it easier to stay on top of work or catch up with classmates whenever I needed.
I got to meet so many new people and everyone I lived with was doing the same course so there were always people around, whether it was spending time together in the common areas, joining clubs, or just grabbing food together – there was always something going on. It made me feel like I was part of a real community.
Living on campus gave me the perfect balance between focusing on my studies and enjoying my social life.
Nia’s Top Tips:
Stay Organised: Keep track of assignments and deadlines early on. As there is a lot to cover in the year so this can reduce the risk of stress and falling behind.
Balance your time: If you are living away for the first time it will be a completely different experience for you, so ensuring you are getting your work done but also finding the time to cook meals and spending time with your friends is important.
Ask for help: If you aren’t feeling confident about something, don’t hesitate to ask teachers or peers as everyone is there to support you.
A huge congratulations to Nia for her incredible achievements!
If you’re interested in achieving a degree on your doorstep, without the high-costs, explore Higher Education courses at North Hertfordshire College.