"Just come here and be enthusiastic. You will meet new people and have new experiences. The University is a really diverse place with a wealth of opportunity."
Matthew Sherlock
Age: 21
Course: American Studies (course now titled American and Canadian Literature, History and Culture)
“The University of Nottingham always appealed to me. It has a reputation for being a leading university with fantastic facilities for students. My sister also came to Nottingham and strongly recommended it to me. I knew it was a good university for American studies and the opportunity to study in America was a big attraction.
I’ve really enjoyed my course. It’s a multi-disciplinary course that allows you to study a variety of subjects, including literature, history, politics and film. I’ve particularly taken to the literature side and intend to focus on that in my final-year dissertation.
A highlight was my year abroad in the third year – I studied at the University of Illinois, where I met students from all over the world. There was a wide choice of module options and I gained a much deeper understanding of American culture. You can take advantage of opportunities to travel and see how life differs from state to state. It was a real privilege to be given the chance to study there.
The staff in the School are very helpful, and you have a really good support network. When I was going abroad, they told me everything I needed to know and were more than happy to answer any questions about any of it.
Away from my course, I’ve immersed myself in student life. There are a number of different activities you can get involved with through the societies on campus. I’ve played football for my halls and am currently training with the Boxing Club. Additionally, I have taken part in events run by the poker and music societies.
Studying in Nottingham is great because you have the city on your doorstep. It’s a big city, so there’s always plenty going on, but it’s not so big that you feel overwhelmed by it.
After I graduate, I intend to travel more and then train as a teacher. The skills I’ve developed here, like independent thought, research and communication, will really help me.”