Journalism BA(Hons): After you graduate

"Before coming to Kingston University I was very nervous. All the odds were against me succeeding here. Because of my background, I was not a typical journalist: I was a mature student with a polluted mind, a foreigner who was struggling with his English, a family man with young children, and a part-time minicab driver. But, with the support of the lecturers, I managed to overcome all these obstacles.

"Every member of Kingston University's Journalism Department understood my personal needs and assisted me to the best of their abilities. From year one, they were talking about jobs in journalism, which meant that I was able to start thinking early on about what type of journalist I wanted to be.

"I knew that breaking into the media industry would be a big challenge. At the end of my second year, I travelled to east Africa to freelance over the summer break. Even though the lecturers were on holiday, they were happy to provide support and shared their expertise with me throughout the whole process, from developing stories to pitching them. As a result, stories were published in well-known newspapers at home and abroad, and this led to my finding a job in British television.

"During my final year, I began producing programmes for Channel 4 News, undertaking investigative assignments focusing on the Somali pirates and Al-Qaeda's networks in Africa. This is a testament to what students can achieve at Kingston University. My experience during my degree was beyond my expectations, and I will always be grateful to the team for helping me realise my dream."

"The journalism department at Kingston provided a very well rounded syllabus which seemed to touch on all of the most important elements of being a journalist today. It was great to learn how to use programmes such as Adobe InDesign and Dreamweaver, which are used by the professionals on a day-to-day basis.

"Without a doubt, my favourite module of the three years was when we took over the student newspaper. Beforehand, I was worried about how time consuming it would be, but it turned out to be great fun. The module seemed to bring together every element of the course and required us to call on the skills that we'd been taught throughout the three years. There was a real buzz around the news room, as well as the feeling that you were part of something exciting."

"From the open day, I knew the journalism course at Kingston was something special. I was full of questions but the lecturers and students I met had answers and were so enthusiastic that they filled me with positivity.

"I was looking for a course that focused solely on print journalism and I found it here. Across the three years, we were drilled every week in news writing skills – the team at my first ‘real world' journalism job were really impressed by how sharp my writing was and I can only credit the tutors at Kingston. I learnt about international journalism, the history of print and some really essential law – the course is really comprehensive and gives you a wide view of the industry.

"Working on The River definitely stands out as a highlight of my degree. I'd worked on a newspaper in the holidays but nothing prepared me for the intense pressure and long hours of editorial work, or the pride I had in the finished editions of The River of which I was a part.

"The things I'll remember most are the weekly news pop quizzes to make sure we were reading the papers and the inspirational guest lecturers who gave us a privileged view on some sensational stories. I went into this course as someone who liked to write and I've emerged from it a confident and well-equipped journalist."

"After graduating from Kingston University I was fortunate enough to obtain a job in journalism almost immediately, and am still working at the Epsom Guardian, a local weekly newspaper in Surrey.

"I had undertaken work experience there on a couple of occasions while still on the course and always kept in contact with the group editor afterwards – emailing him with story ideas and tipping off the newsdesk with anything I thought might be of interest to them. It definitely paid off and was a huge factor, I believe, in helping me get a job there as a trainee reporter.

"As well as my two stints of work experience in Epsom, I also spent a week with the Evening Standard's crime correspondent, and another at the press office of New Scotland Yard. Although I hadn't passed my NCTJ preliminary exams by the time I approached Epsom for work, having only just graduated with my first degree, the experience I had built up while at Kingston certainly helped me obtain my job. It showed that I was dedicated and enthusiastic about pursuing a career in journalism.

"The journalism degree definitely prepared me for the role of a journalist as much as it possibly could. Some things are never going to be able to be taught in a lecture theatre, but having the benefit of background knowledge and tips from the lecturers certainly helped. Even now I can often recall anecdotes from lecturers about how they did things when they themselves were trainees.

"After only a short time in my job, I was sent out on a ‘death-knock' – i.e. to interview the relatives of someone who had just died - only a couple of hours before the paper's deadline. I feel that the only way to learn a ‘skill' like this is to do it first hand: although every situation and scenario is different, you just have to remain sensitive; hope you get the quotes you need; and make sure the victim's family doesn't catch you clockwatching as you silently panic about the looming deadline. Even as I walked down the garden path towards the family's door, I was rehearsing and changing my opening words but with the confidence I had built on while on my degree I knew I would be able to give it my best shot.

"Fortunately, on that occasion the family were willing to talk to me - inviting me in and chatting to me for more than an hour. Often the families of victims don't wish to talk to the press, and at a difficult time they may become upset. While carrying out death-knocks I have been faced with abusive family members before, shouting and telling me to disappear - with some even making complaints about me to my editor. Although nothing can totally prepare you for these situations, when teaching staff recount stories about their own experiences you realise you're not doing anything wrong.

"My favourite part of the degree was actually working on The River newspaper. I think this gave us all a chance to put into practice what we had spent the previous two years learning about. It also forced us to make decisions and plan the newspaper in a way one doesn't always get to do when working on a real-life title full time. These sorts of decisions are left to the editors and sub-editors, but having got a taste of what they do and a better understanding of their role certainly helps me in my job.

"Studying the journalism degree at Kingston was the best decision I ever made, and the high results achieved by the students was certainly a reflection of how good the teaching and the lecturers were. I do miss Kingston University and the Journalism Department, and often think about the great time I had there, but I genuinely know that whatever I go on to do I will be prepared because of the teaching and staff."