Click on an image below or browse the full playlist. You can also listen to a dedicated playlist of stories of living
and studying through the Covid-19 lockdown.
Produced by UAL Academic Support.
Grace
As an international student now in her second year, Grace understands the importance of good communication between staff and students to deal with these unexpected changes in learning.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:12)
George
George talks about finding inspiration during lockdown, taking risks, experimenting in his practice and why London is the place for making connections.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:44)
Sophia
Sophia changed courses, universities and countries to come to UAL. She offers practical advice about living in a big city and says now is a good time to study.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:19)
Renzo
Renzo didn’t feel ready to start a BA but was persuaded to apply. She went on to become a student ambassador and an Erasmus student studying in the Netherlands.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:26)
Damilola
Damilola found a family of friends at UAL. The isolation of Coronavirus forced him to develop his practice in new ways. He is about to start his Masters here.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:24)
Nicky
Nicky moved from a career in music production to a degree in ceramics. She offers great advice about studying in London under Coronavirus and explains her eagerness to continue this year.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:20)
Sister
Sister started a biology degree in USA, switched to studying Arts at UAL. She is determined to get the most from her experience studying in London in 2020.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:17)
Gayi
Gayi’s desire to work in the creative industries took her from being a dentist to studying ceramics at UAL. She produced some of her most creative work during lockdown.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:45)
Ifan
Ifan is the first in his family to leave South Wales to study. Now in his second year, he sees new opportunities that London and the course offers him.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:22)
Rajinder
Rajinder applied to UAL after school but ended up coming for her Masters after having a family. She feels part of a unique, creative environment even in this current situation.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (0:59)
Babett
Babett offers advice about finding collaborations, internships and jobs, managing stress and, for her final year at UAL, taking advantage of the new blended learning.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:18)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (19:14)
Hussein
Hussein talks about adapting to life in his home city, the challenges of studying in a pandemic and his positive attitude as he enters his final year at UAL.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:15)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (21:17)
Enubi and Vy
Eunbi and Vy talk about studying in the UK as international students. Eunbi offers an honest account of adapting to Coronavirus and the move to online learning.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:12)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (12:40)
Shupin
Shupin learnt to overcome her fears, to speak up and to try new things. Through her own experience, she offers advice for new students coming to UAL at this time of Coronavirus.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:22)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (16:43)
Catarina
Catarina describes how studying during Coronavirus means being open to uncertainty and attending UAL makes her part of the future of art and design.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:12)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (13:03)
Raahim
Raahim moved from forensic science to womenswear. He talks about overcoming doubt and family resistance and how Coronavirus is challenging him to push his design practice in a new direction.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:02)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (19:32)
Katie and Elise
Katie and Elise talk about getting through their first few weeks at college last year and Coronavirus this year stressing the importance of kindness, communication and managing stress.
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (extract) (01:13)
▶ Listen to 2020 interview (20:50)
Anders
Anders is one of the first students on a new course. He shares his experience of loneliness, the challenges of working with others and why friends are so important.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (01:53)
Rose
Recent graduate Rose gives her advice on writing dissertations, the value of criticism and what lessons she’s learned, looking back.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:46)
Charlotte
Charlotte, from London, chats about how her experience as a mature student has helped her look at her own practice in a new way.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:57)
Ploynita
Ploynita left a family business and her home country to come to UAL. She talks about gaining acceptance from her family and building relationships here.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (01:54)
Ayaba
At first, Ayaba was afraid of being overwhelmed and now she encourages herself to experiment, take risks in her work and share her ideas. Hear her story.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:51)
Semen
Semen talks about the first few days at UAL, making friends, finding support and embracing the diversity of London.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:46)
Ann Marie
Ann Marie reflects on her career transition into the creative industries. She also talks about doing her MA and how she found inspiration in the different cultures at UAL.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (03:48)
Wei
After 5 months at UAL, Wei is confident about communicating and collaborating with others. She tells us what she’s learned.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:50)
Philipp and Santiago
Philipp and Santiago give advice on adjusting to life in London and getting the most from colleagues and staff, from critical feedback and from self-reflection.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (2:13)
Tamar
Tamar shares her experiences of bringing her family to London, moving into a new career and starting an MA.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:21)
Frank and Nicolas
Frank and Nicolas discuss ways students can find support at UAL such as doing sports, talking to peer mentors and through the student community.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (03:16)
Uzo
Uzo talks about her time at UAL as a study-abroad student from US and why she changed courses to do something she loves.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (03:22)
Lourdes
Lourdes is doing a one-year MA at UAL that’s all teamwork, so students must learn to work together. She shares what this meant for her.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (2:08)
Lesley
Lesley, from China, talks about how she has found friends from around the world, discovered a new way of learning and gained confidence.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (3:04)
Veronique
Veronique from the US talks about diversity and inclusion at UAL, coping with difficult times, academic writing and the importance of reflection.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:40)
Molly
Since starting at UAL, Molly has gained confidence and feels more positive and connected to our diverse student community
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:52)
Charlie and Sissy
Chinese students Charlie and Sissy tell us why they chose to study at UAL. They also describe a typical week here and give useful tips on how to do well in your course.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (03:09)
Vince
Vince reflects on his own failure and uncertainty, his focus on health and wellbeing and the value embracing diversity, and connecting with different people.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (21:12)
Hannah
Hannah talks about the early challenges she faced with language and British culture but also how she found a place she could be herself.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (01:29)
Mathilda
Mathilda shares her experience of having a learning disability, developing a good way of working and discovering creativity in her writing.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:32)
Jade and Mim
Foundation students, Jade and Mim, share their experiences of coming to London, studying independently and finding support and guidance.
▶ Listen to the 2019 interview (extract) (02:55)
Further resources
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Graphics by UAL alumnus Jack Sachs, BA Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts -
Academic Support session. Image by G Barton, 2017 -
Image courtesy UAL
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Photo: Ana Escobar
