Katie Lerescu

How did you know that the University of Birmingham was the right choice for you? 

I knew Birmingham was the university for me as soon as I saw it. The campus is all close together and not in a busy city area, meaning it's really green and there's a good sense of community. It felt like I could experience living in a new place, but still have the comfort of being around other students and be in a lovely area. Also, the societies and groups the university offers are really varied and fun - I knew I wanted to be a part of the brass band and the Burn FM society!

Why did you choose English Literature at university?

I was looking for flexibility and choice in my course, and Birmingham suited this the most out of any university I saw. In our first year, we got to choose some of our modules, which is rare as modules are often all compulsory for first-year students. This meant I could choose modules like ‘Dystopia’ and ‘Plays and Performance’, which are two areas I am interested in and got to build knowledge in.

In second and third year we can choose all of our modules, which is perfect for me. Some people might prefer to learn about Victorian literature and environmental theory, whereas someone else could learn about Virginia Woolf and Romance literature – you can follow your own interests so easily. Also, I have found on my course that the lecturers are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful if you have any questions which just helps make it a great learning environment.

What is life like for you as a student at the University of Birmingham like?

My student experience at UoB is really fun! I enjoy the degree side of university life as I get to throw myself into learning in depth about topics I really love, and I especially enjoy seminars where I can discuss with students and lecturers who are passionate about the same things as I am. I have part-time jobs for the university as a student ambassador and as a content creator which are flexible around my degree hours and allow me to earn some money but still let me have enough time for my social life.

I have joined University Music and the Burn FM society which are both really great student groups where I have made friends and built on hobbies. I am a part of the brass band ensemble in University Music which has become a huge part of my university life – we rehearse every week and hang out at the pub afterwards and always have lots of fun!

What help have you received during your studies?

I have utilised the resources from the Careers Network through working for The Birmingham Award which is the university’s employability award. I used the advice on the career network to tailor my CV and LinkedIn so it was professional, and I ended up receiving the award because of the helpful advice.

What top tips would you give to prospective students?

My top tips would be:

• Try to go to open days as a campus can really change your mind about a university
• Have a look at a few accommodation options offered by your university so you aren’t caught off guard if you don’t get you first choice
• Try to join at least one society in first year – even if you don’t continue going you might make some new friends or learn a new skill
• In freshers week, try to go to a lot of events to get to know the university and your flatmates, but also don’t feel bad if you miss a night out – you can’t go to all of them!
• Bring a big bowl to university – this might seem strange but I ended up eating the majority of my first year meals from this one bowl, it was very convenient!

What is your favourite place in Birmingham city centre? 

My favourite place overall is probably Harborne. It’s a small area with a high street which was really near to my first year accommodation in Pritchatts Park. There are loads of great charity shops that you could spend all day looking in, and a massive Home Bargains that my flat and I got all our holiday decorations from – it has everything.

There are also some lovely cafés like Boston Tea Party and Café Nero, and an amazing pizza place called Rudy’s, where we went for our last flat meal together. An honourable mention for me is also Digbeth near the city centre. The Redbrick Market and Cow are amazing for vintage shopping, and Kanteen has some great sandwiches!

What's your favourite memory of studying at the University of Birmingham? 

My favourite memory from UoB so far has got to be the brass band winning UniBrass. Every year, university brass bands compete against each other in a competition called UniBrass. When I was in first year we came third in the bottom of the two sections, and were promoted to the higher section for the next year, so we weren’t expecting the result.

As the ensemble manager, I was sat on the stage when they announced the awards and was in absolute shock when I went to collect first place! The atmosphere in the bus back afterwards was absolutely amazing as everyone was so surprised and pleased, especially some of my friends who are graduating and leaving the band this year. I will definitely remember it forever – this is a sign to get involved in student groups at university because you can make such amazing memories like this!

What plans do you have for the future?

This is a good question, I’m not exactly sure yet! All I know is that I love interacting with people so I wouldn’t suit an analytical desk job or something like that. I’m lucky that English Literature nowadays is a very broad course and is often seen by employers as a degree in culture or communication, so I can have a look at lots of different areas.