Why I chose to study Film and Television at Birmingham

Studying in the UK is a major investment and a student should consider all factors when choosing their university. It should not only be limited to the subject area. I am a fiction filmmaker and it is one of the reasons why I chose the MA Film and Television, but not because fiction is a strong focus. My programme also has a very strong foundation for documentary filmmaking. I am not a documentary filmmaker, but this is a skillset I wanted to invest in so I can become well-rounded at my craft. It also aligned with my plans when returning home. I have a non-profit organisation called Georgetown Film Festival and, while I hold an annual filmmaking workshop, documentary filmmaking has been a gap and attending the University of Birmingham will help me to close this gap. I encourage students to look at their long-term plans when selecting your university and determining what course is right for you.

In addition to that, my programme has an internship and I will get to work with a company in the UK. This will help me to understand how the UK film and television industry work. I see this type of exchange as invaluable to my growth, so this was also a contributing factor.

These two steps are important, but also important was my health. The University has a big on-campus gym with a 50m swimming pool, and I knew studying abroad was going to be a challenge and I love to swim, so this was definitely a factor.

I would also advise you to think deeply about the kind of person you are. For me, metropolitan cities can become overwhelming. London is very busy and sometimes when walking on those streets you can feel isolated and small. Everyone is always in a rush, always late, always trying to catch a train as if time is always running away from them. I know that was not ideal in how I function, and so I opted for a quieter city, but this does not mean there isn’t anything to do in Birmingham. There are clubs, cinemas, many hangout spots and there are also niche places, like the Mockingbird Cinema, that show films which are not always mainstream or the classics. As a film student, seeing some of my beloved films on the big screen is definitely an opportunity I plan on jumping on. Going to spaces like these would be a good way to build community and as a filmmaker you should know that film is a team sport. Be social, even if you are shy! Push yourself.

Finally, like I said, studying is an investment, and Birmingham is an affordable city. If you would like to get your groceries or rental of homes at affordable prices, Birmingham is a good place to be.