Some of BGUs PGCE Secondary English students Me, Oliver, Olivia, Paige, Maisie
As some of you will know, I recently graduated from Bishop Grossteste University having completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education here from September 2018 to June 2019. After spending my undergraduate years down the hill at the University of Lincoln, I noticed quite a few differences between the two, so wanted to share with you some of the very refreshing and positive aspects of my experience at BGU. While I certainly don't want to knock my original alma mater, (I really did enjoy my time at the Uni of Lincoln!) I feel that BGU has something unique to offer, so don't just write it off because you maybe haven't heard of it before!
BGU has been around for over a hundred years, in fact my great-aunt trained here to become a teacher, just as I have now done! However, it did not gain university status until 2012, so is fairly new and still establishing itself. Please don't let this put you off! There are lots of reasons as to why BGU is a fantastic place to study, and I feel passionately about getting the word out, so read on to discover them...
1. It's beautiful campus
BGU really is a community and I would put that down to the fact that it has such a quaint campus. Getting from one building to the next is no problem, in fact it's a pleasure to travel around such a pretty place! All of the buildings are situated quite close to each other and the setting is well maintained and pruned by the gardeners. Students and staff respect the space so you'll never see litter or cigarette ends dotted about, instead it's clean, easily accessible and makes for a lovely Instagram photo! The lawns are the perfect place to socialise on a warm day, and the campus itself reminds me a lot of the village I'm from, with everything you need in walking distance and lots of friendly faces scattered around. While there are other campus universities in and around Lincoln, I don't think any are so well maintained or easy to navigate through as BGUs!
2. The relationships you build with tutors
With it being a smaller university, your tutors really do get to know you as an individual. My PGCE Secondary English cohort contained just over twenty people at the start, so was smaller than most of the classes I had been in throughout secondary school, college and university. This meant that tutors quickly learnt all of our names and we were able to get to know each other a lot better too. Being part of a smaller group means more chance for everybody to speak up during seminar/workshop style lessons and this also allows tutors to gage your understanding of the subject. There is a lot of opportunity for one-to-one discussion with a tutor and they are able to provide more support than they would be if they were working at a larger university. Personally and professionally, I benefited from being part of such a small cohort, and forged a strong relationship with my tutor Kate. A lot of my tutors at undergraduate didn't have a clue what my name was, and if I didn't speak up, they wouldn't prompt me to. Kate knew and understood all of us as individuals and could recognise our strengths and weaknesses, meaning we got a lot more out of the course and were always being pushed to reach our potential.
3. CELT
The support doesn't end with the tutors, CELT (Centre for Enhancement in Learning and Teaching) are a fantastic team and a real credit to the university. The team provide academic assistance for students struggling with essay writing, assignment submission, referencing, planning and much more. You can Email or visit them on campus and book a one-to-one to discuss any of your academic issues. They are also on hand to help you navigate your way around Blackboard, BGU's online hub, and are absolute life savers - especially for first year students! I remember being totally confused about referencing during my
undergraduate years, I think I only really got the hang of it during third year to be honest! At BGU, they recognise that this might be a new skill for a lot of students, and put resources like the CELT centre in place to assist with that.
4. Longsdale House
Longsdale House is the universities' on campus guest house, so makes visits from home very easy! I live in Yorkshire and travelled into the university for the first two weeks of my course when we were in every day, and to avoid hopping on and off trains all week I actually stayed here myself. It's very comfortable, clean and most importantly, quiet! Prices are affordable and a full English breakfast is included in the sum, which is to be consumed next door in the refectory. If you have parents, friends or extended family visiting and can't really put them all up in your uni digs, they can stay on campus and avoid paying the steep prices of the hotels up the hill!
5. The City
Lincoln is a beautiful place. Often compared to York or Durham, it's picturesque and historic but has lots of great shops, restaurants, bars, clubs and cafes. BGU is situated at the top of the hill, close to the Bailgate (which hosts the infamous Lincoln Cathedral and Castle) and is a short walk away from some of the lovely independent shops, restaurants and bars scattered along here, I would recommend Gino's for food and the Magna Carta for drinks! Lincoln is a very compact city, with lots going on along the main street, so it's easy to get everywhere on foot. Taxis, should you decide to take one, are never more than about £6.00 per journey through the city though, so they're a very viable option. For me, Lincoln provided a taste of city living without being too far out of my comfort zone. It's easy to find your way around and isn't quite as busy or industrious as say Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle or London, instead it's a lot slower paced and much more peaceful.
6. The Staff
I have already mentioned how easy it is to get on with the tutors, and this hospitality and kindness is very much extended to the various members of staff around campus. The ladies on reception are friendly, I once asked to leave my suitcase behind the desk with them to avoid lugging it around all day and they were great about this. The staff in Curiositea, the on site coffee shop (which I'll discuss in more detail soon) are always very welcoming and work quickly to get through the large queues at break and lunch times, as do the staff in the refectory! One thing I discovered this year when navigating to new rooms was that you can walk around campus and ask anyone with a staff lanyard on for directions, and they're happy to help!
7. Matriculation
Matriculation is a very unique and exciting opportunity that allows students to celebrate beginning their degree, just as they will celebrate graduating at the end of it. Matriculation is a ceremony held in the cathedral in October where new students are formally welcomed into the university. Guests are permitted to attend though seating is limited and it is a first come first served basis on the day.The Matriculation Ball is held in the evening, with some free time allocated between this and the service, for students to celebrate with family and friends.
8. Extra-Curricular Opportunities
The Students Union (BGSU) are very active and host lots of student nights on campus, from pub quizzes to foam parties, grad balls to bake sales, and beyond! The university has a range of societies that you can join, as well as an onsite gym! More impressively, however, are the opportunities within your chosen subject. The English and Drama PGCE students were treated to a trip to The Globe Theatre in London to watch a performance of Shakespeare's Othello. This was a brilliant opportunity for us all to enjoy a live performance, and gave us a chance to socialise as a group outside of university for the very first time.
9. Curiositea
A total gem, Curiositea is the Alice in Wonderland themed tea-room/cafe, situated close to the Skinner building. The menu hosts a range of warm drinks (including specialty syrups during the festive period), a selection of breakfast pastries in the mornings, moving onto toasties, sandwiches and paninis in the afternoons, as well as cold drinks and lots of yummy treats to indulge in. Not many universities have such a pleasant space for students to come and eat, and it's an ideal spot to bring parents and particularly grandparents when they visit!
10. Graduation
The highlight of everybody's university experience is of course graduation! At BGU it is made all the more special with pre and post-graduation celebrations being held on campus throughout the day. There are drinks tents and tips selling alcoholic and soft drinks, a BBQ that you can purchase for under £10 per head, the refectory provides a full English, and Curiositea is open and serving coffees, teas and cakes! I loved my graduation this year, my parents and I sat out on the lawns afterwards enjoying our complimentary prosecco in the sunshine! Not to mention the fact that Lincoln Cathedral is a fabulous graduation venue - so much more beautiful than your average town hall! To be honest, it's going to be hard to find a venue as stunning as this when I eventually get married... Thank GOODNESS that's not anytime soon! Leaving the cathedral as part of the academic procession feels especially poignant and special, with each of the tutors clapping and cheering you on! It really is the perfect end to a fantastic and unique university experience, and I'm so nostalgic about my graduation already.
Overall, BGU really value you as an individual and don't just see you as an enrollment number. If you're looking to join a tight-nit community with supportive staff, great opportunities and a very homely, cosy feel to it - this is the place for you.
If you have any questions about the university, please do feel free to send me a message via the About tab. Thanks for reading!