Léa Nakache

Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism MA

With a postgraduate degree under her belt, Léa was finally able to pursue her dream career and landed a job as a Social Trending Journalist at Reach plc - the largest news publisher in the UK – straight after graduation.

“I’ve wanted to become a journalist since the age of 15, and the idea of getting some life experience abroad seemed really exciting. In France, where I come from, journalism studies are only accessible at Master's level so I studied BA International Relations, but alongside my studies I was working as an editor for my University’s magazine, presenting shows on a local radio station and writing numerous blog posts to get closer to my journalism career.

After graduating from my undergraduate studies, I felt that I needed to broaden my horizons and finally gain the experience I was longing for by studying abroad. After hearing great things about the quality of teaching in the UK, I researched all of the Journalism Master's courses in the country. BCU was an immediate choice, as the course really focused on teaching practical journalistic skills that can be applied instantly when working in the industry.

Studying an MA helped me refine my professional practice and discover my real passion. During the course I undertook an internship and had an amazing opportunity to make a documentary for Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. This was such a great experience, which allowed me to get one step closer to my professional dream of becoming a documentary producer. During this internship, I learned largely by trial and error which made me understand that failing is a key part of self-development.

I can’t thank my tutors enough for all the tips and tricks they taught me, which I use daily in the newsroom. They pushed us to get the very best out of our journalistic practice and to fully delve into our interests. If I was struggling they always had an answer, whether it was a creative or technical solution. The tutors are amazingly supportive and they understood the life challenges each of us were facing. When I was diagnosed with anxiety, not only did I receive full support from tutors, but I also had an opportunity to talk with counsellors and doctors on campus. I’m not sure if I would have been able to pass my MA without the support I received at BCU.

As an EU student, I felt extremely grateful for the opportunity to get access to Student Finance and all of its benefits, as it helped ease my worries about funding. Thanks to student job opportunities at uni I was able to get a part-time job at Hires and Loans (a service that allows students to hire audio-visual equipment), which was a great way of learning more about the equipment and refining my video practice, all while getting paid for it!

An undergraduate degree is about discovering who you are and having a taste of adult life. Postgraduate, however, is about walking along the path you’ve chosen for yourself with a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

Birmingham City University has been the most fantastic educational experience I have ever had – being surrounded by like-minded people and having the chance to be immersed in a very diverse international class made my time here even more valuable. This University has allowed a shy, new to UK culture, French student to achieve her dreams and become a confident journalist working for a famous British publication!”