What our students say - Cambridge School of Creative Industries

Our courses prepare our students for their future careers, helping them make contacts and gain experience in the creative industries, whether they want to perform or be part of a production team.

Find out how they spent their time with us – in their own words.

Undergraduate

Getting hands-on experience of professional music production at ARU

"Make some amazing stuff and learn about industry" - Hear from students and graduates of our games courses

Hear from ARU music students Emily and Ben about their working trip to Finland

Musical Theatre at ARU – “The best decision I’ve ever made”

“The difference between not wanting to do a one-minute monologue a few years ago and now… the confidence to go out there and do that has come from being thrown into uni life.”

Leila Khan, BA Drama & English Literature; Actor, Netflix’s Heartstopper, BBC's Death in Paradise Christmas Special.

“I acquired all my industry knowledge from ARU. I’m very fortunate to have had such excellent tutors. They taught me everything I needed to know for my career.”

Kai Toktassyn, BA Drama; Film Actor & Producer/Manager

Taking My Music to the Next Level - Patrick Walsh, BA Music Performance

“During the Master’s, which was so practical, you literally couldn’t do everything by yourself. Thankfully the years in my BA... prepped me, because I knew how to talk to people already.”

Erato Kallini of No Margins Media, BA Film

“You not only get to do things inside the university, but they also send you emails and messages about different opportunities you can find outside, so it's particularly good for broadening your horizons.”

Oliver Oxley, BA (Hons) Acting

“We've done a few different shows with different instructors, and they all have slightly different methods to how they direct. I think that's invaluable information to have.”

Trey Augustus, BA (Hons) Acting

"We had a bunch of modules which were just making portfolio pieces to help get us noticed, and I think that really helped."

Mihal Staniewski, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology

What it's like to study Music Production and Music & Sound Production at ARU

"My entire time at ARU has been fabulous and it's a real shame that the three years have come to an end."

Freya James, BA (Hons) Drama

"Following through with the connections I made is ultimately what got me my job at Vine FX. I also learned a lot about the production side of filmmaking and the role of a producer."

Gabi Kaziukonyte, BA Film Production

ARU students sing on new album - find out about their experience

"It was the best experience. A real informative, fun and challenging experience, and I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I found something that I loved to do, and I got to learn from people who were amazing at it."

Sam Millar, BA (Hons) Writing and English Literature & author of 'Retail Park'

"That's the confidence that our tutors put into us; the trust, the motivation for us to do the impossible -that's what showed us that we can really go into the world and just do what we want to do. "

Agata Kazmierczak, BA (Hons) Film and TV Production

"The course has pretty much opened doors for me to finally do what I wanted to do..."

Michael Bruce, BA (Hons) Writing and Film Studies

"Try everything at university, as the industry is going to be different to what you expect it to be."

Victoria Burrows, BA (Hons) Film and Television Production

"In my first year I won a place in an anthology called 'The Gentleman’s Press Anthology'..."

Megan Herdson, BA (Hons) Writing and Film & MA Creative Writing

Sarah Jane - Falling in Love With the Theatre at ARU

Rose - performing on the biggest stage in Cambridge

"Since graduating, I still maintain my connection with everyone on the course. It's a place where everyone gets to know everyone and one always feels welcome to be creative and collaborative."

Stefan Tomov, BA (Hons) Computer Games Art

"Every time I step out and work on a film project outside of university, first thing I will be asked is how much experience do I have, and I always have an answer that I’m proud of."

Solomia Dzhurovska, BA (Hons) Film and Television Production

"In our very first week, we had a trip to the British Film Institute (BFI) in London.... But Cannes Film Festival was the highlight"

Catarina Rodrigues, BA (Hons) Film Studies

Postgraduate

Find out how our MA Film and Television Production helped Sand and Erato of No Margins Media

Sreeraj: How ARU's MA Music Therapy helped me become a Music Therapist with the NHS

Taylor: How ARU's MA Dramatherapy helped me become a Creative Art Psychotherapist

What makes our MA Creative Writing special? Hear from our published graduates.

“I was lucky enough to be involved in a course where people were really helpful… I never felt like I didn’t have a direction.”

Sand & Erato of No Margins Media, MA Film and Television Production

"In this industry the relationships you build both creatively and professionally are so important and this course has helped me build and foster this network and community."

Megan Wiggins, MA Film and Television Production

"The course gave me so much confidence. When the students workshopped each other’s writing, I was given excellent feedback that enabled me to move forward."

Jan Casey, MA Creative Writing & author of five novels including "Women at War"

"There are so many different skills I have learnt on my placement which have been essential for my development as a newly qualified professional."

Rachael Stalker, MA Music Therapy

"I was given three patients to work with, and had the opportunity to lead my own music therapy sessions one-on-one."

Cat Dellabonna, MA Music Therapy

"Working with learning disabilities has opened my eyes to what is possible, and the creativity that I have within myself..."

Madelaine Cameron, MA Dramatherapy

'I really valued being around peers and professionals with such diverse and varied life experiences.'

Rosie Axon, MA Music Therapy

'I had an incredible mentor for my MA. Her belief in my work gave me confidence to call myself a writer.'

Jade Slaughter, BA English Literature / MA Creative Writing

"We had the opportunity to talk face to face with every lecturer, discover our strengths and weaknesses, and work over time with their support and guidance."

Jamal Glynn, MA Music Therapy

"I am much more confident as a person and feel as though I achieve way more than I ever thought I could."

Stefanus Pretorius, MA Film and Television Production