Maria Jose

• Pronouns: She/Her
• Year of study: Third year
• Length of course: Three years

I’m from London, so I wanted to move somewhere that was close enough to easily go back home, but different enough to feel like a new experience. When I visited Northampton, I really liked the town and the community vibe, and the campus felt like a place where I could settle quickly.

My career aspiration is to work in PR and marketing. I’ve always been interested in how a brand is built and who’s behind the scenes making it happen, and I enjoy the fun and creative side of marketing – coming up with ideas, telling a story, and finding new ways to connect with people.

One of the highlights of my course has been study trips to Barcelona and Turkey, which gave me the opportunity to see how businesses operate in different countries. This has been very useful, as I’d like to work abroad in the future, so understanding international business practices will help me in my career. The trip to Turkey was especially valuable for my personal development as I had to step out of my comfort zone, adapt to a different culture, and learn about how business is approached there. We visited Yalova University, where I gave a presentation on the UK’s Pop Culture and Turkish Influence, enabling me to improve my communication, presentation, and teamwork skills. This will be invaluable in PR and marketing and will allow me to work with different people, share ideas clearly, and build connections across cultures.

During my second year I completed a placement at Northampton Town Football Club, where I gained hands-on experience of operations, commercial projects, ticketing, media, and marketing, and learnt a lot about the different areas of running a football club. I also learnt about matchday operations and safety procedures, which taught me the importance of organisation, attention to detail, and teamwork, and I got involved in commercial projects and marketing campaigns, where I helped develop strategies to engage fans. This was especially exciting for me because it ties directly into my career goals – I really enjoyed coming up with creative ideas for campaigns and learning how to communicate in ways that connect with different audiences.

The most meaningful part of my placement was community engagement. I saw first-hand how football can have a positive impact on local charities and provide support to disadvantaged families. This showed me how businesses can use their platforms to connect with people and make a difference, which is something I want to bring into my future career. I also enjoyed having the chance to go into a football stadium to see how everything runs on matchdays and to watch a match – it was an exciting experience to see the club in action.

I was very lucky to have this opportunity because it was part of a partnership with the University and the football club. The Commercial Director at Northampton Town FC was especially helpful throughout my placement, offering guidance and support that made the experience even more valuable. I know that the skills and insights I gained will be incredibly useful in my future career.

During my second year, I became a course representative. This was a valuable experience enabling me to develop my communication and leadership skills as I had to speak on behalf of my classmates, share their feedback with staff, and make sure their voices were heard. It also gave me the opportunity to work on problem-solving and negotiation, as sometimes I had to find solutions that worked for both students and the University. Overall, it taught me responsibility, teamwork, and how to manage tasks effectively, while also giving me the opportunity to contribute to improving the student experience.

Overall, my course has helped me grow both personally and professionally. It’s given me international experience, new skills, and the confidence to work in global environments – all of which will support my future career.

My advice to first and second-year students would be to get as much practical experience as possible through placements, volunteering, or projects, as it builds confidence, develops essential skills, and gives you a real insight into the industry. I wish I’d asked my tutors and the Student Futures team for guidance and support earlier than I did, especially when I was looking for opportunities to gain experience.

My experience at UON has been amazing so far. I’ve visited two countries I’d never been to and gained great cultural experiences and exchanges. I’ve also developed valuable skills through my course, placements, and projects, which have helped me grow both personally and professionally. Now, as a third-year student, I’m hoping to have even more opportunities and experiences before I graduate.