Jayda Franks

• Pronouns: She/Her
• Year of graduation: 2025
• Current job title: Marketing Specialist
• Current employer: Synology

I was part of the first cohort to study the Digital Marketing MSc degree course at the University of Northampton. It was an easy transition from my undergraduate studies there, and I became interested in the course after learning the modules that would be studied.

By the third year of my undergraduate degree in Creative Film, Television and Digital Media Production, I knew I wanted to work in advertising and marketing, so went on to study Digital Marketing for my master’s degree.

I found the course challenging, which was also exciting. I learned many new concepts and theories and gained a lot of knowledge, and I found all the course content to be creative, impactful and thought-provoking.

The skills and understanding I gained on my degree that are most useful in my current role are that it’s important to engage and stay curious. If you’re struggling, unsure or are just confused, it’s vital to ask questions. You won’t get this time back, so make sure you make the most of it by asking even the questions that seem small or insignificant.

Alongside my studies, I was a Student Ambassador for four years and was involved in various societies, including Dance, and K-pop. I even attended the Boxing Society once! I also went to the weekly social at FISH (Friends International Students and Hosts), a local community group to help UON international students make friends and improve their knowledge of the English language and culture. These extra activities enabled me to form new connections, meet people, and make new friends, which really helped my personal development and enabled me to move forward in my career.

My career progression so far has been a rollercoaster ride. In 2024 I handed in my dissertation and applied for jobs relentlessly for nine months until I got the job I currently have. It wasn’t an easy journey, but I’m grateful for the experience and my progression so far.

I’m certain that if I hadn’t studied the Digital Marketing MSc at Northampton, I wouldn’t be where I am now, as the fact it was challenging forced me to grow academically.

The advice I’d give to undergraduates interested in this career path would be to keep networking and don’t give up, even when it gets hard. My UON experience was truly transformative, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.