Jacqueline Wong

Hey! My name is Jacqueline, and I am from Hong Kong. 

Coming from a working-class family in Hong Kong, studying at the University of Leeds has been such a highlight in my life. I studied at a local secondary school for 6 years and passed the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, then started my first year of my undergraduate degree in journalism in September 2022. 

As the first person in my family to have the opportunity to receive higher education, I did not have much support when I was doing research on applying to universities. I first found out about the University of Leeds when I searched “Undergraduate journalism courses in the UK.” To select a university, I had to consider its reputation in terms of ranking in subjects in the UK and general student experience. I also did some research on the city of Leeds, which is a vibrant and energetic city. My favourite place in Leeds is Kirkgate Market, where I can get high-quality food at an affordable price. Leeds is also a thriving city, where now we have electric bikes to support citizens in travelling without having to own a car. The University of Leeds has given me this assuring feeling as it is a university of the Russell Group with a top 75 QS ranking, a large variety of societies and a huge range of diversity.

My experience at the University so far proves that I have made the right decision and that the university itself is exceptional. 

As an international student, I felt so welcome by the University as it organised various events including online webinars and social activities for newcomers to the UK. I got information about setting up a bank account, NHS services and general tips for settling down. I also attended a speed-friending event, a British tea session and a culture shock comedy drama during the international welcome week. I felt taken care of and connected with the University during my first year at the University. 

My favourite thing about the University has to be the support that I have received from staff and lecturers. As a student from East Asia, English was not a language that I spoke daily. I struggled to adapt to speaking in English at first, but I have received encouragement from lecturers and staff. I attended Skills@Library workshops to learn how to take notes from readings and build up confidence in voicing my opinion in classes throughout the year. With the support that the University offers, my experience here has been amazing. 

As I study journalism, which is a subject that requires hands-on experience, the School of Media and Communications and the University offers quite a few opportunities for students to immerse themselves in workplace opportunities. For example, as a penultimate year student, I am planning on applying for a work placement year. The University held a Global Opportunities Week on study and work placement abroad, in which many webinars were held and they were informative. For career development, the Careers Centre at the University often gives advice on CV building and application. With all the support that I received, I feel so positive about work placement and study abroad opportunities. 

With the support and opportunities that I have mentioned, I really enjoy studying BA Journalism at the University of Leeds.  The best thing about my course has been the focus on the balance between the academic side and the practical side of learning. In my first year, my study content ranged from the introduction of communication and research methods to camera and editing for journalists. For my current year, practical modules build up a lot, but the course emphasises a lot on theoretical sides as well, such as issues in journalism and journalism ethics are set as compulsory modules for journalism students. 

Societies are amazing places to find like-minded friends. 

Speaking of hands-on experience, I have been involved in media societies to hone my skills in producing media content. I practised producing news bulletins when I was at the Leeds Student Radio and now, I am a contributing writer to the Gryphon – the student newspaper. I also participate in other societies apart from my study field, such as the Leeds University Union Music Society and the Ballet Society! 

 The city of Leeds and our university are awesome and I hope to see you here! Ask me any questions on UniBuddy or email me at Jacqueline-link@leeds.ac.uk.