Declan Kater

Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your background or why you chose to study at Newcastle College University Centre?

I’m 22 years old, originally from the Netherlands, and I studied in Rotterdam before enrolling at Newcastle College University Centre. Back in Holland, I studied Graphic Design for 3 years, where I set up my own media company during the COVID pandemic with a friend, and then I launched a mealbox delivery company before I left for England. My business acumen and media experience actually helped my application, since I made a commercial for my company and the Art and Design tutors here loved it!

What was it about your course that made you want to study a degree at Newcastle College University Centre?

A big appeal of this course was the fact I could get my Bachelor’s degree in one year here at Newcastle College University Centre. I first found out about this institution because of a collaboration between my former college and Newcastle College: there were eight of us on my old Digital Arts course who were offered the chance to study in either Newcastle or Southampton as part of a student exchange scheme. We came to Newcastle last May, had a fantastic lunch at the Chef’s Academy, saw the city and some student accommodation options, and since Newcastle felt much more like a student city than Southampton, we were all sold on coming here to study (none of us ended up studying at Southampton). I’m so happy I made the choice to study here!

What benefits do you think there are in studying at Newcastle College University Centre?

As a whole, Newcastle College University Centre is a really nice school full of lovely people. Everyone I’ve met, staff or student, have been very helpful and I really love the facilities here, there’s free equipment for everyone, no matter their field of interest in digital arts. Today, for example, I designed and printed my own T-shirts in-house for my media business for only £9, which to me is insane! I can also make stickers here, do 3D printing and use the latest design software, so the facilities are exactly what I need. No matter your interests, anything’s on the table when you attend Newcastle College University Centre.

What has your experience of studying a degree at Newcastle College University Centre as an international student been like?

Studying here in the UK is very different to how it’s done in the Netherlands. Back home, at university level, I’d just go to lectures and sit, listen and make notes. Here, though, the class sizes are all very small and there’s much more one-to-one learning, which is a really great element of study here because you I get a lot more support from my tutor. If I ever need information from a tutor or need to ask them a question, they’re easily accessible via Teams, whereas in the Netherlands, learning is as independent, but much more impersonal (as in, there’s less one-to-one support). That said, most of my course focuses on digital skills, but I’d like to learn a bit more in terms of running a business, dealing with clients and projects and how to promote yourself to companies from my tutors, since they all run businesses or have deep roots in the graphic design industry themselves.

Another important element of my time studying here is my accommodation. Like I said, I moved here with seven other students from my course in Rotterdam, they all attend Newcastle College University Centre as well. When I moved to Newcastle, I decided not to house share with my friends from Holland because, personally, I think it’s better to step out of your comfort zone to learn more about English culture, and I didn’t want to risk becoming stuck in a little Dutch ‘bubble’ if I stayed with people I knew. To me, that meant moving into a house share in Heaton with eight other students at Newcastle and Northumbria Universities. It was a shock at first – I knew no one here other than the exchange students – but I got used to it quite quickly and I definitely don’t regret striking out on my own in terms of accommodation.

What was the application process for Newcastle College University Centre like, in your experience?

The steps of the process were fairly easy because when I first came here for an application interview, it felt like the tutors had already reviewed our portfolios and decided in advance to offer us places, which was a much nicer and more reassuring situation!

How did the International Office help you with your application to study at Newcastle College University Centre, and what support have you received whilst being a student?

I love the International Team, they’re all so nice and really supportive! They organise these really cheap trips for me and other international students around the country to immerse us in the culture, or just arrange nice treats for us out in Newcastle, which shows how much they care about us. They’re all very quick at responding if there’s ever an issue and they always know everyone’s name, which is a very nice touch since it always feels like they know and care about each individual student, which is a very welcoming feeling when you’ve just moved to a new country!

Tell us about how you have worked with industry whilst studying your degree (i.e. talks, live briefs, projects, etc.).

My industry engagement is mainly focused in the Netherlands, where my media company provides photography, videography, web design, web hosting and social media marketing services for businesses of various sizes. I handle the creative aspects – the designing, administration, videos, photography, that sort of thing – while my partner does the storyboarding for our videos and content, as well as the strategizing for our clients. Being able to engage with businesses completely remotely has been a useful learning experience in itself, but so has learning industry skills and advice from my tutors thanks to their vast experience in the creative industries.

How do you think learning from industry-experienced tutors has benefitted you?

I’d say a lot! My tutor has his own business as well, so I can ask him loads of questions about how to approach or handle clients and, if we’re at an impasse with a client, how to cope with that and solve their problems in creative new ways.

What has been your biggest challenge either before or whilst studying for your degree?

I’d say the biggest challenge for me was coming to the UK by myself, not knowing anyone, moving into a strange house with a group of unknown strangers and having to adapt to a new culture, food and community while missing my friends and family back home in the Netherlands. Fortunately, the academic and social aspects of my student experience haven’t really been obstacles for me thanks to the level of support I’ve received at Newcastle College University Centre.

What inspires you?

Artistically speaking, I take inspiration from whatever I see that catches my attention. For example, on a night, I’ll always watch the TV adverts since English commercials are so different to those back home in the Netherlands – here they’re much more fun, you can see the producers and videographers really put thought, effort and care into their work! Whilst walking outside, I also like to take pictures of posters on billboards and bus shelters for ideas. Anything design-related, I’ll decide to photograph them and take inspiration from them. Even looking at the architecture around Newcastle, people I pass on the street, cars, different shops… I never know where I’ll be when something intrigues or inspires me.

What has been the highlight of your time studying at Newcastle College University Centre?

A few months ago, we had an exhibition in the Mandela Gallery that we only had one morning to set up, make sure everything was ready and displayed, then welcome the guests at 2pm. Since we were working to a really strict deadline from 9am-2pm, it was a useful experience as a simulation of industry, as well as being a lot of fun to work with my peers to print and sell my work, or to display it in the Mandela Gallery for everyone to admire!

What have you enjoyed most about living in the UK?

The cheap drinks! Seriously, though, the affordability of the social life in Newcastle is much better than in the Netherlands. I know that the UK currently has a cost of living crisis, but things are much worse in the Netherlands – groceries, drinks, everything over there is way more expensive than what it costs here. My house share also has its gas and electricity bills included in the rent payments, so the costs are much lower in total than rent back home, so I can put my heating on whenever I want without really needing to worry to much about it. The nightlife here positively blew me away! Everyone I’ve met, student or local, has been so kind and welcoming, but also fun to be around, and the Ubers are really cheap as well.

How do you feel that your degree at Newcastle College University Centre has prepared you for the future?

Really well, I’d say! Especially because I get a formal certificate out of this degree, which is really going to help me after graduation! Studying at Newcastle College University Centre gave me a real glimpse of how industry truly operates, and thanks to my tutors and their fantastic industry connections, every few weeks we get a new guest lecture from industry that engages everyone on the course, but also gives us the chance to ask loads of questions and hone our professional skills. These opportunities are really fantastic ways to prepare me for industry after I graduate.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I’m planning to get a Masters degree, but I’m unsure whether to take a gap year first and, during that time, continue running my company to see how much I can build and expand it, to see if I can make it sustainable enough that I can make a full income off it without needing to do further studies. If not, then I’ll apply for a supported Masters with my former internship in the Netherlands, which was with the Ministry of Science, Education and Emancipation, then secure a job there once I get my Masters degree. Frankly, I don’t want to go straight into industry now because I have to work for the rest of my life, but I’m only 22 now and I’m not quite done with student life just yet!

What would you say to any other international students considering studying a degree at Newcastle College University Centre?

I would say do it! Studying in the UK, and especially at Newcastle College University Centre, is a great way to expand your horizons and learn more about culture and people, the differences in their outlooks and attitudes compared to your own home country, which can only help to develop you as a person. In Holland, for example, we are much more direct with what we’re thinking, but in my experience, people from England tend to take longer to make your point but put it more diplomatically so the blow doesn’t hit so hard. Studying abroad, you just learn a lot more about life, about what life means to you personally, and it can only benefit the way you look at the world for the next chapter of your life. I will never regret seizing the opportunity to study at Newcastle College University Centre.

Describe your student experience at Newcastle College University Centre in three words.

Absolutely worth it.

What are your top five tips for other international students considering studying a degree at Newcastle College University Centre?

1. Don’t go into student accommodation – finding a house share can help you learn about culture, language, food and the city much faster

2. Always push yourself outside your comfort zone, academically or personally

3. Experience as much as you can while you’re here – go to restaurants, clubs, comedy nights, the cinema, the mall, and just take in life however you want

4. Get a local bank account, phone number and bus pass as fast as possible – and don’t assume there’s a single card for all types of transport, because that’s definitely not true!

5. Have fun!