Drew's UWTSD Experience
Name: Drew Dennehy
Course: BSc Architecture
Previous Studies: City & Guilds Plumbing and Heating Level 2; City & Guilds Plumbing and Heating Level 3
Hometown: Bridgwater
Drew's BSc Architecture Experience
What was your favourite thing about Swansea campus?
Studying in the IQ campus I would say the library was my favourite thing. I spent a lot of time in there looking over the architectural magazines that UWTSD subscribes to and flicking through books for inspiration for my projects.
Why did you choose UWTSD?
I’d like to say I heard about how fantastic the curriculum was that made me choose UWTSD. The way we were taught was brilliant, but the truth is I hadn’t heard about UWTSD online or anywhere until a previous employer brought it to my attention.
With a lack of A-levels due to my apprenticeship route, they were the only university I contacted that gave me a chance. Though I didn’t necessary choose it, I would recommend the course to anyone.
What did you enjoy outside your studies?
For me, the course was extremely time consuming in order for me to produce work that I was proud of, but when I did set time aside for other things, it was spending time with flatmates that I had lived with during my first, second, and third year. Bowling, drinking, BBQs on the beach – we just wanted to enjoy the limited time that we had before we all lived in different parts of the country.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
The plan is to move to Edinburgh to begin my Part 1. It is a beautiful city that I have always been fond of; however, there is currently a shortage of jobs in Scotland as a whole so I have opened myself up to working wherever there is an opportunity. But I am set on proceeding with my journey in architecture so I can move on to my Masters.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
The level of one-to-one time with lecturers is something that none of my friends experienced in other universities. There is a healthy level of competition where everyone wants to produce the best work they can but if someone discovers a new technique they still share it amongst their peers, rather than keep it to themselves.
Over the last three years, we have all become close and gotten to know each other well. Seeing how they have each individually developed has got to be one of the greatest highlights for me.
Would you recommend UWTSD and why?
For sure, the lecturers are a credit to the course and prepare students for practice much more than alternative universities. We study the business and technical aspects of design as well as the aesthetics which allows us to offer more to employers than other students might be able to.
Ian is always looking at how we can develop the course and values student feedback to review the course and make necessary changes. The lecturers were also easily accessible in person and over the phone.
