Episode 6: Your Year, Exams and the Summer Break

So the end of the year looms large and we're back one last time for 2026 with...

Episode 6 of 'TL;DR - The Arts ESE Podcast' from the University of Nottingham's Faculty of Arts ESE Team is out now!

In this week's episode we've got International Media and Communications Studies 2nd Year, Hannah Lawanson, in the hot seat as she talks to about her year, exams & assessments and the summer break.

We'll also be letting you know about the events and opportunities happening in the Faculty of Arts.

UoN Library Study Support – https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/library/studying/index2.aspx

 UoN Wellbeing Support - https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/wellbeing/student-wellbeing.aspx

For more information about the Faculty of Arts ESE Team, please visit the University of Nottingham's Faculty Arts ESE website

Hosted by Liv Hough

Produced by Alex Blades

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Hi everyone, I'm Liv from the Faculty of Arts Education and Student Experience Team, or ESE for short, here at the University of Nottingham. Welcome to TLDR, the Arts ESE Podcast. This is a monthly podcast designed to give you a quick overview of what's going on in the faculty and spotlight some of the things that our students and staff are up to here at UOM. While your weekly news bulletins are your main course of information, this podcast is more of an accompaniment, like a nice bread roll at the start of your meal. So, no matter where you are, if you want to know what's happening in the faculty, I've got you covered here on TLDR, the Arts ESE podcast. So much has been happening here at UON since September, it's almost hard to believe that we're already entering into the final stretch. With exams starting soon and then the well-earned summer break, we've got just about enough time to squeeze in one final episode for this academic year. This time in the hot seat, we've got Hannah Lewanson, a second-year international media and communications studies student. But before that, here's some news about upcoming events and opportunities along with other things that you might have missed. Each year, the ESE team works with a group of undergraduate student engagement associates from across the faculty. They help us to create engaging content for our social media channels, blogs, and other student-facing communications. If you'd like to work with them to raise the profile of a project or promote an event that would be of interest to other students, then please go ahead and submit a request via the Student Engagement Associates content request form. This will be featured in an upcoming weekly bulletin, so keep an eye out for that in your inbox. The Faculty of Arts Student Communication Forum takes place this week on Thursday, the 14th of May from 12pm to 1.30pm in room A02 of the Humanities Building. This is a great chance for you to come along to see how your past feedback has already been put into action and make a difference and help us to decide what comes next. Whether you have big ideas, small suggestions, or just want to stay in the loop, this is your chance to have a real impact on your university experience. All of those who sign up and attend will receive a £10 book voucher, so look out for the sign-up link in your weekly bulletin. The Summer Term Student Staff Forums or SSFs are underway. These are an amazing chance to have your say and help create change in your school or department. While some of the SSFs may have already happened, you can still provide your feedback via the SSF padlets or forms, and you can check out what changes are being made as a result of the SSFs. So make sure you check your Moodle community hubs for upcoming SSF dates and past action locks. As the assessment period approaches, make sure you take advantage of all the support available across the university. You may have exams or other assessments coming up, and there's lots of support available with UON libraries. Many of the libraries will have extended open hours, including some of them being open for 24 hours a day for a limited period. So be sure to check the library's webpage for specifics. You can book study spaces in advance using the Click to Study system to guarantee your spot. Study planners and revision tips are available online or in person, and weekly online study with us sessions are available to help you focus on your work. As we near the end of the academic year, there are a few dates that you should take note of. So the university exam period starts on Monday, the 18th of May, and runs until Saturday the 6th of June inclusive. Term then officially ends on Friday the 19th of June with exam marks and progression information being released via the Blue Castle system on Thursday the 9th of July. The release of reassessment information on Blue Castle will then follow on the 14th of July, and reassessment exams will occur from Monday the 17th to Saturday the 29th of August. And finally, for those of you graduating this year, the summer graduation ceremonies for the Faculty of Arts students will be held on Tuesday the 28th of July at the David Ross Sports Village. Make sure you visit the University Graduation webpage where you'll find information about the specific times of ceremonies, how to register, obtaining guest tickets, hiring your graduation robes, transport, photography, and so much more. This week, here to discuss module fairs and choices, is international media and communication studies second year student Hannah Luansen. Hi Hannah. Hi. So first of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your time here at UON?

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Um yeah, as you said, I'm a second year international media and communications student. Um my first year I was doing uh some modules that I didn't really enjoy because we don't really get to pick, you know, what we were doing. Um and that kind of changed second year because obviously we got to pick and then I got to, you know, pick more things that I was more interested in. So for example, this year I'm doing a module called Media Identities, which I is my favourite module, is really interesting. And I think it kind of like uh touches on things that I think are really important, they're personally important to me, such as um like how things are represented in the media and how that can affect our viewpoints on the world and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Oh, that's really really interesting. Yeah, yeah, no, that's really cool. So, before when we were chatting pre-interview, you told me a little bit about your experience in student housing. Did you want to speak more to that?

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Yeah, so in my first year I was living in on-campus accommodation, and unfortunately I didn't have the best time. Um it wasn't really diverse, uh, which is not necessarily a problem, but it kind of felt like people were in their own little clicks. And so I felt really lonely and I know I found myself like staying in my room and just having this building anxiety, like I did not want to leave my room at all. Um, and I think what really helped me was trying to just like force myself to come out of my comfort zone, which was really tough, like it maybe was some of the toughest, like one of the toughest things I've ever done. But coming out of my comfort zone and just putting myself out there. So the the main way I did this was joining a lot of societies. I actually think I ended up joining about 10. Wow. I didn't go to all of them, but I I joined about ten and I tried to go to a lot of them, and then I ended up finding my little groups. So the main societies I ended up really like vibing with kind of were the Poetry Society, uh Black Feminist Society, uh New Theatre, and a couple of of others, and it kind of helped me find my community outside of you know my accommodation. Um yeah, and I just felt a lot less isolated.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

I think that's that's a really good point to highlight, especially maybe for someone who might be listening pre-coming in first year, is that I think that's a big worry for people that it might be like that. You might feel isolated. And I'm really sorry to hear that that was a reality for you to begin with. Yeah. Um, but from the sounds of things, by putting yourself out there and really getting out of your comfort zone, you were able to turn that situation around.

SPEAKER_01 7:11

Yeah. Um and I do also want to say, um, it's like just because I had a bad experience doesn't necessarily mean that you're gonna have a bad experience. I mean, I have a lot of friends that were like, I loved living in on-campus accommodation, I love living in Broadgate, you know. It's it just depends sometimes. Um but even if it is a thing where you know, I'm not really enjoying this, you also do have the option to move if you want to.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

And uh you can also find people outside, you don't have to make friends with people inside of your accommodation. There's people on your course, there's uh peep friends you can meet through through friends, there's so many societies, there's so many opportunities for you to meet people.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Thank you so much for sharing this. I do think it is really important for people to hear Yeah. And I mean, so is there anything that you've done differently this year to last year? Obviously, you've spoken about how your module choices were different, but is there anything that you yourself has done differently that's sort of impacted the way that you've experienced this year?

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Well, I would say uh I've definitely in terms of workload, I've tried to cut it in half by just making sure I'm doing the reading before I go into lectures. Well that's really funny actually because I was doing that really consistently for the first couple of weeks, and I wouldn't say I'm doing that too much now, um, but for when I was doing it, it was really helpful because I was prepared before going into seminars. I already had like notes down and I found it really helpful because I wasn't having to do this extra workload after lectures where I might have been feeling really tired and exhausted. Um, so hopefully I can continue going with that into third year.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

But I know that feeling, the best load plans, like, but it's it's really positive to know that you know when you've had the time to do this, that's really helped you, and then obviously, you know, things can can go by the wayside, but it sounds like you know you're planning to keep that up going into third year. Yeah. Okay, so now for the elephant in the room, exams are coming up next month. How are we feeling?

SPEAKER_01 9:10

So with my course, um, the main part of it, I don't really have any exam, it's mainly coursework, but for um like they they make you basically take a language uh for two years, mandatory. So when when you have a language, you have to have exams. So I've picked Spanish and I will be honest, I'm I'm a bit scared. Um I've not been doing so much revision because I've been mainly focused on coursework, and I think that it's kind of really hard to balance you know time to do your coursework and also time to study for your exams. And unfortunately, like a lot of my coursework deadlines are close around to when my exams are. So I'm still trying to find this balance where I can give um, you know, equal time to both.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah, it's really, really tricky to balance, and especially with a language, I suppose that those exams are slightly different to like just course-based exams you're gonna have you're reading and you're you're listening. Oh, but it's still really like speaking.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah, um it's a it's like a presentation because last year it wasn't like this, it was a a group speaking, so you'd be in a group, but this one I've got to make a a slideshow and and talk about some random topic that I had to pick, and I'll be honest, like I'm not that prepared. I I think I will be able to do it because I hate doing this, but unfortunately I'm the type of person where I can cram last minute and be okay. But but I am I'm I'm just a bit worried because I'm I would say I'm not that confident of a of a public speaker. Like I can be good at it, but I do also get nervous.

SPEAKER_00 10:46

I feel like that's something that a lot of us can relate to that. And so you've already touched on this. You said that the exam style is going to be different than it was last year. So I'm guessing are the techniques that you're planning on using to prepare, are they gonna be different, or are you going to sort of rely on the similar revision techniques?

SPEAKER_01 11:04

I think I'm gonna rely on the similar revision techniques only because it's now last-minute revision. Um, I really did want to try and get it done earlier, but time just was not on my side. Um, if I did have more time, it would have been different. I would have done a little bit each day. Um, and I think that is more helpful and more like time like effective. But with me and time management, we are not friends, so it never really usually works out for me. Um but for now, I mean I still have some time until my exams are coming up. I think I will still try and break things down, but it's not gonna be like, you know, 15 minutes a day. I think it may be in like out maybe like an hour, and then I'll take a 30-minute break and then I'll and the 30-minute break has to be like I go outside or something. It can't be like I spend time on the screen, because that is not a break. I'm not gonna feel refreshed and come back. Um but it also depends on how I'm feeling because sometimes that doesn't work for me. Sometimes I have to do something in in one sitting because if I'm if I'm focused, then I'm focused. And if I break that focus and it's not gonna come back. It honestly just depends, really.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Yeah, it's a tough one. It's finding the right balance for you, but also the right balance for the task. And I suppose just not beating yourself up if you try something and it doesn't work. Yeah, like it's but it sounds like even though you're not as prepared right now as you'd like to be, the thought process behind and the way that you're approaching your exams, it does seem like you've put a lot of thought into it. Yeah. Um, so do you plan to access any university services from like now until your exams? Have you done that in the past? Uh have they helped?

SPEAKER_01 12:38

So, my first year I was very dependent on the support and well-being service because I mean, unfortunately, it was a bit of a tragic first year because um in October my grandma passed away. And sorry to hear that. Thank you. Um it was really like hard on me. And um not too long after I then unfortunately found out that my mum had cancer. I mean, she's cancer-free now, so it's okay.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Um amazing news, but terrible news.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Yeah, so it was honestly a lot, and genuinely I want to give a huge shout out to the Support and Wellbeing Service. They really helped me, and I still, you know, access that service today, plus the counselling team. I think um genuinely, like it's not even just about speaking about your things. I mean it is, but speaking to someone in the support and well-being team, they also gave me tips on how I could manage my time and you know, manage my well-being and take care of both. And I still use these tips to this day, and I think it's really helped me to like better myself and better myself as a student and just make sure I'm taking care of myself and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:38

It's I think it's a really nice it's a really nice sentiment that you've put there that the sport and well-being team are there for you in those like big difficult times. Yeah. But they're also here for everybody in the everyday difficult times, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 13:54

And I will also say, um, I struggle with ADHD and they signposted me to the the university has like a service where you can get like one-on-one like specific, like if you've got a specific learning disability, um, you can get one-on-one like help. And I didn't know that before. So they can actually, if you if you talk to them about some of your struggles, they can signpost you to places where you can get it. Like I didn't know that the university had such a wide range of of help, and yeah, it was actually just nice to find out that there was support. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

Yeah, no, that's that is really nice, and it it's lovely to hear that you've had this wonderful experience. Obviously, the circumstances were not good, yeah. But being able to access the the help and support from uh internal teams and then being able to show you that there's other places, it's not just all in one place. Um, so again, we've touched on this, but um imagine a first year who's really struggling with exams and you can only give them one piece of advice. What would your one piece of advice be?

SPEAKER_01 14:55

Genuinely in your first year, do not be so hard on yourself. Um, like your first year is kind of like your trial test run, and I know it feels serious, but it's it's not gonna like gonna be the end all be all if you know you don't get the best grade or something. Like there is also chances to try again. There'll be other exams and you can do a summer reset, and it it's not like I I'm just I I I guess I'm just trying to say like it's not the worst thing in the world, and you like there are people to speak to, there are people that can support you and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

It's something that I think we just as a society, just as people in universities in general, will sometimes forget that it's okay to try and not do as well as you wanted to, and that you're not going to get in trouble.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

100%. And also I think also knowing that you're not the only one struggling with it. Like, I know I definitely felt like out like when when I would get like a low grade or something, I'd be like and I'd look around in my friendship group and they would be getting good grades and I would be constantly comparing myself to them, and then I'd actually speak to my friends and be like, I struggled so hard with this, like you know, I was so stressed and anxious. It's like there's always things behind that, and people might be more similar to you than you think, and it's not like a silent struggle that you have to go through by yourself.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

That's really nice that you're able to talk to your friends about that stuff. I think more people should be open when they're struggling. Okay, so it's not just exams and assessments coming up, but also we have the summer break. So, where is home for you?

SPEAKER_01 16:29

So I live in London. Um I really like being back home because well, I like it a little bit, but because in Nottingham I have more of my own like space, but when I go back home, I get to see my friends from back home, we get to do things. Honestly, I just miss hanging out with my friends. Like sometimes when I'm back home, I don't even get to see them because of how hectic things are, like when I'm doing coursework. So when I do have a break and I get to hang out with them, it's honestly just the best.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Oh, that that sounds really, really fun. Do you have anything like in particular planned for this summer, or is there like any traditions or things that you tend to do over the summer that you're looking forward to?

SPEAKER_01 17:02

So I'm so excited because I'm gonna see two of my favourite artists live um this summer. So I can't wait for that. So one is Pink Pantherist. Oh yeah, which I actually met her in Nottingham. Um and she said she likes my outfit, so um But I mean, life over, that's just the best thing that's gonna happen. And the second one is Doja Cat. My most I love Doja Cat. Like, sorry, I'm gonna brag here. I've loved her since before she became really popular, like when she was still posting on SoundCloud, like since I was nine years old. So this is really big for me. This is the first time I'm ever gonna be seeing her.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

I mean that's really cool because you know there's lots of like, well, I liked them before they were cool, but like that is truly like day one. I I'm really excited for you.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

Um honestly I've just been having the best years so far, like in terms of like artists, like it sounds like you've been having an amazing music.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

Oh, awesome. So you've got all that planned. And do you again just to bring it back to university? How do you intend to prepare yourself for the next academic year after all of this excitement?

SPEAKER_01 17:59

So next year is gonna be really busier for me. I'm gonna be doing my dissertation. I'm also gonna be the president of a society. Oh wow, which society? Um Black Feminist Society.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

Oh, that's a that is probably the coolest society to be the president of.

SPEAKER_01 18:13

Um, so I know that I have to, um, I have to sort of my time management. So I am gonna force myself to stick to this, you know, thing of make sure you're planning beforehand because I know in the long run I'll be grateful for it because I will save myself a lot of time and energy. And um I also don't want to be too tough on myself though. So I'll make sure to keep in touch with like support and well-being um services as well, and just make sure like I'm keeping myself grounded, also trying to find times for things I like. Even if it is going to be hectic, I am gonna try and make sure to give myself a break because I think sometimes, especially when I'm struggling with getting things done on time, I'm really hard on myself. And I've just got to remember that like this isn't the end of the world, and I'm still like human and you know.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

That all sounds wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

Again, thank you so much, Hannah. We really appreciate you coming along today and chatting with us.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 19:05

Um, so for all of you listening, if you have any questions, concerns, or require support during the upcoming exam period, we are here for you. The university offers a wide range of support services that you can access, but if you do find yourself overwhelmed with it all, you can always contact your personal tutor who'll be able to advise and signpost you towards any help and resources they think would be useful for you. So for study support, you can get in contact with the library services, or as we spoke about, if you need mental health support, the team at Wellbeing Support are always on hand in a multitude of ways to help guide you through. Links to these services can be found on Moodle, but we'll also pop them in the episode description. And that's a wrap for this academic year. We sincerely hope that you found this podcast to be helpful, informative, and enjoyable because we've certainly enjoyed making it for you. We'd like to thank all the guests that we've been lucky enough to have on here and to wish you all the best of luck with your exams and assessments. And I hope that you do have a truly enjoyable summer. We'll hopefully be back with you in September, and once again, thank you so much for listening. I've been Liv, and this has been TLDR the Arts ESE Podcast.