My name is Sharrell Carroll, and I studied Media and Communications at Fife College.
I contemplated going to university to study media for five years but did not progress further with the idea. By chance, I met up with an old friend for coffee one summer in 2021. After various discussions about my career and studying, they recommended the Media and Communications course to me. From there, I reviewed the factsheet on the Fife College website and everything about this course was exactly what I was looking for. It involved television production, video production, short filmmaking, podcasting, and radio. I applied and was successful in my place for the course.
As a mature student, I was a bit worried about coming back to college because I thought I was potentially too old for studying. However, I decided to give it a go and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I started at Level 6 as starting at a lower level would broaden my skillset as I work my way up to my HND. It had been a long time since I was in the media industry, so studying this course was the best decision I had ever made. Now after successfully completing my HND, I am studying at university.
What I enjoyed most about studying Media and Communications was the real-world skills that are taught within the course and the resources that are provided. On day one when I walked in, we were shown around the studios and television studios, and I could not believe how amazing the equipment was. It was all very much up to date. We are spoiled at the Glenrothes campus. They are consistently updating the technology there, so students, including myself, are very lucky to have access to these resources. That was a big plus for me.
Working on projects for clients, such as The University of St Andrews, was a really good experience as it give me an idea of what I can expect when I go out into the real world. I was also filming in Edinburgh doing the same thing. This is what you do in the industry, and it has been beneficial to have that hands-on experience.
I also enjoyed making short films, video production, documentaries, podcasting, and radio. My favourites were documentaries and radio being my top favourites. I also had ideas for podcasts during COVID and was fortunate enough to have lecturer Scott behind the idea encouraging me to do it. I made a few podcasts and he thoroughly enjoyed them. From there I uploaded them on Spotify. Then the opportunity arose to work with the Sustainability Team at Fife College. I created a podcast for them as part of my graded unit and launched into the ‘Campus Cast’ series. I also made (short) visual documentaries, and I feel as though I have developed a flavour for that. I have made quite a few since then, and it is going well. I believe this may be my calling for the future.
I graduated from Fife College in June 2024. From there I went on to study at university as I planned to continue with my learning journey and update my skills further. Studying at university revealed areas I did not think I was good at, but I dived in and even wrote a television show — something I never thought I was capable of.
Without what I learned at Fife College, I would never have dreamed I could put those words down on paper. Fife College prepared me for my university journey and gave me the confidence and skills to continue growing.
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This course is ideal for individuals aiming to enhance their media production skills and enter content creation fields like radio, vlogging, podcasting, or live streaming. It offers advanced training in presenting, production, and editing, preparing students for careers or higher education opportunities.
This course is ideal for individuals passionate about creating media content to influence others. Whether you're a writer, blogger, vlogger, or podcaster, the HNC in Media and Communication equips you with skills for various roles in media and communication industries, enhancing employment prospects and offering a pathway to further study.