Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
The benefits of attending Leeds Beckett University
Hi I’m Molly, I’ve just graduated with a first-class honours degree in Public Relations with Journalism from Leeds Beckett University, and I’m here to discuss how my time at university has benefitted me personally and professionally.
Leeds Beckett has provided me with not only a means of education, but also a safe environment to grow as a person and invaluable experiences that have kickstarted my career.
A safe space and friends for life
Moving to Leeds was a big step, but it offered me the chance to grow in a safe and supportive city. I lived in the Halls of Residence (Arena Village) in a flat with five girls who I hadn’t met before moving in. Leeds Beckett’s simple application system made it easy to choose my room and see who I’d be living with. The halls gave me just the right balance of independence and support to make the transition to (almost) solo living smooth and enjoyable. Four years later, I’ve kept many of those friends and made countless amazing memories together.
Sports and Societies
There are so many societies and sports to get involved with at Leeds Beckett. Joining a society is fantastic for making friends and forming communities, as well as maintaining discipline and commitments outside of your education. I joined competition cheerleading and had so much fun creating memories with friends I’ll keep forever. You can read all about how Carnegie Cheerleading benefitted my university experience in my previous blog post.
Being part of a society enriches your personal life—those Wednesday socials are a mid-week highlight! But it also enhances your professional portfolio by demonstrating transferable skills like teamwork, time management, and a commitment to extracurricular interests. These are all attributes that look great on your CV.
Leeds Beckett’s Careers Service
Beckett Careers is an incredible resource, supporting students and graduates with career planning and employability skills. From CV writing to developing a strong online presence, the service is comprehensive. I attended virtual workshops to tailor my CV and set up a LinkedIn account, which was instrumental when I started searching for work experience in my first year.
MyHub is filled with careers resources, information and guidance. When I was first introduced to the careers service, I attended the virtual workshops to tailor my CV and set up a LinkedIn account. This helped me massively when I began searching for work experience in my first year of university. My lecturers and the Leeds Beckett Careers team encouraged me to develop my personal brand and seek work experience as soon as possible. This way I built my CV pretty quickly to prepare for my placement search.
MyHub shows all types of job vacancies in and outside of Leeds. Keep an eye out for @BeckettCareers Instagram stories where job vacancies from MyHub are showcased each week!
Paid work opportunities
Beyond study, Leeds Beckett offers a variety of paid work opportunities that significantly enhance your university experience. I became a Student Ambassador, helping out at university events like Open Days and Applicant Days which was incredibly rewarding. I also had a blast being part of the Leeds Beckett Blog Squad, where I got to show my creative side by writing blogs like this one and making fun TikToks. If you enjoy connecting with people, you might love being a UniBuddy Ambassador, chatting with prospective students through our website’s online chat. These roles not only offer extra cash but also enrich your time at university, look great on your CV and with something like Blog Squad, a portfolio of paid work to showcase to your future employers.
Placement support
Considering a placement year? Leeds Beckett offers excellent support before and during your work experience. The CV360 tool on MyHub helped me improve my CV, and mock interview sessions with the Beckett Careers team were invaluable during my placement search. I spent my placement year at The Walt Disney Company, and you can read more about that in my blog post about my placement year.
During my placement, the university set assignments like the Initial Placement Report, a virtual Academic Visit, and a Reflective Report, which helped me document my journey and maintain my academic skills. This experience means I’m now graduating with a bank of invaluable PR experience, backed by the communications work studied in my course.
Networking opportunities
Leeds Beckett also excels in providing networking opportunities. In my second year, my course participated in the 2022 GlobCom Project, a global virtual team learning experience. We worked with students from around the world to develop a PR strategy for a real client, FC Barcelona, and even visited Camp Nou to present our ideas. This is just one example of the fantastic projects Leeds Beckett offers, allowing us to collaborate with amazing brands and connect with industry professionals.
Lecturers also connect students with great networking events. Earlier this year, I attended the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Member Meet, where I heard from PR professionals about their career journeys and networked with like-minded students.
Support after graduation
When taking the first steps in your career after university, Leeds Beckett continues to support you once you have left. Having recently graduated myself (pinch me), the Alumni Team have reminded me that the graduate community offers plenty of support and guidance. Beckett Connect allows you to connect with classmates and expand your professional network, giving you access to more than 11,000 fellow graduates around the world in hundreds of different industries.
Reflecting on my journey, I realise how much Leeds Beckett has shaped me. It has provided a safe and supportive environment, created lifelong friendships, and offered countless opportunities for my personal and professional growth.
The university’s resources, such as the careers service, paid work opportunities, and networking events, have been instrumental in preparing me for my career. As I transition from university life to the professional world, I am grateful for the foundation Leeds Beckett has given me. I’m ready to kickstart my career with confidence, knowing that I can always turn to Leeds Beckett for support.
