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From Thailand to the UK: Discovering music, community, and growth at Leeds Beckett

This blog follows the journey of Nattased Opatprapai, a Thai student studying MA Music for the Moving Image at Leeds Beckett University, and his experience of finding creativity, community, and growth in Leeds.

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Student from Thailand smiling in a grey hoodie and black backpack

Choosing Leeds Beckett University was an easy decision, it offered the exact course that aligned with my career goals. From day one, the teaching style stood out. My lecturer is methodical and clear, yet always gives us room to experiment and find our own creative direction. My favourite module so far has been Music for Video Games, which has played a huge role in shaping the path I want to pursue.

Moving to the UK was a big step, and Leeds at first felt quiet. But after exploring, I found friendly people, great communities, and plenty of opportunities to collaborate. The support from the university has been genuinely appreciated.

Life in Leeds has been enjoyable. It's not too busy, there's fantastic Thai food, and places like Northern Guitars have become favourites for jamming and meeting fellow musicians. Jam nights and societies have made it easy to make friends and feel involved.

The course has helped me understand the industry better and develop the skills I need for my future career. I've even balanced part-time work alongside my studies. After graduation, I hope to become a music composer for video games, tutor in music production and bass guitar, and continue performing live whenever I can.

One of my proudest moments so far was taking part in a game jam, creating a functioning game under time pressure, and even placing first with my team. Moments like that sum up my experience here: challenging, sometimes overwhelming, but ultimately incredibly rewarding.

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