Steve Farmer

I have just completed my Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Digital Art and Technology at the University of Plymouth. In order to get into university I completed a Double AVCE (replaced by Applied A levels) in Information and Communication Technology along with a Level 2 City and Guilds in 2D Computer-aided Design. I chose to take a vocational route to university because I knew I wanted to take a computer-based course and thought that a hands-on approach would be better for me. I struggled with exams and found that completing coursework for the assessment was more appropriate for the way that I learn.

I would definitely recommend vocational qualifications to those wishing to progress to university. I feel they give you a great deal of transferable skills like communication and presentation skills, and they teach you how to take ownership of your projects and complete them to the required deadlines.

At the moment I am working for myself as a freelance web designer and in September I am going on to complete my PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education) at Marjon. After that, I hope to become a secondary ICT teacher based in Cornwall. My time at university has been the best experience of my life and I have really grown as a person, it has given me the confidence to realise that anything is possible and has allowed me to meet amazing people from all over the world.