Jamie Harding, 28, has been passionate about film and photography ever since he picked up his grandfather’s camera at six years old. Despite this, when he was choosing a university degree he felt he ought to opt for a traditional subject, and chose English literature with philosophy. However, it wasn’t long before he realised he needed to follow his passion. One year in, he switched courses to study creative media at Bath Spa University. “The uni let me change, which was nice,” he says. “In creative media you can do anything, so I decided to study photography and graphic design.”
Students like Harding are sometimes put off studying a subject they’re passionate about because they think another may be more sensible. But choosing a degree closely linked to what you love can be good for your future career, as well as being more personally satisfying.
Harding has now graduated and is a self-employed cinematographer. He loves his work. “It’s so exciting that there’s always a jump coming,” he says. “So I’m doing a TV pilot next month and that’s a new experience. Obviously film is terribly stressful, but you get to be smug about your work afterwards, which is really nice,” he says, laughing.
Without the creative media course, Harding says he wouldn’t have been able to get where he is now. “One hundred percent it’s helped me to get work,” he says. “My work is 10 times better than when I started on the course.”
Following your passion doesn’t mean that you will be taking the less career-focused option.
Perhaps you dream of setting up a dance studio and want to study business, management and dance. Or maybe you’re interested in a career in commercial music, criminology, or international development and education.
Another reason to pick a course you’re passionate about is that you’ll probably be better at it, Harding says. As you’ll be challenged and stretched intellectually, doing something that you love motivates you to stick in when the going gets tough.
Once you’ve picked a course, it may be worth looking into the university’s scholarship programme. For example, students who enrol at Bath Spa University in September 2019 have the opportunity to secure £750 in their first year. There are three ways to qualify: by achieving better than predicted grades; by displaying outstanding talent in the creative or performing arts; or by achieving exceptional results of at least AAB at A-level, or the equivalent.
Harding also discovered that the university offered plenty of advice and assistance in turning his course into a vocation; he learned the practical side of becoming a creative professional, such as how to do taxes and set up a business. “I felt thoroughly prepared when I left,” he says.
He met people at university with whom he still works regularly today. “Uni is a good way of making contacts and growing your voice,” he says. “If I didn’t go, I wouldn’t have the contacts I have now, which basically pay my rent. You can also use the university’s kit for free,” he says. “And you have three years to make films without having to pay for things like insurance.”
Harding has no doubts he made the right decision to switch courses to one he was passionate about. “English and philosophy was fun, but I didn’t have an endgame with them,” he says. “Changing direction was the right thing for me – I have zero regrets.”
For more information, visit bathspa.ac.uk
