University of Sunderland

Our Students and Graduates

We help our students to get work placements in different types of radio stations across the north-east and across the country. Our students and graduates are now working in all the NE radio stations and across the BBC network stations.

Through studying with us you can get work experience, and jobs, in all sectors of radio: presentation, production, radio news and commercial production and some of our graduates have jobs in radio management.

Our graduates now work in BBC local and network radio, including Radio 1, in commercial radio and community stations all over the UK.  Our research has shown that Media Studies graduates are well prepared for work inside and outside the media. Our graduates have also gained successful employment in teaching, public and community services and the broader communications and media industries.

We do our best to keep in touch with our graduates, some of whom are detailed below. If you are one of our graduates, then get in touch.

You can see what students on our media programmes get up to by watching our Media Centre Video. But don't just listen to us, hear it from our award-winning students... 

Rachel Kershaw, 26

Creative Writer/Producer, Metro Radio and Magic 1152
BA (Hons) Communication, Culture and Media Studies
MA Radio (Production and Management)

"I had a great time at Sunderland. I knew as soon as I arrived that I was going to be happy there, it just felt right.

"My course was really practical and I learned things that you simply can't get from a textbook. The University really prepared me for work - from how to use recording equipment to how to handle a microphone properly.

"Work experience is very important and I did that before and during my degree. I was lucky also that Sunderland has a student radio station. Working on Utopia FM was a brilliant learning experience, and I got to interview some great people - like my childhood heart-throb Mark Owen.

"I always found the staff to be really helpful, and not just the lecturers but also people like the technicians, finance and accommodation staff. The support from all departments really helped throughout my time at the University.

"I had such a good time, I still really miss it. I made some great friends for life and had loads of great experiences."

Geoff Sargieson

Former BBC Network Producer and Local Radio Station Manager and now independent Producer and Consultant.
MA Radio (Production and Management) 2005

"...it proved much more demanding than I had anticipated, and, it must be said, far more rewarding. I was, and remain, impressed by the quality of both the teaching and the facilities...I think you have much to be proud of. I've learnt a great deal in the past year- and probably given more thought to the subject of radio than I ever had in the previous 37 years. I've enjoyed every aspect of the course and I'm genuinely sorry it's over."

Our Graduates

• Vicky Warham, Rock Fm/Q Radio, Presenter
• Chris Stevens, Group Production Director, GMG Radio
• Emma Philpotts, BBC Norfolk
• Paul Stevenson, Head of Creative, Moray Firth Radio   
• Karen Wight, Presenter, Capital FM 105-106
• David Green, Programme Controller, Minster FM
• Phil Stocker: Producer, BBC Radio 1
• Jonathan Wood, Creative Services, Global Radio, Birmingham
• Rebecca Waterfield - Events Manager
• Ashleigh Whitfield, BBC Continuity Announcer
• Mike Howarth, Presenter, BFBS
• Dan Cocker, Somethin' Else
• Shelley McLaughlan, Kerrang! TV
• Andrew Holland, BBC Trust
• Charlie Tilly, ITV
• Phil Smith, Producer,  BBC 6 Music
• Lisa Dawson, Sales Executive, GMG Radio
• Katie Gornall, Broadcast Journalist, BBC Look North/BBC Sport
• Adam Smith, Station Sound Producert, BBC Gloucestershire
• Rory Auskerry, Radio Studio Manager, BBC World Service
• Victoria Green, Freelance voice over artist
• Julie Donaldson,  Freelance Presenter and Trainer
• Lee Wilson, Studio Manager, BBC Radio 5 Live
• Lynn Simpson, Lecturer in Radio, Amersham College
• Rachel Kershaw, Creative Writer/Producer, Metro Radio/Magic 1152
• Paul Elliot, Night Owls Producer, Metro Radio
• Steph Young, BBC 6 Music
• Victoria Ribbands,Presenter
• Kate Skinner, Journalist, Manx Radio
• Sarah Spence, News Editor, Heart FM
• Matthew Raisbeck, presenter BBC Newcastle