Ellie Hood

“I didn’t know much about SERC or other colleges, because there was really only school and university in Scotland, but I knew school wasn’t for me. I found out that my local SERC campus was easy to get to from where I live, and my friends who were already on courses there recommended it to me, so I went to an open day and talked to a tutor. After talking to the tutor, I decided to apply.” 

“The HNC in International Travel and Tourism Management teaches you a lot about tourism, including why people travel to certain places for culture, history, economics, and the environment. I particularly enjoyed the management and leadership modules. We also had to make an Instagram page for a business we got to make up ourselves, and then do our best to promote it, which I found fun because I would love to enter the corporate and marketing side of the industry.  

“You have quite a bit of freedom on the course– we were taught a lot of theory and then went and wrote up coursework ourselves based on the theory. There is lots of help from tutors as well, but I like the more independent style of learning, and since I’d like to go to university to study, it also prepares me for university-style study too.  

“School wasn’t for me, I didn’t like the rigid structure of the classes and teaching, whereas at SERC everyone is studying in their own style and it’s a lot better for learning. SERC is accommodating to everybody, and the tutors are also very good in the way that they teach the course information. I would definitely recommend SERC.”