Curious about what it’s like to do a placement while studying at Milton Keynes College? We spoke to Boma, a current student at the College studying a T Level in Digital Production, Design & Development. Read more to discover what the life of a T Level student looks like and what he learned along the way, with insights and tips for college life.

Hello! Who are you and what are you studying?

Hi there! I’m Boma and I’m a student at Milton Keynes College Bletchley campus, studying a T Level in Digital Production, Design & Development. I’m in the second year of my course.

What made you choose your course?

I’ve always wanted to be a web developer. I’m now applying to go into AI and software, and I saw this course as a good start. My dad used to be a big tech guy, so he wanted me to be able to do the tech stuff, since tech is all about the future now. He encouraged me to do it and gave me lessons, which gave me the courage to be able to choose the course I’m in now.

How are you finding your studies?

Very good and nurturing. The teachers always ask questions about how the students are doing with the course and give advice. They are also very friendly and caring; they take their time to make sure you understand the task before you carry on. It’s very intuitive on my side. I feel like I’ve made the right decision with the course.

What work placement did you do and how did you find it?

I did my work placement with the Bedford Modern School. I enjoyed it, I was an IT Support Technician Assistant at the school. I’m now done with my placement and looking forward to getting a job with the certificate that I get from this course.

Can you describe what a typical workday at your placement looks like?

My job was managing accounts and helping people with IT equipment on how to use them properly. Considering that it’s a school, there are a lot of IT problems, like network connections, laptops breaking down or various equipment shortages.

Did you encounter any obstacles? How did you overcome them?

Most of it was smooth sailing but if not for the staff who taught me what to do, it would be very difficult. My most difficult situation was trying to access the accounts and make changes to them because when people get logged out of their accounts, they need someone from the administration to open them up – when most of your staff members are busy, this becomes hard to do yourself.

What are some highlights from your time at the College?

I went to a table tennis tournament in Norwich once. I was able to make friends with a sports coach, talk about various sports and have other friendly conversations.

I’ve also met a couple other people from my country as well as made friends with people outside my country. It breaks a very strong cultural barrier around here, so being able to meet new people and build good relationships – that’s very nice here.

How do you find social life at the College?

I’ve found a couple new friends while studying here. Considering that I came in and I wasn’t a very talkative person, I’ve now found people I’m able to relate to and have some good conversations with.

Do you participate in any extracurricular activities at the college, and what hobbies do you enjoy outside of college?

I’m mostly active with just the course alone, but I’ve participated some events to improve my communication skills and increase my experience and confidence with the course. Outside of College, I like to play basketball and I go out for jogging and walks. I also ride my bike with some friends from the College.

What are your future career aspirations? What are your plans for achieving them?

I would like to become a web designer or developer, with a bit of focus on front-end or back-end of websites. If not, with the experience that I’ve gained from the work placement with the Bedford Modern School, I would like to go into IT support.

I’m planning on studying the Level 4 course for HNC degree in AI and Software, which I’m starting in September. I’d also like to take an apprenticeship after that or get a good job.

What advice would you give to someone applying for your course at MK College today?

There are two categories here. For someone who is used to web development and design, it would be good to start this course when you’re done with your secondary school or sixth form.

For someone who is new to digital society, it would be very advisable to take on multiple projects and always ask questions, because nobody can do it on their own. Coding is very broad, and you can get lost in any coding language that you choose – always seek help from your teachers or use online resources for guidance.

Try to be happy while learning because it’s very difficult to learn when you’re in a down or bad mood – you tend to focus on what’s wrong with what you’re doing. Be sure to always encourage yourself and be happy with what you’ve chosen to do. And if you find that you aren’t really doing well with the course, then be sure to let your teachers know so that they can give you the best advice on what to do next.

To learn more about T levels at Milton Keynes College, read more here.