Author: Emily (page 1 of 20)

From Student to Subject Matter Expert: How Short Courses Transformed My Career

January 28, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Meet Harry Hughes, who discovered that learning doesn’t end when the course does – it’s just the beginning.

When Harry Hughes first enrolled in Introduction to Programming with Python at City St George’s, he was simply looking to expand his skillset. What he found was something far more valuable: a pathway to becoming the ‘go-to guy’ for data in his organisation, the confidence to finish his first book in French, and access to a community that’s helping him launch his own business.

Starting with the Essentials

‘I work with data and SQL frequently, but these courses allowed me to transition from a user to a creator,’ Harry explains. After completing both the Python and SQL courses, he quickly put his new skills into practice. ‘During the Python course, I learned how to build lines of code and extract data. I realised I could apply similar logic to Google Sheets, so I returned to work and built complex formulas that helped my entire department extract more value from our data…Processes that used to take my team hours now take minutes thanks to the automation skills I gained.’

But it wasn’t just about learning code – it was about learning how to think differently. ‘The courses didn’t just teach me code; they taught me how to solve problems faster,’ he says. Within months, he’d gone from data user to data creator, transforming his role within his company almost overnight.

A Personal Journey with French

While building his professional expertise, Harry was also pursuing a personal goal. His fiancée speaks French, and after dabbling with Duolingo, he was ready for something more structured. The French Upper Intermediate course proved perfect.

‘Even after the first term, my comprehension improved significantly. I found myself thinking in French, watching French Netflix, and I even finished my first book in the language.’ The course taught him not just vocabulary, but how language evolves: ‘We did exercises where we took root words and examined all their compound relatives. This helped me understand how words evolve, and I’ve continued practicing this on my own. It is so helpful to learn not just what to study, but how to teach yourself.’

Flexibility That Fits Real Life

What makes these courses work for Harry? Flexibility. ‘I travel a lot, and the virtual courses offer a great deal of flexibility. It isn’t a massive time commitment, just one evening a week, which fits easily into my work schedule. These courses mean I don’t have to choose between a career and personal development; the flexibility makes both possible.’

Beyond the Classroom

What Harry didn’t expect was everything else that came with being a short course student. Access to the library and career coaching. Start-up support through CityVentures.  UniDays’ benefits that opened doors to a special start-up incubator reserved for students.

‘I came for a single course, but I stayed for the community, the library, and the incredible start-up support. Since I live near the university, I use the library as a base for my start-up and attend various campus events. I didn’t realise that taking these courses would grant me access to such a huge community until recently, and I’m definitely making the most of it.’

Now, as he transitions from student to founder, Harry sees how City St Georges has invested in his success long after the final class ended. ‘What I value most is the holistic student experience. I initially signed up to learn a specific skill, but I ended up gaining a professional network. Between the career coaching and the library access, I feel like the university is truly invested in my success long after the final class ends. Transitioning from a student to a founder through CityVentures felt like a natural evolution. The university bridges the gap between learning a skill and actually building a business with it.’

What’s Next?

Harry isn’t finished with short courses yet! He’s already attended a Korean taster class (perfect for his neighbourhood’s large Korean community) and a session on Fact-Based Storytelling. taught by Guardian journalist and author Jem Bartholomew, that’s improved his LinkedIn writing.

His advice to others considering a short course? ‘I would definitely recommend any of these courses…they are so engaging, and I really looked forward to seeing the other students and my teacher each week.’

Ready to transform your career – or pursue a passion – one evening a week? Explore our short courses and discover what you might become.

Former Novel Studio Student Harriet Tyce Makes Traitors History

January 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Following the huge success of Celebrity Traitors, we were excited to see the latest series of The Traitors return to our screens this year. Imagine our delight when we realised one of our Novel Studio alumni was among the contestants!

Introducing our English Law and Legal Method Short Course Tutor Nasreen Choudhury

January 4, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Law short courses tutor, Nasreen Choudhury

Happy new year!

Ahead of our spring term at City St George’s short courses, we wanted to catch up with one of our longstanding and valued tutors, Nasreen Choudhury. Nasreen teaches  English Law and Legal Method short course, Immigration and Asylum Law short course and Human Rights Law short course.

1.Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and what led you to teach on this short course?

Nasreen: I was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in July 2004. My experience includes working in the UK for a non-governmental organisation and being the sole director of a private practice. My dominating fields of work include criminal, family, property, immigration and human rights law. I am the supervising solicitor at a central London human rights firm. My previous teaching experience at legacy City University in 2005 and experience as an Advocate and a Human Rights Lawyer led to my current appointment at City St Georges University. 

2. What excites you most about working in your field today?

Nasreen: I am passionate about being able to challenge public authority decisions and to provide legal advice to vulnerable members of society.

3. How does your industry experience influence the way you design and deliver your sessions?

Nasreen: My industry experience ensures the courses are vocationally relevant and grounded in real-world practice, by having up-to date content and real-life decisions to critically think and resolve legal problems.

4.How would you describe your teaching style, and what can learners expect in your classroom?

Nasreen: My teaching style is to bridge theory and practice.  Students can expect discussion and debate of legal doctrines through examination of legislation and case law.  I have found that our short course students are from all walks of life, from those wanting to go on to become lawyers, to those who already work in practice, to people who are working for government, or the judiciary to those who want to broaden their personal understanding of legal subjects. It is an honour for me to teach at City St Georges having done so for over a decade as I am able to support future leaders and thinkers in the legal field. 

I try to ensure my teaching stays up-to-date through an active career as a Practicing Solicitor, research, training and through meeting ongoing continuing competence requirements.

5. What inspires you to continue teaching alongside your professional work?

Nasreen: I really enjoy teaching for the intellectual challenges it brings and for the ability to share my expertise in Public and Private law with the wider community. I’m looking forward to the start of term!

Many thanks,  Nasreen!

For more information on all our short courses, why not come along to our free online taster this Thursday 8 January at 6pm. Register here. You can try out one of our courses or talk to one of our friendly team who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

For more on Nasreen’s law short courses, visit our page here.

New Horizons: How the UK’s Return to Erasmus+ Opens Doors for Language Learners

December 29, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Exciting news arrived this month for anyone who’s ever dreamed of living, studying, or working across Europe. The UK and EU have agreed that Britain will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme from 2027, marking a significant shift in opportunities for students, professionals, and lifelong learners alike.

The Erasmus+ programme will create educational and training opportunities for apprentices, further education students, and adult learners, not just undergraduates. This means whether you’re considering a career change, eyeing a work placement abroad, or simply want to expand your horizons, language skills will be your passport to making the most of these opportunities.

Over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in the first year alone. That’s a lot of competition for placements in Barcelona or Lisbon. Those who arrive with genuine conversational ability in Spanish or Portuguese will have a significant advantage.

Starting Your Language Journey

Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to dust off your French vocabulary, City St George’s short evening language courses offer a flexible way to build real competence in a modern language. We offer courses in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, and more – at every level from absolute beginner through to advanced.

Our courses are designed so that you can fit language learning around your job, and our expert tutors understand that adults learn differently. We focus on practical communication skills you’ll actually use – precisely what you’ll need if you’re planning to take advantage of Erasmus+ opportunities from 2027.

Not Sure Where to Begin?

If you’re curious about language learning but not quite ready to commit, we’re running a free taster session on the evening of January 8th 2026. It’s a chance to experience our teaching approach, meet our tutors, chat with current students, and get a feel for which language might suit your goals – whether that’s career development, travel, or simply the joy of learning something new.

The return to Erasmus+ won’t happen overnight, but 2027 will arrive sooner than you think. The students and professionals who’ll seize those opportunities are the ones starting their language journey now, building skills one evening class at a time.

Why not be one of them?

Join us for our free taster evening on January 8th and discover which language could open up your European future.

Opening Doors: Scholarship Opportunities at City St George’s Short Courses

December 23, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In the season of giving, we’re delighted to share the range of scholarship opportunities across our City St George’s Short Courses programme – initiatives that embody the university’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and widening participation.

What’s Available

We’re offering several scholarships for our upcoming courses:

Why This Matters

Jem Bartholomew, who teaches the Fact-based Storytelling course and is a freelance writer for the Guardian, emphasised the vital importance of these opportunities:

“The publishing and media industries have a massive hill to climb when it comes to increasing diversity efforts. The Sutton Trust found, for instance, that despite only 7% of people in the UK attending fee-paying private schools, this cohort made up 30% of all journalists, and 50% of newspaper columnists.

The short course scholarships at City St George’s are a small but vital way we can try to boost access to publishing and the media — by developing people’s writing skills, demystifying the industry, and elevating new voices previously locked out the creative fields.”

More Than Just Courses

These aren’t simply writing classes – they’re pathways to discovering and developing your unique voice, regardless of your background or circumstances. Each course offers expert tuition, practical skills development, and the chance to connect with a community of fellow writers who share your passion for storytelling.

Whether you’re interested in writing that creates social change, learning how to craft compelling fact-based narratives, or developing your novel through the Novel Studio, there’s an opportunity here for you.

Who Can Apply

The scholarships for Jem’s Fact-based Storytelling and Ciaran Thapar’s Writing for Social Impact courses are both open to young adults aged 18-25 from underrepresented backgrounds and/or facing financial difficulty. The Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship is for talented writers from low-income households. Each scholarship has its own specific criteria, so we encourage you to visit the individual course pages to find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

The next deadline to apply for our Fact-Based Storytelling scholarship is midnight on 7 January 2026.

The deadline to apply for our next Writing for Social Impact Scholarship is 6 January 2026

The deadline for our Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship application is 9 June 2026.

Taking the Next Step

If you’ve been thinking about taking your writing further but worried about the cost, these scholarships could be your opportunity.  Find out more about the scholarships and how to apply on the City St George’s Short Courses website.

You can also sign up to our free online taster evening happening on January 8 where you’ll get a chance to sample our courses and speak to our friendly team. Register here.

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Tangled Tales Bloom in City Writes Autumn Event 2025 

December 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments
By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone

‘Tis the season of sneezes and Christmas parties so, in response to the harried cheer, what everyone really needs is a night of wonderful storytelling. The City Writes Autumn 2025 event was just such a night. Battling against the forces of over-consumption were six wonderful competition winners and the brilliant debut author, Lauren du Plessis whose novel, Tender (Influx, Sept 2025) we had the joy of hearing two extracts from.

Tackling winter blues, we began with some Californian sunshine as our first competition winner, Approach to Creative Writing and Crime and Thriller Writing alumnus, Jon Pierce read an extract from his novel, Guru Dave. Despite describing a very bloody murder, there was a huge amount of humour and we were left with the image of a naked woman in the corner of the crime scene, meditating with a shotgun across her lap.

Following Jon, Novel Studio (On Campus) student, Natasha Ali read from her short story, ‘Gene Drive’, taking us into the heart of a biology research lab. As her character hoovered up mosquitoes, preparing them for DNA sequencing, we began to wonder who she wanted to pulp and why.

Our Narrative Non-Fiction alumna, Lexie Harrison-Cripps was next, bringing a vital but confronting story to our attention. Lexie’s non-fiction piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’ brought us the story of Vicki, unfairly imprisoned and in the first 13 years of a 27-year sentence. Her story is one of many and we very much hope that Lexie will find places to share these stories of injustice more broadly. This is a story that needs to be heard.

Amaya Jeyarajah Dent, another Novel Studio (Online) student, took us to Tokyo, Japan next with her story, ‘Yokohama Night Tail’. A tiny kitten found itself embroiled in a story examining the night life of love hotels and their laundry. Once again we were given an image that lingered.

Following Amaya was Novel Writing and Longer Works alumnus, Majed Akhter reading an extract from his novel, Departure and Departure. We were quickly absorbed by the life of Ravi, working the diary round in a communal living venture in America and receiving the first letter he’s received from his sister in over ten years. As with all our competition winners, you’ll have to hope they are signed up soon in order to find out what happens next.

Our minds struggling to leave Ravi with his wheelbarrow of milk, we came to our final competition winner of the evening, Short Story Writing alumna, Judith English. Judith read her short story ‘ The Flash of a Bird’ that took us down to the river and explored not only the possibility of watery transformation but also the unlikely friendship between two people divided by age but not spirit.

With such captivating stories burgeoning in our minds, we stepped into the thrilling world of Tender by Lauren du Plessis published in September of 2025. A literary botanical body horror, the curated life of archaeobotanist, Nell, soon begins to unravel as her emotions force her into contact with deeper parts of her nature that simply won’t be pruned back.

Lauren is a Writers’ Workshop alumna. As well as fondly remembering her classes, she treated us to two extracts from her novel and generously answered questions about her process, the themes of the novel, and her possible future projects. If you haven’t read Tender, don’t miss out, grab your copy here. You can also catch up on all of the readings and discussion by watching the video of the event available here.

Look out for next term’s City Writes that once again will be in person for the Spring. Thanks to everyone who made the City Writes Autumn Event so special.

Meet our new Business and Creative Industries Short Course Coordinator

December 9, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Tony Whiteman-Reynolds

 

In a series of interviews with the team behind Short Courses, today we meet Tony Whiteman-Reynolds, our new Business and Creative Industries Short Course Coordinator.

 1. What drew you to this role, and what are you most excited about the job?

I was really drawn to this role because it combines programme coordination, student experience, and stakeholder engagement — all areas I genuinely enjoy and have developed throughout my career in higher education. The idea of supporting a broad portfolio of short courses, and contributing to a growing area of the University, feels energising. I’m especially excited about working with diverse learners and helping shape programmes that have a real, immediate impact on people’s skills and professional development.

2. What do you hope to bring to the short courses programme, and are there any particular areas you’re keen to develop or explore?

I hope to bring strong organisation, stakeholder management, and a calm, solutions-focused approach. I enjoy improving building strong relationships, and ensuring that delivery feels seamless from a learner and academic perspective.

3. Have you always worked in higher education? What’s been your journey?

I haven’t always worked in higher education — before joining Bayes Business School, I worked in customer-facing and operational roles at companies like Coca-Cola and TUI Travel. These roles built my foundation in service, communication, and managing high-pressure situations. For more than a decade, I’ve worked in various roles at Bayes, from MBA Course Officer to Senior Programme Coordinator in Executive Education. Each step has strengthened my passion for supporting learners and delivering high-quality educational programmes.

4. What’s your vision for supporting learners who come to short courses – whether they’re looking to upskill, change careers, or explore a creative passion?

My vision is to create a smooth, supportive, and welcoming experience from first enquiry to course completion. Short-course learners come with very different motivations, so I want every learner to feel seen, guided, and confident throughout their journey. I aim to ensure clear communication, responsive support, and a course environment that feels engaging, well-organised, and professional.

5. Why would you recommend studying a short business and creative course at City St George’s?

City St George’s is uniquely positioned at the intersection of business, practice, and the professions. Our short courses offer practical, industry-relevant learning designed by experts, and delivered in formats that fit around people’s lives. Whether someone wants to gain a new skill, pivot professionally, or pursue a creative interest, the environment here is inclusive, forward-thinking, and genuinely supportive.

6. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Any hobbies or interests that might surprise us?

Outside of work, travel is a big part of my life and something that has shaped who I am. I love exploring new countries and cultures, whether that’s through trying local food, learning about regional history, or simply wandering through places that feel completely different from home. My years working abroad with TUI really ignited that passion—living and working in different countries taught me to adapt quickly, appreciate different perspectives, and enjoy the unexpected moments that come with travel.

7. If you could design your dream short course (no limitations!), what would it be and why?

My dream short course would probably be something like “The Art of World-Building in Superhero Media.” It would combine storytelling, media theory, and creativity, and let people explore what makes certain narratives so compelling. It’s the kind of course that brings people together through shared enthusiasm and sparks imagination.

8. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve received is: “Stay curious.” It’s served me well in roles where understanding the wider context makes a huge difference, especially when coordinating programmes with many moving parts. Curiosity helps me anticipate issues early, build better processes, and create stronger working relationships.

Thank you so much, Tony! We’re so happy to have you on the team and look forward to working with you in the coming months.

Want to grow your skills?

For Tony’s courses visit here and here.

And for all our short courses, visit our home page here.

Watch this space for booking on our free online taster event in January, where you will have a chance to try out some of our courses and to meet Tony and the other coordinators at our enquiry desks.

Announcing City Writes Autumn Competition Winners

December 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone As the nights draw in, what could be better than an evening of stories? Come and join us for some brilliant tales at this term’s City Writes on Wednesday 10th December over Zoom at 7pm. Alongside debut novelist, Lauren Du Plessis, whose novel Tender (Influx Press, Sept 2025) excavates the past, present and magical in equal measure, we have this term’s writing competition winners. You can find out all about them below.

Majed Akhter is an educator and researcher based in London. He lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United States before moving to London. In 2019 he was selected as a BBC New Generation Thinker. Majed is writing his first novel, titled Departure and Departure from which he will be reading an excerpt at City Writes. He is a Novel Writing and Longer Works alumni.

Natasha Ali is a speculative horror writer with a degree and master’s in human genetics. She aims to utilise her background to tell compelling stories centring bioethical issues. Her debut novel, Reasons I’m Not Human, will be published in 2027. She has previously been published in From The Lighthouse and F(r)iction. She is utilising the Novel Studio (On Campus) to work on her second novel, The Woman That Was Used Up, and is represented by Daisy Arendell at CAA. Natasha will be reading ‘Gene Drive’ at City Writes. Amaya

Jeyarajah Dent will be reading her story, ‘Yokohama Night Tail’. She is a Novel Studio (Online) student and a UK based writer of fiction. She has always written, for as long as she can remember. Amaya is both Sri Lankan & British and grew up in Tooting Bec, South London.  Riding the Tube is probably her biggest inspiration. The mix of people who call the city home—even for a moment—and the way they commune there is an atmosphere she borrows from for her writing. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Manchester. She is also a Curator and Producer working broadly across all types of contemporary performance. She is writing her first novel.

Judith English was born in Newbury. After a career as a musician and freelance singer she took a prose writing course at UEA and began a novel. In 2025 she took the Short Story Writing course at City St George’s. Her first novel Layers of Silk is currently out for submission. Her work has been published by CafeLit, and she was longlisted for the Henshaw Short Story Competition. When not writing, she enjoys kayaking and gardening. Judith will be reading her story, ‘The Flash of a Bird’.

Lexie Harrison-Cripps is a journalist based in Mexico City, focussing on social justice issues throughout the Americas and Europe.  Her multimedia work is published in outlets such as Al Jazeera,  The Guardian, The Nation and CBS.  She has collaborated with UN agencies, international non-profits and award-winning producers and directors, working in permissive and non-permissive environments. Lexie is a Narrative Non-Fiction alumna and will be reading her piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’.

alumna and will be reading her piece, ‘Raped, Locked Up and Abandoned: Mexico’s Female Prisoners’.

Jon Pierce is an Introduction to Creative Writing and Crime and Thriller Alumna, and loved both. A Currency trader for decades, he now has the time and space to develop his writing and will read the prologue to a future novel Guru Dave; the inspiration for which came from a bizarre trip to California. North London born and bred he supports Arsenal, but has promised his wife to one day move out of the only postcode he has  lived in.

As you can tell, it’s a wonderful group of writers and alongside Lauren Du Plessis we will explore fantastical worlds both real and imagined. We’ll take in stories from Mexico, Japan, America and the UK. Come along to City Writes Autumn Event on Wednesday 10th December at 7pm on Zoom to be moved and inspired. Register here. We’ll look forward to seeing you there!

Spotlight on our 2025 Novel Studio Scholarship Winner!

November 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Scholarship winner Michelle Celestine

We’re thrilled to celebrate one of this year’s Captain Tasos Politis Scholarship recipients, Michelle Celestine. Michelle currently works as a Food and Textiles Technician at a UK secondary school and initially applied for the scholarship with very low expectations. ‘Not for a second did I think someone would believe in my writing,’ she says. ‘So, to have even made it to the interview stage was a massive boost to my confidence.’

But her talent spoke for itself, ultimately earning her the full scholarship.

The moment she received the news, Michelle recalls she accepted immediately — and then burst into tears. ‘I was so proud of making them proud I cannot tell you,’ she says of telling her children, who celebrated alongside her.

Her response captures something important about the creative journey: how transformative it can be when someone sees potential in your work. ‘Having someone believe in you can have such an enormous impact in how you view your future and the many possibilities that await you. I am so grateful to Emily and Rebekah who interviewed me, for deciding I was a good candidate to put forward for the scholarship; you both have no idea how much this means to me.’

Now, she’s already thinking about paying it forward. Once she’s financially stable, she plans to sponsor another writer on the Novel Studio course ‘as a way of passing on the gratitude.’

Generously funded by City St George’s Alumni Ambassador George Politis, and named after his father, the aim of the scholarship is to support a student of talent and potential who might not otherwise be able to accept an offer of a place on The Novel Studio. We are hugely grateful to George for his generosity and ongoing support for the course and the future literary landscape.

Applications for next year’s scholarship will open in February 2026. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply here.

City Writes Competition Deadline: Midnight, 14th November!

November 13, 2025 / / 0 Comments
By Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone
It’s week 7 and the deadline for this term’s City Writes Competition is this Friday, the 14th of November!
For your chance to share you work on the virtual stage with the wonderful debut author and Writers’ Workshop alumna, Lauren du Plessis, you need to send your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.2@city.ac.uk
There isn’t a theme, we’re just looking for prose that captures the attention of our hearts and minds.
City Writes is the termly showcase event for all the fabulous writing coming from City St George’s short creative writing courses. Alongside invited guests, alumni and tutors, we have readings from students past and present who have entered and won the City Writes Competition. This could be you!
City Writes Autumn 2025 is on the 10th December 2025 at 7pm on Zoom. Register here.
Our guest this term is debut author, Lauren du Plessis, whose novel Tender, came out with Influx Press this September 2025. Lauren’s novel is an absorbing folk-horror that will thrill and unnerve. Blending folkloric horror with explorations of womanhood against a backdrop of eco-anxiety, Tender burrows into the quiet violence of overcoming and accepting our darkest sides.
For your chance to join Lauren du Plessis on stage on Wednesday 10th December 2025 over Zoom, all you need to do is submit your best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction (we do accept young adult fiction but don’t currently accept children’s fiction) on any subject to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.2@city.ac.uk with details of the City short course you are taking or have taken by midnight on Friday 14th November. See here for competition and submission guidelines.

Guest alumna, Lauren Du Plessis

Once again the deadline for submissions is this Friday 14th November at midnight! We look forward to your entries and do sign up to come along and hear readings from competition winners and Lauren du Plessis here.
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