Alumni

Daniel Graham

Career Path: Front-end Web Developer, Newcastle University & Founder, Bedtime Bookshop
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

After leaving the medical sciences field, I got my first web development role working for an apparel company in the North East. I wanted to go into this field as I knew it was a growing industry, and the role would be interesting with lots of learning opportunities. So I studied a Computer Science degree to help develop the skills needed to get onto this path.

What are you doing now?

Now I am working as a web developer at Newcastle University. I also co-own a North East based startup, Bedtime Bookshop, which I run in my spare time. The skills gained in my degree helped give me the knowledge to start the business. We produce personalised children's books which you can customise the child's name and appearance online. We recently released our first book - Nursery Rhyme Lane.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

I studied at Northumbria for both my Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees. I liked the feel of the university, that it felt down to earth, and in a great city. The distance learning aspect of my Masters degree was also excellent as it allowed me to study while working.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

I really enjoyed both of my degrees. I liked the structure of the Computer Science Masters, as it involved workshops and lectures, and the assessments were all coursework based.

How connected was your course with industry?

Although I didn’t undertake a placement, the modules covered a wide range of topics within the computer science industry, which gave a taster of the different paths you could follow.

What was the best thing about your course?

The best thing about the course was getting to learn a variety of different coding languages, to get more of an idea of where I would like to head with my career.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/ give your career an edge?

It gave me an understanding of the industry and a base-level understanding of the skills required to gain a junior level position.

Which skills/knowledge did you learn on your course that you use most now throughout your career?

I mainly use the skills gained from the Web Development module, which I also used in my dissertation project. These are basic skills like HTML and CSS, as well as other aspects like web design and accessibility.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Northumbria University?

I most enjoyed doing my research project, as it allowed me to explore an area of computer science that interested me and also to further develop my web development skills.

What advice would you give somebody who is considering studying at Northumbria?

I would definitely recommend it as a university, I went back for a second time myself. If you’re considering it as a choice, book on to an open day as I found these very helpful to get an idea of the place and how it would suit me.