海角直播

First-Class Chris heads to a land down under

Chris Saxby is heading to Australia to study journalism, courtesy of his BA (Hons) degree in History from the University of 海角直播. Chris, 21, from Elm Tree, Stockton, was offered a place on a Post-Graduate course in Journalism at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, provided he achieved a good 2.1 or a First in his History degree. He gained a First Class degree, and will head to Brisbane in 2002 for the one-year course.

Chris came to the University with three good 鈥楢鈥� levels in Computing, History and Sociology from Stockton Sixth Form College. He said: 鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed History since Secondary School, when I explored the French Revolution. I studied that again during my degree, it鈥檚 such an exciting period of change in French History. At 海角直播 I also enjoyed a module on James II, where we used a lot of primary source material such as old diaries. 鈥淲e also examined primary source material in the study of Victorian and Edwardian popular culture, including the novels of Charles Dickens. The Lecturers were all very helpful and available when you needed to see them. I was really pleased to get the First, although I didn鈥檛 know straight away as I went to see Madonna at Earl鈥檚 Court the day the results were out. My mother had left a message on my mobile about my result, but I hadn鈥檛 checked it.鈥�

During the second year of his course Chris decided he wanted to study journalism abroad, and after consulting the University鈥檚 Careers Department, surfed the Internet in the Learning Resource Centre, and located the Queensland course.

Chris said: 鈥淭he University of Queensland has offered a journalism programme since 1921, making it the oldest course in Australia and among the oldest in the world. It鈥檚 quite highly regarded; we鈥檒l be studying radio, television and newspaper writing. I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing a totally different way of life; I visited Australia earlier this year and travelled to the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney. It鈥檚 such a diverse country and the people are very relaxed.鈥�

When he finishes the course Chris is initially aiming for a career in newspaper journalism. He is currently working as a lifeguard and swimming coach at Thornaby pool. Swimming is a lifelong interest of Chris鈥� which he aims to continue down under, he swam for Stockton Aquatics club for 10 years and joined the University鈥檚 team in British University鈥檚 Sporting Association competitions.

Chris is the son of Renee Saxby and a former pupil of Grangefield Secondary School.

Tuesday 27 November 10.15am ceremony

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