Will Dolan
Will shares his experience of Newcastle University and his plans for the future.
What did/do you love about Newcastle University?
The main thing I loved about Newcastle university was how dedicated and supportive the Sport and Exercise Science staff were to their students. Throughout my three years at the university, the lecturers and technicians were always available to help in and outside of scheduled teaching and had a depth of knowledge that they were more than willing to share - whether it was relevant to the course or my open personal interests. It is one of the main reasons I had such a positive experience at university and the relationships I built with the staff at the university are something I will look back on for years to come.
What did you enjoy most (or least!) about your course?
The best part of studying Sport and Exercise Science was the labs. We got to spend so much time learning how to use the high-tech equipment in the Sports Centre and it was amazing. My personal favourite was the 3D motion capture in the Biomechanics Lab. I even got to shadow active industry trials being run in the labs as well as other projects that lecturers were doing outside of our study. This was an invaluable experience in understanding what study beyond my degree looked like.
Tell us a little bit about career journey. How did you get into what you do now?
I had no idea what career I wanted when I arrived at university - I was just following what I enjoyed throughout school, hoping I would find out along the way. I attended optional career talks, guest lectures and talked to my lecturers about their careers in research throughout my course to help me find something that spoke to me. However, it wasn’t until the careers module in my final year where a headteacher spoke about his career in teaching that I discovered that this was the path for me. From here I spoke to my own teachers about their careers and researched the different pathways into teaching, as well as seeking guidance from the university's Career Service. Initially I wanted to pursue PE teaching, but I realised whilst looking at the roles of PE teachers that I have always been more interested in the science side of sport rather than coaching itself, which led to a decision to become a biology teacher. Since then, I have successfully applied and secured a place to complete my PGCE via the school’s direct pathway commencing September 2025.
How did your course and experiences at Newcastle University prepare you for your current role?
The careers module gave me good practice in researching the career I wanted to pursue and effectively prepare for an interview. This experience was invaluable during the application and interview process for my teacher training course. If I hadn’t had the information I learnt on the course and the practice completing presentations and mock interviews, I wouldn’t have been able to do nearly as well or feel as calm as I did on the day.
What other things did you do at University which helped you to get where you are now?
Whilst at university I completed the NCL+ award alongside my positions as secretary and president of the university taekwondo club. This helped me develop many skills that will be vital as a teacher, like communication and leadership, as well as reflection and self-improvement from the experiences I have had. It also helped me build confidence and be more social - something that was previously out of my comfort zone - and this has helped greatly when contacting schools for experience, and in my self-belief during the interview process for my PGCE.
What one piece of advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started?
Don’t panic, you have time to figure things out. It doesn’t have to be a perfect plan the second you leave university. You will find what you're passionate about - just take your time and enjoy university while it lasts!
What support do you wish you had when you first started? And are there any resources that you would recommend to people?
I think I got all the support I could need from Sports Science staff, and if I needed further support, the university's support systems were widely advertised and constantly had drop-ins and guidance that if I needed, I could utilise. I would recommend attending the lecturer-run drop-ins, even just to get to know the staff better. It makes you feel more welcome and part of the university community. I also have dyslexia, so the disability advisors are a service I would recommend contacting if you have similar issues. They helped me secure support with extra time in examinations, and without such help I wouldn’t have been able to complete my degree to the standard that I did.
Will graduated in July 2024 with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science