Web Design and Development (PGCert)

Graeme Wilkinson suddenly started getting top grades when he received support to address his dyslexia during his studies at Birkbeck. He benefited from regular tutoring and was given a laptop and voice recorder to help him gain his Postgraduate Certificate in Web Design and Development. The combination of one-to-one tuition and his high marks also boosted his confidence and motivation, and led to high-profile freelance projects.

Graeme said: ‘I saw a tutor once a week and she really helped me structure my essays and make the most of new software. My marks went up immediately, and I started getting Firsts for my pieces of coursework. Birkbeck supported me by taking into consideration my dyslexia and my personal circumstances.’

Although Graeme was originally diagnosed with dyslexia when he was a teenager, it was not until he was 24 and studying at Birkbeck that he received the one-to-one support to overcome his learning difficulty. His application for the Government-funded Disabled Students’ Allowance was supported by Birkbeck, and the support and equipment were all available before the start of term.

Graeme’s coursework included designing a website for a photographic business. He enjoyed writing code for the webpages, optimising the website for mobile devices, and illustrating the website with a range of images.

Studying part-time over one year, Graeme combined his studies with working as an administrator within Birkbeck’s Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication in the School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy, as well as volunteering 30 hours of his time a month for the local community. Most of his tuition fees were paid by Birkbeck as part of the College’s commitment to staff development via the Study Assistance Scheme.

Graeme added: ‘I am very grateful for all the support provided by Birkbeck to address my dyslexia, including tutoring, a laptop and a voice recorder. Studying at Birkbeck was a fantastic experience. It gave me the motivation to branch out and work on freelance projects, including a digital advertising campaign for London’s Air Ambulance. It was great to see my work appear on one of the largest digital outdoor billboards in London, outside Westfield White City/Shepherd’s Bush. I also really enjoyed the other aspects of student life, including training and competing for the University of London’s Swimming Team.’