Edward Foster

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background before studying at Leeds?

Before studying at Leeds, I was at the University of York, studying Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance. I had always been a bit of a creative, acting in plays and producing short films, but in particular it was the writing element of the course that made me realise that it was the act of conjuring stories that I wanted to pursue through further education and beyond!

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

Writing is such a personal exploration of the self. You take the ideas knocking round in your head and try and form them into some sort of blueprint that you can communicate to other people. It’s your thoughts and feelings on the page, which in a weird sort of way tells you more about yourself that you think you know. Being able to do that, whilst also entertaining a reader is incredibly hard and nothing quite beats the rush when an audience responds in the way you’re intending them to!

What made you choose to study at the University?

The University of Leeds was always known to me as a respected and well-connected place. However, it was actually examining the content of the course, the breadth of topics and areas we would be covering, as well as speaking to the programme leaders which got me excited to come to Leeds.

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most?  

The opportunities to talk to people working in the field, such as television writers and film producers to understand more the industry I wanted to go into and the realities of creating a piece of content. Having their input on my ideas was invaluable to realising my projects.

What other activities are available for students to take part in outside of their studies (e.g., societies), and which ones have you tried out yourself?

The University provides some of the best array of societies I’ve seen and each one is welcoming and exciting. Personally, I got involved with the creative writing society, taking my work beyond the page and actually realising one of my ideas as a radio play, broadcast on Student Radio – it was amazing to have a range of responses to my work from people outside of my specific field!

What do you plan to do once you’ve finished your course, and how do you think the skills and knowledge you’ve developed at Leeds will help with these plans?

I’m hoping to pursue the dream of storytelling for a living, preferably in film and television – which I know is not easy, but I’m prepared to be persistent! The University’s Careers Service was very useful in helping me formulate plans as to how to go after this idea, and their advice on networking has allowed me to make leaps and bounds forwards in this field, as well as the useful advice of my tutors. 

What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for your course?

I would say absolutely go for it! It’s hard work but you can walk away from your time at Leeds with a portfolio that you can be proud of. They set you up with pieces of work in whatever you’re interested in specialising and the people you’ll meet and the opportunities that will come just from being a part of such a well-connected place is indescribably exciting.