Meet the stars of our 2027 postgraduate Prospectus

Jo Somner, MA Comedy Writing (Online) graduate

"Life is chaotic, but you have to thrive on chaos to do comedy," says Jo Somner of her new vocation. After 16 years working in television, including more than a decade as a casting producer on unscripted entertainment shows for the likes of Joe Lycett and Claudia Winkleman, Jo has stepped into the spotlight as an award-winning comedy writer, performer and producer.

It all started when she listened to a podcast about sitcom writing. "I was going back to work after having a baby and didn't want to keep doing the same thing. I wanted to actually write the comedy," she says. "I'd always been told I was funny but found it difficult to admit that. It feels like a very arrogant thing to say."

Enrolling on Falmouth's online Comedy Writing MA changed everything. Through structured teaching, industry insight and hands-on practice, Jo developed both technical skills and creative confidence. "The tutors championed us, but they'd also be honest when something wasn't working," she says. "That balance was invaluable. I didn't have that support at school, so to find it later in life – and actually enjoy learning – was amazing."

Since graduating last year, Jo's comedy career has flourished. She writes and performs with Gobby Girls Productions, whose sketch show transferred from the Edinburgh Fringe to London's Soho Theatre and a co-headline at The Comedy Store. A Funny Women Award winner, she's also developing new work through a mentoring programme with Women in Film & TV.

"I thought I could do comedy," she says. "Now I know I can." 

King Wai Tai, MA Communication Design graduate

It was while studying financial journalism that King Wai Tai discovered an interest in communicating messages beyond the means of words, using methods such as graphic elements, flow of content, icons and symbols. After exploring graphic design as a marketing administrator, he stepped back into higher education on Falmouth University's Communication Design MA.

King Wai won an International Society of Typographic Designers award for his book Binaural and a D&AD Wood Pencil for the collaborative project Behind the Bank, an interactive digital billboard campaign for HSBC inspired by Chinese opera makeup. "The initial lectures and workshops helped me understand why I was interested in topics that initially seemed random," recalls King Wai, who was encouraged to 'deconstruct' his personal design identity before reconstructing and reinventing the creative process. "I concluded that I liked culturally related topics, whether about politics, lifestyle or the culture itself. The awards were a huge confidence boost and an approval of my skills and ideas.

"My final major project directed me to the world of 3D graphics, combined with typography, photography and many more design routes," he adds. "The multidisciplinary practice allowed me to tackle problems from different angles and perspectives. I'm proud to have had the opportunity to explore my creative self and be equipped with such a broad range of design capabilities." 

Kate Richards, MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management graduate

"I learned not only how other people built their businesses, but how to build my own," says Kate Richards, who started her master's having already created a product ready to launch. It was after working as a surf instructor in Thailand that Kate developed Rad Wax, an eco surf wax made with sustainably sourced plant waxes and repurposed natural byproducts. While she was aware of the huge potential of the planet-friendly, high-performance alternative, she was unsure how to successfully take the product to the international surfing market.

Falmouth University's Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc proved pivotal. "The course was practical, hands-on and designed to create real-world impact," she says. "It gave me clarity on strategy, direction and next steps and really helped focus the future of Rad Wax. Balancing study and business was challenging, but this fast-tracked key decisions and enabled me to move forward with more purpose. The structured learning, mentor support and access to resources were hugely valuable.

"Returning to education can feel daunting, but the support at Falmouth was fantastic," adds Kate, who grew up in Cornwall and was keen to study close to home where she could make local contacts and benefit from in-person coaching. "Being surrounded by other entrepreneurs and business-minded people created a genuine sense of community. Through guest speakers, industry events and collaborating with peers, I gained advice, opportunities and even access to potential investors. Since graduating last year, I've secured funding, hired a sales and marketing specialist and launched Rad Spa, a premium skin and body care collection." 

Matthew Biggar, MA Film & Television (Online) graduate  

"I always thought university was out of reach for someone like me," says Matthew Biggar, a former British Army reservist and police officer – and recent graduate of Falmouth's online Film & Television MA. "It felt like an unattainable goal, a perception the University's enrolment team challenged from our very first conversation. I struggled with imposter syndrome at first, but both my personal growth and my development as a filmmaker have been profound. Not only do I now truly understand the core elements of storytelling, but I know that university is for everyone – regardless of age, background or experience."

Matthew's latest project, Redefining Impossible, documents an attempt by disabled adventurer Darren Edwards to set a new world record for the longest sit-ski expedition to the South Pole. Spanning 333km, in temperatures that regularly plunge below -30°C, the journey poses immense technical, logistical and mental challenges for the entire team. "Antarctica is awe-inspiring but unforgiving," admits Matthew, who met Darren at a gym soon after a serious accident affected his own mobility. "The film explores the psychological tools people draw on to push through fear, doubt and failure – the inner strength that enables transformation and breakthrough, even in the harshest conditions. As a filmmaker, capturing those struggles is essential to telling an authentic, powerful story. It's a delicate balance between empathy and responsibility.

"Our vision was to create a project that transcends disability, one that speaks to everyone," he adds. "Whether your 'impossible' is climbing a mountain, getting healthier, being a better parent or going back to university later in life, we wanted to show that mindset is everything."

Robert Collinson, MA Fine Art (Online) graduate  

"Applying to Falmouth felt like stepping into a different space to explore new dynamics, new energy," says Robert Collinson, who enrolled on Falmouth's Fine Art MA (Online) in 2023. "My artistic practice has always been rooted in a particular place, so the opportunity to remain physically present in Taiwan while engaging in such a deep and challenging programme was perfect."

"For me, the course was like taking a road trip with a group of wise beings through the deserts and verdant forests of the heart," he continues. "At times, I hesitated to fully commit to making the work I knew, deep down, I needed to, yet it can feel exhilarating to stand at the edge of the abyss and step off into creative flight." That leap became Weaving Belonging, a project spanning the UK and Taiwan. Robert explains: "I retraced my great grandad's journey when he walked out of the deep Durham hills to Chopwell, Tyne and Wear, in search of work in the coal mines. I went with three generations of my own family, collecting and weaving wildflowers into an offering basket in honour and memory of my ancestors."

"Being an artist can mean so many different things. I feel fortunate to have been able to sit, as it were, by the fire, listening, contributing and reflecting while working out what that means for me. Falmouth really centred me in the importance of community and collaboration – something I'll continue to nourish and grow as I move forward. The work is real and can be challenging, but there's a bunch of radiant souls standing by your side."

Tamsin Page, MA Game Art graduate

Now working as an immersive technical artist at global creative visualisation agency Sanders Studios, Tamsin Page's journey into virtual reality began during her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Game Art at Falmouth University. Through collaborating as a student on VR projects, including a Spaceport Cornwall brief through the University's Immersive Business programme, Tamsin became known in our Games Academy as the 'VR artist'.

"After finishing my MA in 2024, VR felt like the right direction – and I haven't looked back," she says. "The skills from game development transfer directly into VR: modelling, texturing, game engines, visual effects and rendering all still apply. You just have to consider VR's limitations; in fact, those constraints often lead to more creative solutions. Finding different ways to solve problems in VR has helped me grow as an artist. I won't lie, it is hard out there in industry, but the relationships and reputation you build at Falmouth can lead to real opportunities. My university portfolio showed I had the skills to take that first step.

"I'm now part of a team tackling design challenges at the concept phase of high-end architecture and superyachts," adds Tamsin, whose role blends artistic vision with real-world application and involves everything from building environments and lighting scenes to testing VR performance and meeting clients across the world. "We've been developing a new line of green-tech explorer yachts, Project SailXplorer, designed to travel polar regions with minimal impact. We created a VR experience that launched at the Barcelona Yacht Show, helping clients and the public understand the space and features these yachts offer." 

Melissa Sunjaya, MA Illustration (Online) graduate

When she enrolled on Falmouth University's online Illustration MA, Melissa Sunjaya was already running her artisanal screen printing brand, Tulisan, producing wearable storytelling editions rooted in the narratives of her Javanese heritage. "Tulisan has enabled me to grow as a textile designer, visual artist and writer," she explains, "but I wanted to learn how to articulate my illustration practice within an academic framework." She was confident that the master's would sharpen both her creative work and research, supporting her ambition to reframe the unremembered stories of Java for an international audience.

"I'd been working with the historical manuscript Babad Diponegoro, creating an illustrated series of its English-French translations to bridge depictions of Java's precolonial world with its modern, postcolonial context," she says. "Guided by Falmouth's inspirational mentors, I learned to critically analyse my illustration practice through various theoretical lenses. Each module introduced me to new perspectives in perception and visual culture, including feminism, poststructuralism and psychoanalytic studies. I also developed a new way of journalling, using historical illustrations as an investigative method.

"Falmouth's online format allowed me to develop an idiosyncratic visual language while continuing my professional practice in Indonesia," adds Melissa, who graduated in 2025 and aims to complete her Babad Diponegoro series within five years. "My MA work evolved into several magical storytelling collections for Tulisan and I exhibited 1830 at Dutch Design Week 2025 in Eindhoven. I was also invited to speak at the Women at the Museum symposium at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, following the submission of an essay written at Falmouth. We can never stop learning – and we're never too old to begin a new journey."

Georgie Bennett, PGCHE (Online) graduate

"I love it when I feel I've helped a student on their journey, in some way," says Georgie Bennett, whose own path through higher education has led her to her dream role at Falmouth University. In 2019, as a freelance illustrator exploring a future in teaching, she enrolled on Falmouth's flexible, online PGCHE. Today, she's a senior lecturer in the arts, based here in Cornwall, immersed in the county's vibrant and ever-evolving creative scene.

"The PGCHE fitted around everything," says Georgie, who was drawn to the opportunity to study remotely. "Although I was living back with my parents in Kent, I needed to keep working – I couldn't afford to pause. I also needed teaching hours to meet the entry requirements, and committing to the PGCHE helped me secure opportunities at a nearby arts university. The course taught me so much about curriculum design, encouraging me to think creatively when developing workshops and projects to motivate and challenge a broad range of learners.

"After graduating, I felt ready to start working locally – first as a teaching assistant, then as an associate lecturer," she adds. "I was already aware of the Illustration BA(Hons) at Falmouth, and its reputation as one of the best courses of its kind, and I knew I wanted to be involved. I was incredibly fortunate to secure a role here. I particularly enjoy workshops with the students, making and drawing alongside them and talking through their projects. I'd been struggling to find a route into teaching, but completing the PGCHE opened so many doors; from that point on, everything seemed to align."

Phil Roeder, MA Photography (Online) graduate

"It's never too late to begin… or begin again," says Phil Roeder, whose interest in visual storytelling developed through working alongside photographers during a career in communications and public affairs. "It wasn't until I was in my early forties that I moved beyond family snapshots and holiday images and began to take the medium seriously as a form of creative expression."

After completing a bachelor's degree in photography online through Arizona State University, doing so from his hometown Des Moines, Iowa, Phil started to explore postgraduate options. "I wanted to build on that foundation and momentum," he says. "Falmouth's online Photography MA stood out with its compelling combination of academic rigour, creative focus and flexibility. One of the greatest advantages was the ability to pursue postgraduate study while continuing my professional career. Beyond that, I found the level of engagement with both tutors and fellow students to be thoughtful, constructive and genuinely collaborative.

"The MA provided the space – and, crucially, the critical framework – to continue developing my work," adds Phil, who graduated in 2025. "I'd already started Bottom of the Driftless, a study exploring the generational history of a 160-year-old homestead and its surroundings in a fascinating and often overlooked part of the American Midwest. Through ongoing feedback from tutors and peers, I was able to experiment, take risks and refine both the visual language and narrative structure of the project. My time at Falmouth has made me a more deliberate and reflective photographer; I now approach my work with greater intention and confidence, and with a clearer sense of purpose as I pursue exhibitions, publications and new projects."

Joseph Millson, MA Writing for Script & Screen (Online) graduate  

Accustomed to life in front of the camera as an accomplished film and television actor, Joseph Millson grew increasingly curious about what happens behind it. "I've always written, but the idea of harnessing screenwriting in a professional way was an itch I had to scratch," he says. "I wanted to understand the bones of it, to build a scaffolding for my work and to be able to write even when not feeling 'inspired'. I wanted to learn everything and try every tool."

Falmouth's renowned online Writing for Script & Screen MA caught his attention – and kickstarted his screenwriting career. "I developed my feature film Signs Of Life as my final project for the course and, nine drafts later, it became a living, breathing film with cinema release and global digital distribution," says Joseph, who made the award-winning Lanzarote-based drama on a tiny budget just a year after graduating in 2024. "Thanks to the strength of the script, we were able to secure an extraordinary cast and crew.

"I'm now in pre production on my second feature as writer/director and I'm busy writing several episodes of a big docu-drama for FOX nation in the USA," he adds. "The 'story structure' classes on the MA helped me write my first novella, Miller Rose Roberts, which will be published later this year. I honestly loved every part of the course, but it was always the toughest sections that ended up yielding the most fruit. I wasn't much of a student when I was younger, but postgraduate study proved to be a brilliant, edifying decision – especially later in life."