Finding a sense of community while studying online

This article was written by BA(Hons) Interior Design (Online) student Rachael.

As a student, it’s incredibly important to connect with others during your studies, feel supported, and have a sense of belonging and community. You may be wondering how this is possible with online learning (I know I was when I joined), so I’m here to share my experience. 

One of my concerns when joining the course was how I would get support from tutors with my learning. It’s reasonable to think an online course may mean less support, but nothing could be further from the truth. My tutors are always available for a chat, and there are many ways to get in touch – whether by email, the shared online workspace, or a Teams chat. You can also connect during the weekly Q&As and webinars, where they review your work and provide feedback. The tutors at Falmouth are all very supportive and knowledgeable. There have been times when I’ve struggled with learning software, and they’ve been there to guide me step by step until I fully understand everything. 

While mentioning the online meetings and webinars, I’ve always found them to be a really relaxed and informative space. On my course, we have two a week: one focused on Q&As, where we can ask questions about the current module or get feedback on our work, and the second where we discuss topics related to the week’s specific tasks. It’s also during these sessions that we often go into breakout rooms to discuss thoughts and ideas with peers. Breakout rooms also give you an opportunity to build friendships and connections with course mates, while sharing different perspectives and ideas from a variety of cultures. 

Alongside the tutor-led sessions, we also have a WhatsApp group where we can support each other, share ideas and inspiration, and generally chat. I’ve made many friends, and we’ve built our own supportive community. The students on my course are from all over the world, and the wider perspective on different cultures has proved incredibly useful and inspirational.

A few months into my first term, we had the opportunity to attend an in-person event in London, which was a great chance to meet tutors and peers face to face. Decorex was the place to be for interior design inspiration, networking, and seeing the latest innovations. It was a two-day event: the first day was mostly spent at the exhibition, followed by a quick stop at the V&A, and then a lovely meal where we discussed what we’d seen and shared our experiences. On the second day, we visited two design studios, Tom Dixon and Blacksheep. These were incredible opportunities and proved invaluable, giving us insight into what it’s really like to work in the industry. We made many connections that day – not just with Falmouth students and tutors, but also within two of London’s top design studios, clearly demonstrating that studying online does not hinder making meaningful industry connections.