Graduate lured back to DMU by great tutors lands VC2020 scholarship

De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester graduate Theo Pyrillos missed the relationship between DMU students and their tutors so much that he decided to come back to the university to do his master’s here. The icing on the cake was learning he qualified for a VC 2020 Scholarship.   



After completing his undergraduate degree, Theo decided to move to another university to expand his network and to experience a different approach to teaching. Within a few weeks, however, he regretted his decision. Not only did the course stop offering the professional qualifications he sought but the university itself did not meet his expectations.

Theo said: “It seemed to be more of a business than a university. Unlike DMU, it didn’t seem to be interested in fostering a relationship between student and tutor.”

As Theo wanted to leave university with a professional qualification, there seemed little point in staying so he decided to leave at the end of the first semester.  

Determined to study for his MA in Architectural Design at DMU and nowhere else, Theo found himself a job working for a development company in Germany where his time was split between the architectural and building department and marketing.

 “They needed someone who was fluent in English to help them push their products to international buyers through websites and to develop advertising campaigns. I was helping to design a house one day and reconfiguring their website the next.”

While he secured the five month placement himself, Theo says that the job alert system run by the Leicester School of Architecture is invaluable. Students simply have to register on the Architecture Hub and then whenever a job is advertised, they are sent a text message.

He said: “It is amazing. When I was looking for a job before coming back to DMU it really helped a lot. I must have completed about 50 applications through it.”

Theo eventually would like to be able to balance working in a practice with teaching. In fact, one of the reasons he came back to DMU was because many of the tutors work at a practice and teach.

“Having a tutor who also works as well as teaches is better for students because they will be up-to-date with all the cutting-edge technologies and approaches being used in across the industry. They will also know what companies are looking for from the students.”

Once he has completed his MA in Architectural Design, Theo aims to join the second year of the Architecture MArch, which offers exemption from ARB/RIBA Part II examinations.

“I am hoping I will be granted exemption from the first year of the MArch but If I am not, I will just start from year one. I might even graduate one day. Luckily, thanks to the Scholarship, I will do so with a bit less debt than I might have done.”

The VC’s 2020 Scholarship offers a tuition fee discount of up to 50 per cent on selected full-time and part-time postgraduate courses. Based on academic achievement and merit, it is automatically applied to all home and EU graduates who achieve a 2:1 or higher and who are graduating or have graduated within the past two years. Individual faculties may also set their own eligibility criteria, terms and conditions.