Shows such as Fresh Meat, My Mad Fat Diary and The Inbetweeners once defined the cultural conversation for teenagers entering adulthood, yet rarely reflected diverse experiences.
Danait Yallow, Mia Frank and Amelia Benjamin set out to change that by creating a web series about starting university as people of colour.
Their project, Higher Learning, follows Zara, a sheltered Londoner navigating her first days at a university based on Bristol, as she confronts Fresher nerves and a new environment.
Danait scripted the series and stars as Zara, while Mia directed, co-produced and co-created it alongside Amelia.
Mia said the goal was to give viewers who rarely see themselves on screen a character to relate to and invest in.
Without backing from a major broadcaster, the trio published the series on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, where short-form microdramas are gaining popularity.
Danait said the traditional commissioning process felt out of reach, adding: "We just got tired of asking for permission, asking and begging to be seen and heard."
The three previously made When The Sun Goes Down, a South Asian romance film that screened at three festivals in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Building on that work, the creators refused to dilute their stories for broader appeal, arguing that authenticity serves niche audiences and reveals universal themes.
Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows white students made up 68% of UK higher education enrolments in 2024/25.
Both women described how their university experiences differed because of cultural background and family expectation.
Danait noted that students of colour often carry familial expectations about the value of the opportunity, while women face added pressure to meet those expectations.
Through Zara, the series shows a young woman learning to live and grow for herself rather than only for others.
Mia recalled that leaving a tight-knit family community for university was difficult among peers who could not relate to her culture.
She eventually found trusted friends, a reality the series hopes to reflect for viewers and those around them.
By portraying these dynamics, the creators aim to help diverse students feel seen and to foster understanding among hallmates thrown together by chance.
Higher Learning became available to watch on July 20 across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
