Studying Biomedical Science at Sheffield has been incredible so far!

What made you want to study your course?

Biomedical Science is an incredibly vast and diverse field, with a plethora of pathways which I initially was not aware of. I feel that a university course in biomedical science would give me the necessary exposure to these pathways, so I can then choose which one suits me best to possibly pursue as a career. 

There are so many overlaps between the various Biosciences courses but my chosen MBiomedSci course allows me to pick up such a wide range of practical and analytical skills while at university, while still having the rare opportunity to get industrial work experience through my placement year. Plus, in whatever area I choose to advance myself in after graduation, this course sets me up perfectly for most graduate roles.

What made you decide to study at the University of Sheffield?

I chose the University of Sheffield because of its reputation for high-quality teaching in the biosciences, its incredible student reviews, and how Sheffield is a vibrant, diverse large city that is accessible to the Peak District. 

The University of Sheffield also offers an engaging hands-on learning experience for biomedical science students who choose the Anatomy module in year two. This is such a unique offering to my course that sets the University of Sheffield apart from other distinguished universities, and gives me a chance to explore certain medical aspects of my degree programme. 

In addition, the incredible variety of clubs and societies alongside a highly-rated Students' Union makes Sheffield an amazing choice for me.

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

I've enjoyed the vast range of learning activities and opportunities that my course offers to students. From fascinating laboratory practicals to business-oriented team presentations, to improving Microsoft Excel skills. My course has given me exposure to a broad scope of practical, communication and teamwork skills that are transferable to so many aspects of life. 

Taking into consideration all the lab practicals, lab reports and presentations that I have completed, I particularly enjoyed working on the Global Challenges Project in my second year. It was a very unique assignment in which we were tasked with creating a hypothetical business, charity or organisation that addresses one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We then presented our idea to our tutor group. It required creative, out-of-the-box thinking in addition to essential leadership, communication and teamwork skills when working alongside my tutor group. The business/industrial aspect of pharmaceutical companies and drug development is often overlooked when thinking about a life sciences course, but this task gave me a unique insight into what must be considered if I pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

What skills have you developed during your course?

Throughout my course, I've developed key practical laboratory skills which include the likes of microscopy, pipetting, gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and electrophysiology. Additionally, my course makes an effort to improve upon students' programming and software skills, where I have developed Microsoft Office, RStudio and various analytical skills. Plus, outside of a scientific context, my course has helped improve my written/verbal communication, teamwork and presentational skills. These are absolutely essential transferable skills that I have applied to my part-time jobs and leadership positions within sports clubs.

What would you say to a student thinking about studying your course at Sheffield?

Reflecting back on my two years here so far, and although it does sound cliché, studying biomedical science at Sheffield has been the best decision that I've ever made. I came to Sheffield initially unaware of what this course would offer, thinking it may have been similar to biological sciences. However, that perspective vastly changed as soon as I started immersing myself in the lectures, lab sessions and community. If you are unsure of whether you want to pursue biomedical sciences at the University of Sheffield, I would advise any student to absolutely go for it without hesitation. The structure of the course is so flexible that in case you would like to switch modules or pursue a completely different route in life sciences in the middle of your degree programme, that is possible. In addition, outside of academics, Sheffield provides luscious greenery around the city and incredibly accessible routes to the Peaks, whenever you need a break from studying.

What are you planning to do after your degree?

My degree programme includes an industrial placement year that will hopefully give me needed exposure to an industrial environment, where I will be able to make a more well-informed decision regarding my career after graduation. 

I hope to work in the pharmaceutical industry where I want to contribute to the drug development pipeline, whether that is in the lab working on early-stage small molecule research, or in the office ensuring that healthcare products meet safety compliance standards before licensing.