Fawaz Al Aloosh, student on the MSc in Clinical Oncology at University of Birmingham, talks about his experience of studying the course.
Duration: 09:55mins
Speakers
S1 Fawaz All Aloosh, MSc Clinical oncology student.
Transcript
S1 My name is Fawaz All Aloosh, I am a resident doctor in clinical oncology in Iraq. I work in the Hospital of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine which is the main centre of clinical oncology in Baghdad in my country. I joined the programme of MSc in Clinical Oncology in September 2011 and I am still studying and I think I’ve finished more than 50% of this programme.
What are you enjoying most about the programme?
S1 The programme of MSc in oncology is a very enjoyable programme. It includes the academic and the clinical aspects. The academic aspects cover all the aspects of cancer study and sciences, from the molecular level to the advanced diagnostic and clinical and also the therapeutic. The most important and unique feature of this programme is the clinical observership which I couldn’t really find any other options in many other UK universities that carry the same title ‘clinical oncology’. This aspect is very important for me as an international student because it makes me more acquainted with the clinical practice and dealing with patients in the UK hospitals. I think this is very important for the international students. So generally, the academic aspects and the clinical aspects of this programme is very enjoyable.
What are you finding most challenging about the programme?
S1 Well I think as a full time student, time factor is very challenging because one year, including all these modules and dissertations. So I think the international students need very strict time management and very strict planning. This is the only thing. Maybe language but language will be improved within the first few months, so mainly it is the time factor.
Why did you choose this programme?
S1 Well, before joining the programme I was searching many UK universities but mainly I focused my search on Birmingham University because of the highly reputable ranked university at the national level or international level. This was the first point. The second point, the well-known Cancer School and Cancer Research Institute here in Birmingham and the well-known professors, lecturers, all these things attracted me to apply for Birmingham University. In addition to that, during the process of joining the programme and communication with other universities, really the communication and administration office here at Birmingham University was very cooperative with very fast supply so this really attracted me to go on with the application at Birmingham University.
Do you feel there is adequate support for international students at the University?
S1 When I came to the University of Birmingham in September, I was a bit worried about many things that I expected that I couldn’t cope with, but really I was surprised when I find at that time many supportive aspects. The English for the international students, the support of the IT service, the library and really all the module leaders, the programme leaders here in the Cancer Institute are very supportive and friendly with the international students and they are always trying to alleviate the obstacles to overcome their problem. And now I feel really so comfortable. [laughing]
Would you recommend this programme to other international students?
S1 Well, this programme, I have been really recommending this programme to my friends in Iraq. This programme really suits our needs as international students, especially we physicians working in hospitals, because this programme covers the academic aspects and the clinical aspects, which both of them are very important to us. So I have been really recommending this programme for other international students in addition to my colleagues in my country.
What were you doing prior to taking this course?
S1 After my graduation in 2000 I worked for two years as part of an internship programme. Then after two years I started two years training in haematology. Then I worked for three, three and a half years, as a general practitioner. During my work as a general practitioner and seeing many malignant diseases all over the country, this field has evoked my head to start on and to go on with because the cancer incidence in my country is increasing really, an increasing percentage, and we need to do a revolutionary change in my country. So after working as a general practitioner, I started working as a clinical oncology resident and I worked for two years and then I started my studies here.
How have you found your studies?
S1 My studies in Birmingham University is funded by the FCR, the British Council, the [0:06:35] scholarship. I am one of the sixteen candidates who the British Council fund them to complete their studies in the UK.
How do you think the programme will change your career prospects?
S1 Well, this programme was really a turning point in my thinking how to deal with cancer and how to deal with cancer patients. It will change many things in terms of clinical practice, in terms of palliative care and it [0:07:19] the importance in my thinking how I can start to establish clinical trials in my country, which is a very important issue. There is a module in this programme, a clinical trial, which before I didn’t realise what is the importance of these things. Now I insist to establish clinical trials in my country, which is very important. I think all the programme, the academic and the clinical aspect of this programme, will change my practice in my hospital and I will try to translate these skills from UK university and UK hospitals to my hospital in Iraq.
What will you take personally from this programme?
S1 This programme learned me how to be more patient and how to be more strict with time and planning. This is the very important thing. The supervisors, the course leaders, learned and inspired me how to discuss, how to start a debate and how to practice creative things. This is very important to translate simple ideas to more important clinical practice.
What advice would you give to students considering applying?
S1 I advise the international students to be more optimistic. I don’t advise them to be worried, to be anxious, because they will find everything here is supportive to them. They will not just learn, they will enjoy learning in this Cancer School and I think this is the important thing.
Can you sum up your experience in three words?
S1 My experience in the Cancer School and University of Birmingham is motivating, challenging and very rich.
End of recording