BSc Biological Sciences (Zoology)
School of Biosciences Student Ambassador
The Biosciences department had a great atmosphere and I felt welcomed immediately."
My time at Birmingham
I loved the campus, it felt like I would be living in a small village, and I loved the history behind all the University. The Biosciences department had a great atmosphere and I felt welcomed immediately, and the program has so much variety which was perfect for me because I wanted to learn about all aspects of biology. Later I transferred onto the zoology course, and haven’t looked back. I enjoy all my modules and my lecturers are all very knowledgeable and inspire enthusiasm in me.
I enjoy how my modules are taught – at A levels, the curriculum was quite boring, and we tended to learn just a few facts (most of them uninteresting!) around a topic. But at Birmingham, we’re not only taught facts, but we’re also taught around the subject. So I learn why something is interesting, and what we already know or don’t know about it, and what research is currently being done to further understanding. If we have to learn a pathway, we’re taught all the background information around the topic too, which makes it much easier to understand.
My first year was so much fun! All our modules are compulsory, but this meant I learnt about a lot of subjects that I didn’t think I would find interesting, but turned out to be fascinating. I had a lot of free time in first year, and so I had plenty of time to try new things. I took up jiu-jitsu and ballroom dancing, and joined the conservation society, so every weekend I went to a new location around Birmingham and helped rangers and country park staff to manage green areas.
There’s so much to do in Birmingham! I love the variety of options. It’s great for shopping, food and drink, and the nightlife is good fun.
My future plans
Hopefully in three years time, I’ll have completed a master’s degree, and I’ll have a job working in primate conservation. I am currently writing my dissertation on social behaviours of monkeys, and I’d like to have a job where I can work with primates to study their behaviour, and protect them at the same time.
About the Student Ambassador Scheme
I’ve done quite a lot of activities as a student ambassador. I work on open days, but I also go to schools, and help out at the Big Biology Quiz that the university hosts. I get to meet all the lovely prospective students (you!) but I also find it really rewarding to talk to students about Birmingham and biology, and maybe persuade people to come study here.
My top tips for prospective Birmingham students
- Come and look around the university and don’t be afraid to ask the student ambassadors about things like nightlife/food/life as a student etc. You have to take all sorts of things into account when looking at a university, as this will be your home for at least three years!
- Don’t worry – sounds obvious but everybody does it! When you arrive at university everyone is in the same position as you, and there’s so much help available for you.