Alice W.

How did you get into your sport?

My love for dance started when I was 11, I was introduced to Latin and Ballroom classes inspired by Strictly Come Dancing. After competing in this for a few years I decided I wanted to try other styles such as ballet, jazz and contemporary and have trained and competed in these styles ever since. The dance society (BUDS) at UoB have enabled me to carry on participating and performing in these styles with weekly classes, a yearly showcase and competitions throughout the country against other university teams. The supportive nature of those involved in this society has pushed me to sustain my passion for dance and continue to improve my skills and technique making me a better dancer.

What was the main reason you chose Birmingham?

A main factor as to why I chose Birmingham was the high rating of my course against other Physiotherapy courses at different Universities. It was also the only University at the time to offer a 4-year integrated master’s undergraduate course in Physiotherapy. My decision was further assured when attending the open days where I was able to meet the lecturers and current students who provided confidence that this degree was right for me. I liked the fact that the course was situated within Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation Sciences which I found made the course more diverse by involving aspects more involved in the sport side of physiotherapy as well as the more classically clinical.

How have you found managing your time? 

Managing my time between studies, exercise, sport, social activities and personal life is something that definitely took me some time to figure out, however I found that having a fair amount of contact hours allowed me to keep a structured day and stay productive. I have found that roughly sticking to a 9-5 working day has worked for me to ensure I have had time to do other things. Being aware of deadlines and planning my work towards these ensure I rarely had to rush last minute to get work done. I have found the structure of Canvas (our online module resources website) has made it easy for me to see what work needed to be completed pre/post lecture and to keep up week to week.

What are your top 3 tips for prospective students?

1. Although University and course ranking are a good guide it’s important to look at the details of the course, the campus, accommodation, societies, city etc to make sure it’s a place you think will be well suited to you. 

2. Talk to current students, either on open days, on social media or through forums. You can ask specific questions about university life that may not be covered through generic information outlets. 

3. If you can visit the University, surrounding area and accommodation before you make your choice, this really helps you get a feel for the kind of life you might have at the University.

What are your future career plans after graduation?

My aspiration after graduation is to work within sport, focusing on MSK injuries. I would like to travel with physiotherapy or find experience in Australia. Eventually my goal is to open my own physiotherapy clinic combined as a health centre with components like a Pilates studio. 

What's your favourite memory at UOB so far, in one sentence?

My favourite memory at UOB so far would be having a BBQ with my second-year housemates in Selly Park.