Dhyana P.

How did you get into your sport? 

I first played netball in secondary school and always enjoyed it, however, I didn’t properly get involved until I came to UoB and joined societies. Hindu Society gave me a chance to get back into the sport and its been such a positive experience. Birmingham has shaped that by offering a welcoming environment where I met some of my best friends and others with similar interests. Captaining the team and winning the national competition has been a real highlight and its given me my leadership skills, a sense of community and some of the best memories at University so far. 

What was the main reason you chose Birmingham?

I chose Birmingham as the Physiotherapy course really appealed to me, particularly as it is a four-year MSci qualification. I liked the idea of having the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills beyond the typical degree, which I felt would help me develop further as a professional. When I visited campus, I loved how welcoming it felt and how well the facilities available supported both studies and student life. Speaking with the staff on the course was also reassuring – they were approachable, supportive, and extremely knowledgable. Overall, I felt like Birmingham as the right environment for me to learn and grow. 

How have you found managing your time? 

Managing my time had been a learning process, but I’ve developed a good balance by planning ahead and breaking up tasks into smaller goals. Using my calendar has helped me stay organised, especially when balancing academic work, placements and personal commitments. The university supported be through workshops on study skills as well by providing me an academic tutor who can provide advice when things get busy. 

What are your top 3 tips for prospective students?

1. Visit the campus – Attend open days/ offer holder days as it makes a huge difference seeing the environment and getting a feel for whether you can picture yourself studying and living there. 
2. Look closely at course structures – check out course modules (both mandatory and optional), placements, how much of a course is theory/placement, whether the course offers any additional routes etc.
3. Think beyond the course – look at wider opportunities that the Universities offer such as study abroad, societies, support services etc as these experiences shape your university life and development as much as the degree.

What are your future career plans after graduation?

Currently, I’m really interested in working in paediatric physiotherapy because I like the idea of helping children throughout their development. However, I know placements will give me a chance to try out a variety of areas so I’m keeping an open mind about where I’ll end up. 

In one sentence, summarise your favourite memory at UOB so far:

My favourite memory so far has been captaining the Hindu Society netball team in their national sports competition and winning!