Zoe Hogan

Why did you originally apply to do your chosen course at Birmingham?

I was so interested in how mathematics could be applied in every day life!! I initially went to the open day at Birmingham with no idea what degree I wanted to pursue, but after conversations with the mathematics lecturing staff, I knew it was right for me. The course is so diverse, not only in terms of content, but also the way it is taught and assessed – which definitely attracted me to this specific course.

What do you think are the best points of your course?

As I mentioned, the diversity of the course is definitely a highlight, with the mixture of applied and pure maths being something I particularly enjoyed. I also love the fact there’s a range of assessment methods in the course which provides a good balance – with some modules being coursework and group work and others being very exam based. I would say that for me, the fact that there’s an element of coursework in every module is a highlight since it just takes a little bit of pressure off the final exam.

What’s the best thing about studying at Birmingham?

For me – it has to be the campus. It’s so beautiful and picturesque in any season and made me feel right at home from the very first day – which was very important for me when I was moving away from home. The atmosphere on campus is also something I love! I find it very positive and motivating so I love to come on to campus just to study. Being such a green and peaceful place, you would never guess it’s only 10 minutes from the city centre which is so convenient!

What’s the highlight of your time at the University?

My highlight at university has definitely been meeting so many different people and the social opportunities! Coming from a relatively small town, I had never met so many people from different walks of life, so this is something I have loved since starting – and I have made some of my best friends at university. Also, having this social aspect to look forward to provides me with a nice work life balance.

What advice would you give to students thinking about studying on the course?

Be prepared to do a lot of work outside of contact hours!! As a course in general, Maths has a lot of contact hours in comparison to other courses, which I find is great because it helps me keep on top of content! However, don’t be mistaken in thinking just because there’s more lectures than an average degree you need to do less work in your own time, because this is not the case! In this course, the work you do year-round contributes to your final grade so it’s key that you keep consistent.