PhD Psychology - Henna Chumber's Story
Hear more from PhD Student Henna Chumber as she talks about her time at University of Birmingham, and her time on her programme.
Why did you choose to study at University of Birmingham?
When I came to the open day for my undergraduate degree initially, I loved the feeling of community. The fact that the University span across it's own campus but was so big really appealed to me, and I could tell from the start that I'd really enjoy it here. So much so that I did my BSc, MSc and now completing my PhD here! The School of Psychology and their research & research facilities also really stood out to me - it was clear UoB was one of the highest standard Universities for Psychology in the UK at the time.
Did you face any challenges when deciding what university to study at and, if so, what helped you to choose Birmingham?
I was torn between Bristol and Birmingham. But again, UoB's closed campus but easy accessibility to the City Centre, without being based directly there, is something I really enjoyed. Not to mention, the train station makes it 10x easier! I'm also a fan of enjoying wherever you are studying in all realms - the uni's architecture and campus is so beautiful to me and part of my decision came from weighing up which campus I'd rather walk through at 8am on a cold winter morning! Aside from that, again, the research facilities and multidisciplinary nature of the team in the School of Psychology was the main thing that drew me here. A lot of Schools of Psychology don't like to focus on mental health, and clinical outcomes, and rather focus on the more 'scientific'-led research - which is still amazing but my research expertise and interest always laid in the mental health and clinical side of Psychology, which Birmingham was able to provide me with.
What was the highlight or biggest achievement of your time at the University of Birmingham?
Starting my PhD here! I can't wait to be a 3x graduate here :)
What skills and knowledge did you learn at University of Birmingham?
Critical thinking was definitely the biggest and most influential skill instilled in us at UoB, learning to ask questions and be inquisitive is something which I am grateful for UoB instilling in us - it allows me to constantly learn new thigs.
How have your experiences as a student helped you to think about your future plans, or secure your job?
Yes, Psychology can be tricky in the sense that Clinical Psychology is seen as a very conventional and most 'normal' route - but I didn't want to do this. Through the help of a wealth of academics in the school I was able to recognise a wider range of careers in Psychology and I am currently working toward going into research-based policy reform in mental health.
What advice would you give to students thinking about studying at University of Birmingham?
Do it!! You'll have no regrets - I promise :)
Finally, is there anything else you would like to share about your time at the University of Birmingham?
Honestly I wouldn't swap this time for anything - I made my best friends for life here and I couldn't ask for more support throughout my degrees.