Alumni

Micahel Macdermid

What appealed to you about the Human Biosciences degree at Northumbria University?

From reading the prospectus I saw that this course offered teaching across a broad topic of Human Biochemistry, both relevant to my interests and development of learning from A-level. The fact that the course ran parallel with the Biomedical Sciences course was also appealing, as I was interested in learning the overlapping contents without having to endeavour towards the status of Biomedical Scientist (non essential for aspirations).

The University and its School of Life Sciences had a good reputation for laboratory facilities and staff with recent working knowledge from within Biomedical professions.

What did you like most about your course?

The course focuses teaching around disease and pathogens in humans which, for me, reiterated the importance and fragility of the mechanisms for life. I enjoyed the freedom of independent learning that came with degree level study, such as being encouraged to read around a subject in order to reinforce lectured concepts. This was furthered during the final-year project (dissertation) where the direction and success of the research was entirely under control of the student. Although I had no intention of using my degree to further a career in a laboratory, it was an insightful experience to learn of and practise the current analytical techniques of the field.

What did you do after you graduated?

I enrolled on the Durham School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme in Applied Science, working towards the standards of a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) at placements across schools in Country Durham.