Ashleigh Kate Graham

Where are you from?

County Durham

What undergraduate course did you study and where?

BSc Biomedical Science at Northumbria

Why did you decide to study a masters?

My undergraduate degree contained some Microbiology modules and I found them fascinating so wanted to study this subject area in more detail.

Why did you choose Northumbria University? Why did you choose your specific course?

From being a child I was fascinated in Science and always knew it was the career choice for me. Northumbria offered such a range of Science degrees and Biomedical Science stood out to me as the one that encompassed the subjects and areas I was interested in.

What makes your specific course challenging/inspiring/different? How would you sum up the difference between Undergraduate and Postgraduate study?

Compared to an undergraduate degree, a postgraduate course has more emphasis on independent study and self directed learning. There's still an excellent level of support available if needed, but you are encouraged to be more independent.

What impressed you most about our academic staff?

The level of knowledge and the amount of experience that the lecturers have is undeniable, I'm constantly learning new things just through conversations with academic staff.

How accessible do you find our staff? Do you feel at ease?

All of the staff are so approachable, there is no such thing as a stupid question at Northumbria!

As a postgraduate student, what aspects of university life are important to you?

Due to the fact I no longer live in University accommodation, the location of the University being an hours' drive away appealed to me

What doors do you think this course will open for you? How will your course help you achieve your career goals/give your career an edge?

I think that this MSc has definitely set me in better stead to be successful in any future PhD or job applications I might submit, just through the level of extra knowledge and experience I've gained

Have you changed as a person?

I definitely feel a lot more independent than I was after graduating as an undergrad

Do you feel that your course has been a worthwhile investment in your future?

Definitely. I'm a lot more confident in what I know now and feel much more prepared for employment than I was before my Masters.