Student stories

Life as a student is very different to working 9-5 and I’ve appreciated the challenge of this change so far. I’ve learned to prioritise a work-life balance and value my free time, and it’s allowed me to differentiate between mindsets and strengthen my wellbeing.

A highlight of the placement has been getting the chance to become part of a scientific community and contribute to active research.

The academics on my programme know how to spark interest in students – even in an early morning lecture.

The conversation was the quickest ever: “UCAS ID? Grades? Okay, you’re in!”. That was it, end of the story.

While on placement, I’ve become more confident in myself from dealing with a lot of different people, both internally and externally.

One of the aspects of the course I most enjoy is the project work because I can take what we’ve learnt, and my outside readings, and apply it to specific subjects that fascinate me.

I learned a lot on placement and, although it was obviously great to increase my technical knowledge, the most important things to me were the soft skills. My time management, concentration over long periods and teamwork definitely improved.

If you’re interested in pursuing an academic career, the MPhys is the perfect course because the research year allows you to experience the real-world research environment.

I'd definitely recommend doing an MPhys programme. It's the best way to learn your subject, regardless of your future career ambitions.