Sarah Biology (Cellular and Molecular)
Course dates: 2010 - 2013
Choosing Newcastle
Firstly I really liked the city and the University's location. I went to one of the biology open days which I found really useful as it gave me a better idea of how the degree worked, what modules I would study and what other opportunities there were for me. Newcastle was a place where I could see myself living and studying.
Studying at Newcastle
I have really enjoyed the course so far. Biology was always a subject I really liked and I have had the opportunity to specialise in areas of biology that I enjoyed in first year.
Coming to university from school I never quite knew what it was going to be like. I found there was more flexibility in the course than I first thought, choosing to study areas that interest me more. Also the amount of different resources, societies/clubs and other opportunities that the University has to offer was a surprise.
The facilities are really good. The labs are easy to work in and have all the resources you need and across the school it's a friendly environment.
I've had the chance to take part in quite a few different field trips, from visiting Helena Biosciences labs to a week of field trips where we went to different places each day and learnt how to identify different types of fungi and plants. We also got to go to the Farne Islands to look at the seals and sea birds which was good fun.
Living in Newcastle
The city is great. It's friendly and got a good buzz in the evening and on match days. Once you get to know the city you see it's small enough to be able to walk everywhere, but there's still lots to keep you busy.
In first year I lived in halls in Fenham which I really enjoyed. This year I live in a house in West Jesmond and I have my bike so I can get to uni in about 10 minutes! Though there is also a nearby metro link or it doesn't take long to walk. It's a nice area with quite a few students, shops and pubs.
Accommodation Tip - Have a good look round all the different accommodations on the website as it gives you the chance to get to know where you're going to live as they're all pretty good. Also check whether they come with cutlery and pans otherwise you end up with hundreds of plates and spoons.
Socialising at Newcastle
I'm a member of a few societies which keeps me busy some evenings and weekends. In first year I did salsa/ballroom dancing, orchestra and windband, as well as being a member of the biology society which has a few different events and socials. This year I swapped the dancing for fellwalking and do BioSoc netball. So in my free time I'm usually just spending time with people in one form or another.
Best Thing about Newcastle
The freedom to study something I enjoy and have fun learning new skills and spending time with people through societies etc.