Aaron Chemistry MChem (Honours)
Why did you choose Newcastle University?
I chose Newcastle because I wanted to attend a world-class establishment with state-of-the-art facilities and friendly, approachable staff who are at the top of their field.
What do you think of your course so far?
Every aspect of the course has been enjoyable, but challenging. I never realised that there would be such a scope and variety of subjects that can all be studied under the umbrella of ‘Chemistry’. I have particularly enjoyed learning new practical and analytical techniques whilst completing the Organic and Inorganic practical courses. These techniques, previously unseen, have enabled me to produce compounds and do experiments that, whilst at school, I would only have been able to read about. The Semester 1 introductory Organic lecture course was especially enjoyable due to Dr. Knight's slight digressions in each lecture, done specifically to ensure students are paying attention!
Is there anything that has surprised you about either the course or University, which you didn’t know about before you came here?
I was surprised, perhaps naively, at the amount of work a Chemistry degree would involve! I never imagined that I could be in labs until 5pm 2 days a week, unlike some of my friends who seemed to spend the majority of their days recovering from the night before in bed.
What are the facilities in your school like?
The School of Chemistry benefits from constant investment by local, national and international companies. This allows the department to continually update all facilities, ensuring they maintain their position as one of the top Chemistry departments in the country. Tell us about any field trips or project work you have taken part in
During the summer vacation of 2010, I completed 12 week internship within the Chemistry department, enabling me to develop important skills to be used in my 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of my degree. Each year, the University offers many internships to students – an excellent way to improve knowledge, and earn some money in the process.
Have you taken a year abroad? Tell us about this
I will undertake a year abroad in year 3 of the course.
How would you describe the city?
For me, Newcastle has to be one of, if not the best cities in the country to be a student. Coming from a sleepy village in rural England, I was taken aback by the wealth and variety of diverse cultures in Newcastle and would recommend the city to anybody!
Do you have any tips for living in student accommodation?
For me, living in student accommodation at Castle Leazes was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far in my life! The only thing I would say is to think carefully about whether you’d like to be catered or self-catered. I was one of the few self-catered students, which worked well for me as I like to cook what I like, when I want it. For others, the ease of rolling out of bed for a full cooked breakfast is too good a thing to miss!
Where do you live and what is it like?
Currently, like the majority of Newcastle students, I live in Jesmond. This area, approximately 10 minutes from the city centre is mainly student-based and the local amenities cater extremely well for this. There is an abundance of bars and restaurants located centrally on Osborne Road.
How do you spend your spare time?
Studying a degree in Chemistry, I don’t have a great deal of spare time. When I do, I like to spend time in the gym or with friends whilst having a few relaxing drinks. What is the best thing about being at Newcastle University?
I love that the University is very much a campus based and city university. The University buildings encompass a large part of the city centre, but are all located in a central location, creating the campus feeling only 5 minutes from Eldon Square – the city’s main shopping area.