I knew the University of Birmingham was the right place for me when I started doing my research and developed my knowledge on where my placements would be.
I always wanted to have the opportunity to work on placement in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is one of the largest single-site hospitals in the United Kingdom. This is definitely one of my favourite things about my course. I get to experience placements in various different sectors of pharmacy such as hospitals, GP’s and chemists, which gives me an opportunity to put into practice the content we learn during lectures and seminars.
Depending on what you like to do in your free time, there are loads of places to visit in Birmingham. If you are into food, you can visit the variety of restaurants. You can also take the train to the city centre. It is a busy city but there are loads of places for you to go shopping. There are also really nice parks to go for a walk depending on the weather! During summer, my favourite place on campus is the Green heart. I can sit in the fresh air and read a book or continue working on my assignments.
After graduating I want to work as an industrial or hospital pharmacist so a highlight of my time at Birmingham was getting an opportunity to attend different conferences and build my connections with future employers. I also really enjoyed attending different events as part of ISoc (The University of Birmingham Islamic Society), such as the University Community Iftar and many other different social events.
My top tips for prospective pharmacy students thinking about studying at the University of Birmingham would be;
1. Start your assignments early and try your best to spend 9am – 5pm in University. If you use your time wisely and start to write your own question and answers for exam revision early rather than just using the paragraphs from lecture slides, you will find revision a lot easier! Also try to study in groups and discuss or quiz each other before exams.
2. Attend conferences when you can and try to participate in projects such as mentoring or the PharmParent Scheme. Throw yourself into any opportunities that arise and I would recommend you applying to as many summer placements as possible. This will help you apply your knowledge and enhance your network and CV.
3. Make sure you make some time to do at least one fun activity daily whether that be baking, sports or just relaxing watching TV. However, do remember that it is ok to say 'no' to things sometimes - don't worry about missing out as your education is important! But most of all … HAVE FUN!