Hannah

Hannah recently graduated from Biological Sciences (Genetics).

Classes are a bit different for me now than they were in Years 1-3 - because of Covid-19 I have all my classes online. The lecturer uploads pre-recorded lecture videos, and sometimes there will be an online quiz related to the material as well as a live online Q&A session a few days later to go over the material.

Why Edinburgh?

"I chose Edinburgh because of the prestige and the beautiful city, and because it was close-by as I was initially travelling to Uni from home. I also went to open days and talked to current students which really confirmed to me that Edinburgh was the place for me."

Academic Life

"I enjoyed the range of courses that were available throughout Biological Sciences, which allowed me to find out which degree programme was right for me. This also meant I was able to meet new people in my year who were going to specialise in different degree programmes."

"I did have [practical classes] in earlier years and in multiple different labs in King's Buildings. They are easy to find and the demonstrators are always super helpful with answering any questions. The content of tutorials depended on the course, but several were problem questions relating to the course material, and the point of the tutorial was to go over your answers with peers. Other tutorials involved short presentations to a small group of your peers, which seems daunting at the time but is really good practice for later years!"

Student Experience

"I used to be in the Edinburgh University Brass Band when I began University, but this was tricky because I played tenor trombone in a different clef than they used, so I couldn't read the music easily. I eventually left this band to focus on a local Wind Ensemble instead. However, my friend remained in the band and enjoyed their social events and weekend away trips. Joining a society or club that you enjoy is a really easy way to meet people with the same interests as you, and is also a good way to get involved in the running of the society and gain responsibilities that will look great on your CV, be that as a social secretary, treasurer or president of a society."

"Murchison House at King's Buildings became a really popular study space with many open areas, computer rooms and tutorial rooms. They also have a cafe in there, as well as in multiple other buildings on campus. In KB House, there's a seating area upstairs with microwaves for heating up your own food. I enjoyed studying in the library when it was quiet, but Murchison House was also really great because the shuttle bus was just outside and you could keep an eye on the queue so that you got a seat."

What do you wish you had known before arriving?

"I initially started in Biomedical Sciences, but after studying courses ran by the School of Biological Sciences, I realised that I enjoyed these more and that I wanted to graduate with a degree in Genetics. If you ever find yourself in the same situation, it is really easy to get a transfer to a different degree programme/school if you speak to your Personal Tutor who can tell you about your options."

Please note: There are a few conditions that need to be met to transfer between Schools such as meeting the entry requirements and being in good academic standing, if you have any questions please get in touch using bto.recruitment@ed.ac.uk

"One thing I wish I'd taken advantage of would be BioPALS, which is a peer assisted learning scheme. I think this definitely would have been a great opportunity to make more friends on my courses, as well as helping me to learn the course materials. Despite this, I did make friends quite easily from working together during labs and tutorials - it's important to remember that everyone else is in the same boat as you and would love for you to strike up a chat!"

BioPALS