Hello! I’m Ben, a second-year cancer sciences student. This is a glimpse into a typical day in my university life at Nottingham. I’ll be sharing the experiences, highlights and challenges which make this course so unique and enjoyable.
Morning
Most days begin with a 9am lecture, so I grab a coffee and some breakfast before making my way there. Today it was on how the lymphatic system interacts with lymph nodes, and how this process can be exploited by cancer cells.
This forms part of the Angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) module. which focuses on how tumour cells interact with their host. I find this module particularly interesting as it brings together much of the human physiology content covered in year one, with specific cancer case scenarios. Following this was a research core tutorial.
These are small sessions, usually around five to ten people, designed to enhance our understanding of skills that are required throughout the degree. In year one, this could cover how to reference or search for literatures, then at later stages how to write a dissertation.
Students in a lecture theatre
Lunch break
During our lunch break, my friends and I love a trip to Hipp’s café. They have a great menu with lots of choice, like their hearty burgers and fresh cakes, and there’s plenty of space to relax in between work.
Occasionally we head over to the Students’ Union as they have some amazing food and drink options, such as Portland Coffee or my personal favourite Saijokai – a pan-Asian restaurant.
Afternoon and evenings
After recharging with lunch, I usually head over to the Greenfield Medical Library for a while, to either write up some previous lectures or prepare for ones to come. This is an ideal place to go during the day as it’s so close to where most lectures take place, in the QMC, and has some great study spaces.
Sometimes I use the hopper buses to go to other campuses, such as Sutton Bonnington, to use the libraries dotted around for a change. Then it was time for some hands-on learning, with a lab session looking at modelling the tumour microenvironment. This took place in the Biodiscovery Institute. which is where the new centre for cancer sciences is based. This is one of my favourite facilities which the course offers, giving access to world-leading research labs to learn in.
When I’m home, assuming I don’t go to the gym or have any planned activities with friends, I make some dinner and usually watch something on TV before heading to bed.
Greenfield Medical Library silent study room
What I love about the course
Being a small-sized course, it’s easy for everyone to get to know one another, creating a real sense of community which not many other courses offer. The professors’ passion for what they teach is clear and being a relatively new course any feedback provided is greatly appreciated.
One thing I would recommend to anyone starting the course is to take notes effectively, by finding the way that works for you as early as possible. The quantity of information is a lot, so I find that having effective studying methods is very important.
This course is incredibly rewarding, equipping us with the skills and knowledge required to make a real impact in the fight against cancer.
I hope to see you soon!
