PULSE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
HOW YOUR DEGREE CAN HELP YOU
ADMISSIONS TUTOR Dr Hugh Jones
MEET
Current Applied Medical Sciences (AMS) student Francesca shares her top revision tips
shares tips on applying to study Genetics or Biochemistry...
Francesca
save the world
In any degree subject, there are opportunities to positively change lives... after all, Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room. But what about courses where all the students are quietly changing the world – beavering away to make discoveries that might improve thousands of lives?
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Get organised: Revision is so much more manageable when it’s planned out. I always make a subject timetable for the week and colour code my notes so I can pick up where I left off. If you revise well you won’t need to spend the night before cramming and can take time to organise your stationery. Take some time out: All work and no play is no good for anyone! Regular breaks will help you recharge and focus your mind. I try to make time to train with Swansea Netball Club and volunteer for the university charity Discovery, both of which really help. Also spending time casually discussing revision topics with classmates helps me remember what I’ve been revising. Do some past papers: Past papers help get me in the zone, hone my writing style and test myself. The more I do, the more confident I become. Fuel your body and your mind: High energy snacks are great for a boost to power through. Be sure to take time to eat a regular meals as well though as the right nutrition will energise you, improve your concentration and sustain you through long sessions. Remember your goal: When it comes to exam time, the best way to succeed is to have a goal. Remember the end goal of your revision is to get into Uni. Make sure you make Swansea your Firm Choice, you get guaranteed accommodation if you do. I found that really took some pressure off.
1. Don’t worry if you are not sure exactly which degree you want to study yet – we don’t expect you to be 100% certain. Our modular programme structure has enough flexibility for you to change your mind during your first year, depending on your A-Level subjects. 2. Have you considered an MSci degree? Our MSci is an integrated master’s degree - you come out of University with FHEQ Level 7, but only pay undergraduate fees. We may ask for higher grades if you apply for an MSci, but you have nothing to lose because we’ll automatically consider you for the corresponding BSc if your results turn out lower. 3. If you are applying for undergraduate Medicine, Medical Biochemistry or Medical Genetics make great fifth choices on your UCAS form – they’re Pathways toMedicine so could get you a guaranteed interview for Graduate Entry Medicine. 4. Swansea University Excellence and Merit Scholarships are real money – not just a fees discount: you get the dough! £3,000 is automatically awarded to all students who achieve AAA and £2,000 is awarded to all students who achieve AAB (at A Level (or equivalent).
SLOWING THE PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE: Working away inside the brain cells being grown by student Paige White are Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase enzymes. This enzyme is commonly present in humans in the latter stages of Parkinson’s disease, and Paige is studying its function and evolution. “If the sequence of this enzyme is unique to humans then it’s an indication that further research is needed. If we look to see how it has evolved, then perhaps we might learn, further down the line, how to slow down the progression of Parkinson’s. It’s always been emphasised to us by our lecturers that our research can open the door to other scientists, and to further discoveries - I think that’s pretty cool” The four-year MSci is an advanced undergraduate honours degree – also known as an integrated master’s course because the final year is equivalent to a post-graduate
Students on our Biochemistry and Genetics MSci courses, who are undertaking medical research projects, explain how their studies might just lead to some of the world’s big discoveries. RESEARCHING THE NATURAL KILLER CELL: MSci student Ben Jenkins is researching a specific type of immune cell, called the natural killer (NK) and its function within pregnancy. NK cells are important in anti-viral immunity, and as pregnant women are more susceptible to particular viruses, such as flu, understanding the function of these cells may help to discover if they contribute towards this worsened response. “There are somany techniques that I’ve learned and so many facilities for blood sampling, testing blood samples fromhospitals, and isolating different cell types through various methods. For immunology, Swansea is really cutting edge. I find it really interesting discovering things that no one has found out before and knowing that this work can affect people down the line, that it might lead other scientists tomake further discoveries, is exciting.”
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masters (FHEQ Level 7). Find out more about the projects you could become a part of:
Interested in Genetics or Biochemistry? Or both?! Turn to page 32 to find out more
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Interested in AMS too? Turn to page 32
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