Support from the faculty was excellent throughout
What motivated you to intercalate and pursue a year of study in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics at the University of 91Ö±²¥?
I knew that I wanted to intercalate as I was torn between studying medicine or a basic science degree and settled on trying to do both. I was drawn to 91Ö±²¥ in particular as there are lots of Masters degree level qualifications available to intercalators and I love the city and living here.
Cancer was always something that interested me due to the amount of research going on and the unique challenges of the field. I also already knew some people in the department that had spoken positively about the degree. When I actually came to look at what degree to do I was really drawn by the topics covered in the taught modules and I really liked the idea of having a large taught component as opposed to simply doing a project like you can in a lot of intercalated Bscs and MRES degrees - whilst you obviously learn a lot from a long project I liked the idea of having taught lectures from experts in the field.
What specific aspects of the course did you find most interesting?
The biological basis for cancer taught module was really fascinating and taught in a great way by going through the discoveries and diseases that led to our current understanding of cancer. I also enjoyed the diagnosis and treatment module as we had specialists in each subtype of cancer come in and lecture us on the specifics of their disease. Having this opportunity to learn from experts in one specific area was something that I really valued.
How did the intercalated year complement or differ from your experience in medicine?
My intercalation year was vastly different from standard medical school firstly in that the degree was so well organised - all slides were posted well in advance and the timetables rarely changed, this consistency and forward planning was something I really valued.
The cancer biology course was very technical which I sometimes found difficult to keep pace with. However, the small cohort size not only meant that it wasn’t intimidating to ask questions but that there were plenty of friendly faces within the teaching staff that we regularly saw. Having consistent lecturers was also a massive difference as large chunks of modules were taught by the same person which not only helped with the consistency and coherence of the teaching.
How has this course shaped your career and future professional plans?
Completing this course has really enforced my desire to pursue an academic career in medicine and has definitely given me a firm footing on which to do so. The skills that I gained in both the research project and technologies and the research techniques module have already helped me in research pursuits and networking opportunities for future supervisors.
How was the support from the faculty and staff at the university?
Support from the faculty was excellent throughout and senior people in the course were always more than happy to chat and discuss issues of any size.
I particularly recall having difficulties deciding whether or not to choose a lab based or clinical project and emailing the course lead who very kindly called me from home for more than half an hour to help me weigh up the pros and cons on each. This was the same for every module on the course and lecturers and supervisors always had the time to discuss anything and answer any questions - something I found particularly helpful coming from a less scientific background than many others on the course and so often feeling like I was falling behind and taking longer to grasp certain concepts.
What advice would you give to other medical students considering an intercalated year in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
I would advise people to carefully consider the workload and what they would like to get out of their intercalated year. My year studying Cancer biology and therapeutics was by no means a year off and required dedication and organisation throughout.
HOWEVER, don’t be put off by this. This course and particularly the 6 month research project are easily one of the best things I’ve done at university broadening my horizons and career prospects. Whilst it was a challenge and a lot of hard work, it was thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding throughout and a great opportunity to get meaningful research experience at an early stage in a medical career.