A future in science
WHEN it comes to top tertiary education, enrolling in an undergraduate programme at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) is one of the best choices a student can make before embarking on a journey to climb the career ladder.
For BSc Biomedical Sciences (Hons) students Brenda Ngu Ying Ying, Cheong Wai Kit and Narmadha Canice Tharushi Alles, the study experience at UNMC is something they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
“The University of Nottingham is known globally as one of the top universities in the United Kingdom with good employability,” says Ngu on the reason she chose to study at UNMC.
Speaking about the syllabus and course structure, Cheong appreciates the mixture of academic-, practical- and assignment-based modules.
“All students get the opportunity to practise what they learn in class through laboratory sessions and assignments and it is good to have that balance.
“I also enjoy the career talks that companies give to students. The talks include industry information such as how the industry works, how it currently performs and the related job opportunities for graduates,” says Cheong.
Alles, who also enjoys the career talks, says, “It helps us get to know what is there for us in the market. It is one thing to do an Internet search of possible courses and opportunities but when we hear people speak about the industry or hear from people who are in these different fields themselves, it helps to expand our ideas.
“Biomedical science is a diverse course and we learn about the many different areas or fields that we can get into. It is beneficial when we know what we can focus on for our career path,” she says.
Being in the final year of their programme, Ngu, Cheong and Alles believe they have grown as individuals, building on important life skills such as critical thinking, group communication, work ethics, responsibility and better time management.
Ngu shares, “I suppose many corporations take in graduates with a science or engineering degree as we are trained to think critically and can work with what is available to come up with feasible solutions to a problem.”
As testament to the standard of education at The University of Nottingham, the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject features 21 of the university’s subjects that are in the global top 100 – these include programmes in pharmacy and pharmacology.
This high ranking and the possibility to attain a British degree in Malaysia was the drawing factor for BSc Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences (Hons) second-year student Muhammad Asyraf Samsudin.
“The University of Nottingham is the first British university in Malaysia and is very prestigious – being able to study locally makes it more affordable,” he says.
2+2 Master of Pharmacy student, Benitta Benjamin, acknowledges the importance of academics in making learning at UNMC a wonderful experience.
The second-year student says, “The lecturers are very helpful, from replying your e-mails to meeting students without prearranged appointments. They also share some of the students’ questions during class for the benefit of all students.”
Tee Wan Ting, who is also pursuing the 2+2 Master of Pharmacy, says, “We have long classes throughout the day but we also have workshops, case studies and laboratory sessions that prepare us to become competent pharmacists.”
Muhammad Asyraf, Benjamin and Tee agree they are privileged to be part of Pharmnotts – a society that brings together pharmacy and pharmaceutical health science students – as they are able to learn much from the talks and public health programmes organised.
Such activities not only expose them to a deeper understanding of health-related topics but allow them to build on management and communication skills, making them more well-rounded individuals as they enter the workforce. Besides pharmacy and biomedical sciences, UNMC offers a range of science degrees under the Schools of Biosciences, Computer Science, Psychology, and Environmental and Geographical Sciences.
All students get the opportunity to practise what they learn in class through laboratory sessions and assignments and it is good to have that balance.
For more information, visit www.nottingham.edu.my.