Medical degrees are considered very prestigious in the UK. Monika continues her family tradition pursuing a degree at Newcastle Medical School and she agreed to describe her experience.
REKLAMA
Monika Wassermann is a 23 year old medical student at Newcastle University. After completing International Baccalaureate diploma in II LO im. Stefana Batorego in Warsaw, she went to Warwick University and received B.sc in Biomedical science. After deciding that working in the lab and interacting with laboratory rats and rabbits were not her thing, she decided to do accelerated course in medicine and become a doctor instead. When she’s not in the hospital, lecture theatre or DR, she spends her time travelling, shopping, playing squash and cycling.
Pros:
- top rankings for medical schools
- cheaper than the South (especially London)
- seaside (Tynemouth Fish and Chips, windsurfing in spring and summer)
- night life
- Grainger market (daily fruit and veg market, ideal if you’re ‘fair trade aware’ or on a student budget)
- Lake District and Northumberland countryside within a short drive
- top rankings for medical schools
- cheaper than the South (especially London)
- seaside (Tynemouth Fish and Chips, windsurfing in spring and summer)
- night life
- Grainger market (daily fruit and veg market, ideal if you’re ‘fair trade aware’ or on a student budget)
- Lake District and Northumberland countryside within a short drive
Cons:
- far from everywhere else (8h drive to London)
- limited destinations of international flights (you have to change in Amsterdam for most of destinations)
- weather
- far from everywhere else (8h drive to London)
- limited destinations of international flights (you have to change in Amsterdam for most of destinations)
- weather
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I initially picked Newcastle Medical School because of its position in the academic rankings. I didn’t know much about this city, and from what I have heard, it was the really cold place, somewhere near Scottish border, where people were speaking with the accent, that provided the challenge even to the Brits. After 2 years of living and studying here, I definitely don’t regret my decision. Well, neither the Geordie accent got more clear nor the weather got better, but somehow this place has become home.
Newcastle University is a fairly big university with more than 20 thousands students. It offers various degrees including medicine, law, history of art, modern languages, business etc. As at any university in the UK, students population in Newcastle is quite diverse - there are many international students from both EU and overseas. There is a very active Erasmus Society, that organises many events, socials and trips for international students or anyone who wants to hang out with them.
Main university campus is located in the very city centre near Haymarket metro station and Northumberland street (which is where all the shops are). It is well balanced mixture of historical buildings and modern architecture. Students union building has just been renovated and reopened. It has a club, couple of bars, coffee places and 24/7 computer lab with designer working stations and comfy sofas. For lunches or longer breaks you can sneak out to one of the many cafeterias in town. Newcastle University is not the not only university in town. There is also Northumbria University and historically there has always been a (mainly sport) rivalry between these two.
Main university campus is located in the very city centre near Haymarket metro station and Northumberland street (which is where all the shops are). It is well balanced mixture of historical buildings and modern architecture. Students union building has just been renovated and reopened. It has a club, couple of bars, coffee places and 24/7 computer lab with designer working stations and comfy sofas. For lunches or longer breaks you can sneak out to one of the many cafeterias in town. Newcastle University is not the not only university in town. There is also Northumbria University and historically there has always been a (mainly sport) rivalry between these two.
University provides accommodation for all first year students. Prices range from 73 to 135 pounds a week, depending on type of accommodation (catered or self-catered), size and standard of the room. Although most of the halls are located within 10-15 minutes walking distance from the campus, some are a bit further away so it’s worth checking before making your pick. Privately rented rooms are usually priced similarly and again it all depends on the location and facilities. Second and third years tend to move to Jesmond, which is known as the posh part of town. It is a really nice neighbourhood with lots of boutiques, quirky cafeterias, good restaurants, vintage shops and bars. Other popular choices are Heaton and Spital Tongues - not as posh, but definitely “student budget friendly”.
Getting around Newcastle is fairly easy and most of the students either walk or cycle to main campus. You can get good and reasonably priced second hand bikes from Recyke Y’Bike (open Tue&Fri) in Byker. There’s also a metro, running all the way to the seaside - great destination for lazy sunday brunches or fish & chips.
Newcastle medical school is one of the biggest medical schools in the UK, with more than 300 students in each year. It offers a standard 5 year course and an accelerated 4 year course for applicants who already completed a degree. First two years of the curriculum (and first year of an accelerated programme) are dedicated to non-clinical aspects of the course - anatomy, physiology, pathology, basic histology and pharmacology. Year 3 and 5 are the clinical years, in which students are attached to hospitals in one of four regional teaching centres and rotate between different specialties. Year 4 is split between 3 SSCs (student selected components) and medical elective. SSCs are chosen individually by students according to their areas of interest. Electives are 8 weeks long clinical attachments that can be taken anywhere in the world and usually the most anticipated part of medical education.
I am about to start my fourth year of medicine and so far I have had a great experience. I especially enjoyed my 3rd year. Being taught in hospitals provided me with great exposure to range of clinical cases and plenty of opportunities to practice my clinical skills. I got to see patients on my own and discuss clinical cases with some of the top consultants. Even though I’m just a third year I got to scrub in and assist in some surgeries, which was possibly the best part of the course.
You can be sure you won’t get bored in Newcastle. University offers a variety of sport clubs and societies, including Windsurfing club, Toga Society and Cocktail clubs. For more outdoorsy ones, picturesque Lake district and Northumberland are only short drive away from Newcastle and are really great destinations for countryside walks and climbing. If you are into arts, there are usually many interesting exhibitions in the Baltic and the Biscuit factory.
Newcastle is also widely renowned for its nightlife. If you have ever come across MTV programme “Geordie Shore” you would know what I mean. Every night is a club night and with (what I believe are) the cheapest trebles in the UK, Newcastle after dark is quite a spectacle. Student nights are usually during the week and during weekends clubs tend to be filled with older crowd. If half-naked men dressed as nuns aren’t your thing, make sure you stay away from the Biggs Market. But don’t worry, there are plenty of places safe from stag do and hen night crowds too.
All in all, Newcastle is a great place and I highly recommend it for people who want to live in town, but are not quite ready to live in bigger metropolis like London, Birmingham or Manchester.
Contact Monika at edu (at) confected (dot) com
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