UCL: More than just a degree

Hanna, a second year student in Biochemistry, tells us about discovering all of the wonderful things being at university can give you on top of your degree. 

‘Go to university and get a degree, so you can get a good job.’ It was a sentiment that my parents drilled into me whilst I was growing up in Brighton. I was never made aware of how much you learn at university besides your degree! Whilst the main aim is to graduate, it is naïve to think that a degree is the only thing you can get out of the time you spend at university. Quite frankly, the more you get out of it; the better the value for money!

This is something that I have really come to appreciate during my second year by learning how much UCL has on offer. I took my first year to soak up my surroundings and settle in, and now I am using my second year to push myself out there – by starting to say yes a lot more! Societies, academic talks and career events are only a selection of what you can take advantage of as an undergraduate. To be honest, there are so many events and things to see and do that my biggest struggle is deciding which ones not to go to because of my hectic uni schedule!

Sports clubs

Sports clubs are definitely a way to make friends for life as well as a way to make lots of memories. By joining football in my second year I have made friends with people on a vast range of courses. As well as the obvious benefits, such as exercise, it is a good way to escape from uni work during the week. The club has over 100 members with four teams. We train on Thursdays and have games on Wednesdays and Sundays. So far, I think the best game was beating Kings College 3rds 10-2.

Joining a sport team is one bit of advice the majority of university students will give you when starting university – and I definitely regret that I didn’t join in my first year! There are weekly socials that are an easy way to meet new people, relax and de-stress. The Christmas meal last year was definitely a highlight and a good way to end the term. Additionally, there are a lot of charity events put on throughout the year: this year there has already been a BloodDrive, a Christmas Santa run and a charity pub quiz. As you can see, sport societies are a fun mix of exercise, socials and charity work.

Public lectures and other talks

Academic talks are great to attend too in the evenings after a day in the library. Last term, I attended a talk by the UK President of the MSF society – Dr Javid Abdelmoneim. Javid has worked on many MSF projects and shared some of his experiences – both personal and career related. For instance, he was part of the team that were first on the ground during the Ebola Crisis. By listening to his talk, I learnt about topics that I would never have touched on in my degree. This is a fantastic example of how university can connect you to important global topics.

UCL attracts exceptional speakers from many different companies and organisations and this is something everybody should definitely make use of whilst they study here. Another interesting talk I attended last term was presented by the UCL MedTech Society who welcomed Dr Shafi Ahmed – better known as the ‘virtual surgeon’. Dr Ahmed gave a fascinating insight into the future of Virtual Reality in healthcare. There was also the opportunity to play with VR headsets and Microsoft Hololenses.

Volunteering

In October, I took a break away from my studies to volunteer for the day for a Salters company event: ‘Spooktacular science’. This was a one-off volunteering role that I found through UCLU Volunteering. I helped with various Halloween-themed experiments and activities such as making slime and chromatography creepy crawlies. It was incredibly enjoyable to interact with the children who were both having fun and gaining an insight into science behind the activities. I enjoy volunteering whilst at university because it has helped me to the develop useful skills such as confidence, team work and leadership. One-off volunteering events are excellent as they do not require a lot of commitment and more often than not are a great way to wind down from the stress of coursework and exams!

As you can see my time at university is filled with more than just lectures and labs! There is so much to do and take part in during your studies and it is essential to obtain a good balance between extracurricular activities and studying. By soaking up what UCL has to offer, you can make the most of your time as an undergraduate, as well as making memories to cherish for the rest of your life.