Aaron
Matthew

Why did you choose to study your course at NTU?

I was enticed to join NTU because I had heard from former students that NTU has a friendly and diverse social environment. Also, Brackenhurst Campus was appealing to study at due to its rural setting and focus as a campus.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

My favourite thing is exploring a different subject, as Zoology is a broad course, so finding your specific interests through different lecture styles and practical materials is really interesting.

How do you find your modules and what have you most enjoyed studying?

Because Zoology is so broad, there are some subjects that naturally met my interests - taxonomy, animal behaviour, and vertebrate zoology - just to name a few. The style of the assignments also adds to the enjoyment of modules as the assignments are ever-present.

What do you think about the facilities available on your course and what do you use the most?

The Labs allow you to explore a different aspect of Zoology, as it's not something you typically think about, but lab studies play a major role in many modules. The long practicals help as I tend to get stuck, so going over the method and different materials can help.

Being a zoologist means we learn more from the environment and wildlife around us than we would from studying the animals at the Animal Unit - the ecology of the campus is of greater significance than it would be in other animal courses. The diverse habitat types that Brackenhurst hosts play a key role in understanding future field studies that I’d like to be a part of.

What do you think about Brackenhurst Campus? What do you get up to in your spare time?

As someone who lives in the city, when I’m at Brackenhurst, the Orangery and Brack Shop are absolute musts. I’ve had breaks anywhere from one up to three hours, so refuelling and resting is definitely needed.

There’s a three-step plan I currently try to use: eat, rest, and then prepare for the next lecture. The former student lounge was a favourite for this, but the Lyth building and library spaces also work well.

What is your top tip for someone considering studying/ living at Brackenhurst Campus?

Taking the bus to Brackenhurst regularly, I've realised there’s a lot of extra time spent commuting - try to make the most of it.

Have you been involved in any placements, work experience or volunteering as part of your course? If so, what did you do and what did you achieve?

I recently took part in BLAST Fest's Birago Day: The Inaugural African-Caribbean Folklore Day. I gave a short presentation on positive Afro-centric animal interactions and achieved a greater understanding of the importance of science communication; as well as recognising my ability to present to others and how public relations is a broad aspect of Zoology not often explored.

Why would you recommend your course to someone considering studying it?

I would recommend the course as the way Zoology is taught at NTU allows you to really explore your interests within the field, and with lecturers who have industry experience in various and broad subjects that can help foster your interests.

What are your plans for after the course and how do you feel your course has/ will help you to achieve that goal?

I am open to further studies, as well as entering the world of work. The only issue I’ve currently found is that I’m spoiled for choice! There are a lot of fields I’d happily work in, including science communication, animal behaviour, research, and conservation.