Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?
My name is Elle, I am 20, I’m from Huyton in Liverpool but I do live in student accommodation. I am a third-year physics student on the bachelor’s physics degree, so I will be graduating with a BSc in Physics with Nuclear Science this summer.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Liverpool?
It was actually because I have always been interested in nuclear physics and when I was applying, Liverpool was one of only two universities offering a physics degree with nuclear science. I chose to come here because Liverpool is a Russell Group university and is closer to my home.
What interests you about physics and why did you decide to pursue a degree in it?
I chose physics specifically because when I was younger, I wanted to be a nuclear engineer, hence the physics with nuclear science degree. I didn’t necessarily want to pursue a degree in engineering because I think physics is broader and would have opened a few more opportunities. I especially liked that Liverpool offered other modules such as medical physics which when I was applying was obviously attractive. It has definitely opened up doors for me and there are more jobs I can apply to, and I could even specialise in computer science if I wanted to and do my masters in that.
What attracted you to the physics course here?
It was close to home as I mentioned earlier, and I am a bit of a homebird I am very close to my family. I was torn between here and the University of Leeds and my mum told me to go to Liverpool and give it a chance. So, I actually emailed the Head of the Department at the time who was Carsten Welch, but it was covid when I was applying so we weren’t able to look around different universities. I did find this off-putting to be honest because I didn’t have a picture of what university would be like. I emailed Carsten asking if there was any chance I could come and look around, and David Joss gave me a tour of the Central Teaching Labs. He was so nice, and I was really impressed with the facilities that were available which I wouldn’t have known about if I didn’t email, and I was also impressed that you could just email the Head of Department and get a reply straight away. It was very personable, and I was really amazed with the whole experience, getting in touch and the attention I received.
How has your experience been so far?
Honestly great I could not fault it. Of course, it is a difficult degree the clue is in the name, it is what it says on the tin. But I do think that the support you receive is brilliant if you ever have an issue with something you can just turn up outside a lecturer’s office, you can email them. I have never had any problems with accessing help for anything or felt embarrassed or ashamed to do that, all the staff do make you aware that that is what they are there for. I have been getting on really well and my experience has been great.
Have there been any challenges you’ve faced and, if so, how were they overcome?
I am a disabled student, and I did have a little trouble with my assistive technology. I had a hearing loop and some other things that I was given from the Disabled Students Allowance, and I did not have a clue what to do with them. I was just so confused as it was a separate entity from the University, and I didn’t know who to contact about it. But it came up on the system that I am disabled, as soon as I started university I was contacted by a disability coach and the Head of Disability for the physics department. I was made very aware of who to go to and my academic advisor was really supportive, I told her I couldn’t find any time to call the doctor to set up the loop. She said that if I ever needed a moment out of a lecture she would sort it out for me. That was a hurdle at first, but I got it all set up and it definitely helped knowing who to go to and I felt really supported.
What has the environment at the University of Liverpool been like?
Great! I think I am maybe a little bit biased because I am from Liverpool, and I do know the city very well. Best city on Earth in my opinion! The University itself is just is very central, you have everything: the city, the docks, the beach, this amazing campus. I have really enjoyed and everyone who I know that isn’t from Liverpool has said the exact same thing. I think it’s a great city, a great university and I’m glad I came here.
Is there anything you’d wish you had known before starting the course?
I think I’d just say don’t be intimidated. When I tell people that I do physics degree they literally wince! It is hard but if you have reached the point where you are considering applying, you can do it. Everyone is in the same boat, everyone is starting out just having completed their a-levels, maybe they took a year or two out. But you will be taught from scratch, there’s nothing on the course that you can’t do. As a woman going into a physics degree that does tend to be quite male dominated I know that can intimidate a lot of people and put them off, I think that has been a blessing in disguise for me because even though there are more men on the course, it has made all the girls in our year really close. We all get on really well and stick together, it has given us all a great support system and we all want to help each other. Definitely have an open mind, don’t be intimidated and just believe that you can do it and then you will do it.
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