Each year, we take the opportunity to reconnect with our alumni, learning about their journeys in undergraduate studies and their evolving careers. This year Zahra was one of them.

What are your memories of MPW?
I loved the teachers and classes I had—they were fun and interactive. I made genuine lifelong friends and many fond memories. It’s a college I often recommend to people who need to resit exams or are applying for competitive courses.

How did you adapt to moving so far from home?
I’m currently in Leicester, about an hour from Birmingham, so I’m close enough to return home whenever I want. Still, it was a challenge to adapt to living away from home. However, it wasn’t too difficult, as everyone around you is going through the same thing. I’d suggest attending university and society events to meet new people. Soon, you’ll and your circle and create a support system—to shop together, cook together, and explore the new city.

Tell us a bit about the course.
I’m studying Medicine at Leicester. The degree integrates clinical learning early on, with GP and hospital exposure even in the first few years. This is incredibly useful as you begin developing essential skills for the more clinical years (years 3, 4, and 5). At Leicester, the timetable for the first and second years consists of two lectures per day and two hours of group work. The rest of the day is generally free. In the later years, you rotate through clinical specialties, mainly based in hospitals and GP practices.

Which part was the most challenging?
Figuring out how to study efficiently and cover as much content as possible each day. The volume is large, and staying on top of it is crucial. It’s a difficult adjustment, but by speaking to older students and peers, you’ll and a study method that works for you.

What plans do you have once your degree is complete?
I plan to work in the NHS, but I’m very open to any opportunities or experiences that come my way. I’m also interested in doing an intercalated degree before completing my medical degree.

If you could offer prospective medicine students one piece of advice, what would it be?
Maintain your hobbies! It’s important to have ways to destress and take a break from the medical world, which can be all-consuming. Medicine is a highly enjoyable and mentally stimulating degree that will both fascinate you and push you out of your comfort zone.