Olivia Pilson is a Year 3 student on the BSc Neuroscience course at Manchester. Here, she talks about the experience of studying biosciences as a student from the US.
When I was in high school, I really wanted to choose a university experience that was different to what I had grown up with. For me, that looked like moving overseas.
My favourite thing about being an international student is the independence that you have. Manchester and other universities in the UK grant more autonomy to their students than a lot of schools in the USA.
This means you have a few more responsibilities – but, honestly, this has given me so many more valuable skills and opportunities. I love getting to experience new things and meet new people every day at Manchester!
An introduction to biosciences at Manchester
In the School of Biological Sciences at Manchester, courses are ‘direct to major’ programmes, which means you aren’t taking calculus II or gen ed English again in your first year. This means that if you love bioscience, then this is the programme for you.
In your first year, you will take up to eight biology classes. Most universities in the USA will only allow you to take two or three in your first year. Manchester has many different biosciences degrees, such as Biochemistry, Biology and Zoology.
Sometimes, students change their minds and want to switch modules. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to switch to any other bioscience course up until the end of your first year. Did I mention most courses are also only three years long?
You also have the chance to switch from a 3-year BSc (bachelors) to a 4-year integrated MSci (3-year BSc + 1-year MSci), or to a BSc with a year in industry (like a co-op). You can also apply to study a BSc with a language, where you are given the chance to study abroad for a full year!
Most of your first-year classes are lecture-based, while most of your second-year classes are lecture- AND practical-based (for example, wet lab skills or field skills, depending on your course).
My experience of the BSc Neuroscience course
The neuroscience course (my course) at Manchester is really what you make of it. There are numerous ways you can use this degree, and many different classes you can take in your second and third year. I love a lot of the bioscience lectures, specifically the pharmacology lectures!
In final year, you get to take classes that teach the latest and most cutting-edge work in neuroscience. One of my favourite classes in third year is the Clocks, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythms class. Manchester is one of the few universities (in the world!) that offers an ENTIRE course on circadian research.
Neuroscience is technically a wet lab course, so if you don’t think you can get through a few practicals, then this course may not be meant for you. That being said, you definitely don’t have to love lab work to be on the course, though. In final year, you can choose a nine-month project which can be a lab, science communication, enterprise (business/econ and science), or history of technology and medicine project.
I love the versatility of the degree. Even though neuroscience sounds like a more specific/niche programme to study in undergrad, there is still a) a lot of variation and different paths you can take on the degree, and b) ways you can make it your own and make it versatile.
For example, while studying neuroscience, I have chosen to stick with taking more biology classes (genetics and pharmacology ones are some of my favourites!) and doing projects that are more lab- and science communication-based.
However, one of my course mates really likes computer science and has taken more computational biology and imaging courses, and paired that with doing a computational biology project with AI for both placement and final year.
It’s also possible to do a marketing/business route or even science policy. There’s just so many options and routes to choose from.
I love that you don’t JUST have to take bioscience classes. I have taken two History of Technology and Medicine classes while at Manchester, and audited a music class. You also have the option of taking a few UCIL classes (classes offered by other departments), and even language classes!
My favourite thing about studying at Manchester
There is always something new to see or do both on campus and in town. There is always an event on campus, whether that be new societies hosting an event in the Students’ Union, career development and seminar opportunities, or fun gigs (live music at the Academy) to see!
My other favourite thing is the people and the city. It sounds pretty sappy, but this is a great fantastic city with great energy thanks to the amazing people here.
The University doesn’t make the city, but the city makes the University!
What has surprised me most
There is a huge number of different learning opportunities. In my three years here so far, I have met hundreds, if not close to thousands of people, gone on trips and explored the UK with the International Society. I’m an active member of the society, and have hosted many events celebrating different cultures.
I’ve also had the chance to travel to other countries, picked up a new sport (sailing!) and participated in regattas, been involved in musical theatre and produce shows, gained experience in marketing and science communication, learned about different careers attached to my degree, attended lots of different seminar and lecture series outside of biosciences, and held multiple roles of leadership in societies, with the PASS (Peer-Assisted Study Scheme) programme, and as a course rep!
Advice for prospective applicants from the US
Choosing a university seems like a very daunting experience on top of everything else going on in your last year of grade school.
My best advice is this: if you think that you may want to try something new… take the leap! You can always change your mind if you find it’s not for you, but you can’t change regret.
I know that moving abroad to Manchester for university was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I wouldn’t trade the experiences I have had, the skills I have gained and the friends I have made along the way for anything!
Studying in a different country can be scary, but you will quickly get used to it and love it here!
Learn more about studying biosciences and becoming an international student at Manchester.
Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog 