The beginning of my life in Edinburgh and studying Medical Biology

The whole university experience in Edinburgh starts with so called ‘Fresher’s week’, a week that is prepared for new students to help them to familiarize with their new home, the city and studying at the university. Yet this very first week was an awesome experience. Though I arrived late at night, a university airport welcome team was waiting for me and helped me to carry quite heavy baggage and call a taxi. Half an hour later I was welcomed to Grant House, a very nice university accommodation where I stay. Each university house has a warden and several resident assistants. These friendly people are here to help residents as much as they can. Thanks to them, it was much easier to get know the city and find everything important in the beginning. During the rest of the Fresher’s week I attended dozens of events prepared for people starting at the university. It was fun and in addition I made some new friends that are very important during university life.

The University of Edinburgh provides a great number of interesting opportunities for everyone. Students came here from all around the world so you can talk with them about different habits and cultures.  Regardless what you are studying, it is possible to go to wide range of lectures from diverse fields of natural or social science and humanities that you might be interested in. There is also more than 300 societies and sport clubs. They vary from academic or subject based to dancing or sport, to spiritual, charity or appreciation societies and clubs. Everyone can find something they like.

As I mentioned, there are many possibilities for how to spend your free time and enjoy staying in Edinburgh but it is necessary to remember that we arrived to study. My degree is called Medical Biology. In the first year, however, there is no difference between any biological sciences degrees. All biology students have one compulsory subject which is called Origin and Diversity of Life. Except this one we can choose whatever we want. I am studying two other subjects. First one is Quantification in the Life Sciences which is focused on math and physics topics useful for biologists. The second one is Biological Chemistry that teaches us to better understand chemistry and prepares us for more complex studying of chemical processes in biological systems. Each of these subjects consists of lectures, practicals in the laboratory and tutorials – lessons during which we discuss and broaden subject topics in smaller groups of students and one tutor.

Academic time is not organized according to dates but each semester is divided into weeks. Right now it is week number 10 which means that only one week left till the end of the semester. Weeks 12, 13 and 14 are examinations weeks. We have had a lot of work during the past 10 weeks as well but the serious work begins now. Hopefully we will all successfully pass exams and fully enjoy Christmas.