Graduate Profiles

Lucy Matthews: BSc Medical Sciences (2007)

Consultant in the Enterprise Risk Services Department, Deloitte

"Medical Sciences is a fascinating course providing a wealth of experiences and opportunities and trains students in the skills they will need most when looking for employment. You will be taught a huge range of skills from the presentation of yourself in talks to the presentation of your work in specific formats. A specific module: Topics in Biomedical Sciences teaches you a huge range of presentation and analytical skills. All this is provided by genuinely caring staff who concern themselves not only with the educational development but also the emotional development of their students.

I am now a consultant in the Enterprise Risk Services Department of Deloitte. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do after graduating. After my final exam I went and spoke to the University Careers Service about possible options; they talked everything through with me and suggested I go and do some further research on my options. For some reason I had my heart set on Deloitte and didn't apply for any other positions, I applied for the job and the day after I graduated went on what was supposed to be two months travelling around Eastern Europe. Deloitte e-mailed me on the first day of my vacation to offer me an interview! They flew me back half way through my travels for three days of interviews and assessments and then I flew back out to Hungary. While I was away I found out I'd got a job in Internal Audit & Risk Management at Deloitte in Leeds and I started in September with the 2007 graduate intake. I work most of the year but Deloitte also funds my ACA qualification. Every few months I take a few weeks off work to study and take exams (whilst still being paid!)

I had an incredible university experience and have made friends who feel more like family to me now. My advice to prospective students would be that if you are interested in medicine, biology, anatomy, pharmacology, neuroscience or physiology, seriously consider this course as an option for you. It offers you the choices to decide where you want to take your studies and will train you in skills that make you highly employable when you leave. Consider all your options, look at the aspects of the course you enjoy and use those to decide where you want to go when you graduate. Don't write anything off. Take full advantage of all the opportunities available to you. You will enjoy some subjects more than others but try to remember that they are all setting you up with skills that are transferable and will help you when you start to look for employment after university."

Graduate Profiles

April Nunn: BSc Medical Sciences (2007)

Fourth year medical student at the University of Leeds

"The best decision of my life was to come to Leeds. Everyone is so friendly, from students to staff everything is so great! The courses are well thought out and lectures are delivered immaculately. The whole three years were amazing, my course was brilliant and the people I studied with were lovely and whilst we all studied hard, we also partied harder. I can say whole-heartedly that the University of Leeds is the best place in the world! Leeds as a city is also amazing and the University is such a friendly, happy place, which accommodates people from all walks of life.

My first degree gave me a really good base of knowledge and I would not have wanted to study medicine without first acquiring this knowledge. Many times I have looked around the lecture theatre and seen lots of confused faces, yet I completely understand what is being said, yippee!!"

Graduate Profiles

Liora Caller: BSc Medical Sciences (2007)

Higher Pharmacopoeial Scientist for the Department of Health

"I am now working as a Higher Pharmacopoeial Scientist, which is basically an assistant secretary to two expert advisory groups on medicinal chemicals and nomenclature of medicinal substances, and involves helping with the publishing of the British Pharmacopoeia.

My job has given me lots of great experiences. I have drafted monographs which are legal standards for pharmaceuticals and medicinal products (mostly IR, TLC and HPLC methods) and have presented them to panels of experts. I have chaired a staff meeting, visited pharmaceutical companies and been involved in a training week at BP Commission Laboratory.

This is a role that I did not even know existed when I applied to university! I enjoy the fact that I am continually learning, and it is great to know I am contributing to public health protection and the quality of medicines. I hope to progress to have a greater effect on medicine safety and policy, and possibly one day my role will also include liaising with health ministers.

My degree gave me a great foundation of skills to prepare me for this role. At university I gained a good theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory skills, I also learned key organisational skills such as how to keep to deadlines and build up the motivation for private study. I greatly developed my presentation skills, confidence and scientific understanding.

There are lots of opportunities open to students at Leeds; you just need to put yourself forward for them. The scope of learning on BSc Medical Sciences is extremely broad, you are given the chance to try lots of different things and the staffs are very supportive. Also, at Leeds there is a great night life, plenty of places for shopping and lots of good uni societies to get involved in.

Leeds produces high calibre graduates that employer’s value, opening up the opportunity to enter a broad range of careers."