Applying to university can be a daunting experience. Luckily for me, I was instantly drawn to the Pharmacy course at the University of Bradford, and not just because of its excellent employment prospects. I was drawn to the new, innovative Team-Based Learning (TBL) curriculum which is very practice orientated from the start.
We work in teams throughout the year
The TBL Curriculum ensures that you revisit and build on your knowledge each year. Working in teams throughout the year means that it is very easy to make friends early on and there is always someone to help and support you along the way! This is something which I discovered from my very first few weeks at Bradford.
Bradford itself is a great city for students. There is something for everyone and the relatively small campus allows students to get to know others from different courses easily. During my Applicant Visit Day, I was amazed at how easy it was to get around campus and I was particularly impressed with the facilities at Bradford School of Pharmacy. There is a dedicated TBL room, as well as a mock pharmacy and a Clinical Skills Suite, which reflect the practice of pharmacy.
We use a mock pharmacy
The pastoral support here at Bradford is outstanding. There is always support available either from the academics or from the Union. The lecturers at the School of Pharmacy are always smiling and willing to help students wherever possible. Many of the lecturers continue to practice pharmacy alongside working at the University, so they are able to use their experiences during discussions which really helps to aid learning.
There are countless opportunities available at Bradford. During my time here, I have served as a Faculty Representative for the Faculty of Life Sciences and as a University Senator. I have made excellent links with various pharmacy bodies including the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (BPSA) through my role as an International Representative. I was a Student Champion for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), and I was a finalist for the RPS Student of the Year Award.
Over my next few blog posts, I will talk about the excellent Students’ Union at Bradford with the vast number of societies on offer including BAPS (Bradford Association of Pharmacy Students) – a dedicated society for pharmacy students. I will also blog about PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) and my wonderful experience interning for the Student Experience and Success Team.
Alykhan Kassam
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