Sylvia Merten

What did you enjoy most about your degree programme?

I thoroughly enjoyed the ample opportunities you get to study different subjects. This degree allows you to try and find the area of interest you might want in your future career. I also enjoyed all the opportunities you get to work in teams as this is a crucial skill to have developed once you graduate.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I have been part of the Amateur Boxing Club, Spanish Society, Exeter University Climbing club and Salsa society.

What was the highlight of your time at Exeter?

 Aside from the great experiences with friends and my lovely housemates. One of the things I cheerish most has been the times I have been doing uni work in the Cross Keys cafeteria surrounded by degree mates. From time to time people would come and go and you would always be surrounded by people who understood what you were going through and just very welcoming and good to have a laugh with.

What will you miss the most about University?

I will miss the opportunity to meet different people. I have very good friends that are completely different to me and I have encountered through university, either clubs or uni.

What advice would you give to current and future students? (If you are an international student what would you like to tell future students from back home who might be thinking about applying to study in Exeter?)

I would say that Exeter is a great place to live and study. It is not the biggest town so if you find big cities overwhelming it is an ideal place to work. Also, it is big enough that you don’t have to travel places to do stuff. It is also very well located so if you enjoy travelling you can use the opportunity to explore parts of the country you have never visited. I did that and loved every second of that. While I am Spanish I have lived in the UK for a few years and I understand the need of having a support network if you are international. It is a very international university, I never felt like I was an outsider for being from another country, specifically in medical sciences I would say that it was 40% international and 60% British in my academic course. Also, the university professors are very understanding of international students. If I ever had to leave the country due to a family emergency, people had to leave early for holidays they were very accommodating and tried to look for solutions to work with you. Also, the medical sciences degree has very good academic tutor selections. I have always been able to contact my tutor who has helped me with difficult choices, giving me information about the next steps and if I was struggling sending me to the right person to talk to.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

I want to study Medicine.