Philip Kirk
- Course: MSc Plant Science and Biotechnology
Why did you choose to come to the University of Leeds to Study?
I was a secondary school science teacher for two years. Teaching is great but I had always known that my true passion was science; plant science in particular. My ambition was to study for a PhD in plant science but I knew that I would need to have more experience in the fields of molecular biology as my undergraduate degree was in general biology.
Whilst searching for relevant courses to undertake, I noticed that there were very few universities offering taught plant science master’s courses with a focus on biotechnology. Naturally, I chose to study here at the University of Leeds which is renowned for high quality teaching and research.
Leeds is also an amazing city, plenty of things to do and very close to the beautiful landscape of West and North Yorkshire. I made the right decision because I am thoroughly enjoying my course and I’ve just been offered a PhD position at the university’s Centre for Plant Sciences.
What did you enjoy about your course?
The course is specifically designed to immerse students in a wide range of modern science techniques through lectures, workshops and practicals. As I am still a kid at heart, my favourite part of the course is ‘wet labs’; practical sessions to improve our practical skills to prepare us for our projects in the third semester.
What was your greatest challenge throughout the course?
A master’s course is a step up from an undergraduate degree. We don’t have any exams but we do have a lot of assignments. You have plenty of time to complete them but the challenge comes from being organised.
What key aspects of your experience of Leeds would you highlight to students thinking about coming do the same course?
This course will challenge you in a number of ways, from work load to the different styles of assessment including essays, research papers and presentations. However, you’re also given the support and time to do this. I can only recommend this course because it’s challenging; in a good way!