Michael Stephanou BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, 2020

Post Graduate Student

The University makes sure to support its students and I feel I really benefited from having an approachable personal tutor who helped me pursue my interests by guiding me towards opportunities. Also, the immense variation in terms of module topics which are available allowed me to study areas which appealed to me and also allow for flexibility without compromising academic rigor.

Tell us about your time at Southampton

My decision to join the Biomedical Sciences course at Southampton came after observing the commitment of the university to high quality teaching and research, after an in-person visit. The course is also very well ranked and has high student satisfaction levels which contributed to my decision.

Moreover, as a city Southampton is extremely accommodating to students and is very appealing in terms of the nightlife, safety and sense of community. It is very much a student town and from the spacious Southampton Common and massive Westgate shopping centre to the vast number of student-led interactive societies there is always so much to do.

I very much enjoyed getting involved in research during my time at University and having the opportunity to complete my dissertation in breast cancer research under the supervision of enthusiastic professors and lab members was a real highlight. In addition, I represented the University as a student ambassador during Open Days and apart from being a great opportunity to earn as a student, it really opened my eyes to the effort that the faculty of Biological Sciences puts into establishing competitive and attractive courses.

I also think it is worth mentioning that throughout the uncertainty of the first COVID-19 lockdown our faculty and the university in general made sure to support us and facilitate the completion of our degrees as final-year students.

Tell us about your life and career since leaving Southampton

I recently graduated from Southampton in 2020 and while it was not under the most ideal circumstances I will always cherish my time as an undergraduate, especially for the lessons it taught me and skills it helped me acquire.

My degree and the associated opportunities which it granted me, allowed me to pursue my passion of Medicine, which I am currently studying at the University of Oxford as a member of Green Templeton College. My personal tutor was particularly supportive in my ambition and guided me throughout the process. Being able to tailor my degree and research interests also really helped me make the most of my time at Southampton and inform my career decisions.

Moreover, the strong emphasis which the University places on quality research, sparked an interest in me which I pursued with research internships on HIV at the NICD in Johannesburg and the Jenner Institute in Oxford. This interest remains and I hope to pursue further research in the future.

I would also say that the course itself allowed me to develop the organisational and time management skills required to undertake a post graduate degree, along with a thirst for knowledge thanks to the interesting and well-delivered nature of academic content.

What’s your advice to current students?

Be proactive in taking advantage of and seeking opportunities the University has to offer, both academically and non-academically. Above all tailor your university experience to what you enjoy and this will help you make the most of it looking back. I know this is easier said than done under the current circumstances but with perseverance and by supporting each other we can get through this.