Navigating obstacles and embracing new opportunities

For two first-year neuroscience students, the Alumni Scholarship Award has made all the difference. By easing financial stress, the scholarship has allowed them to fully embrace their studies, engage in campus life, and pursue their passion for understanding the brain. With the scholarship support, both students are now able to focus on their academic goals and look forward to making a meaningful impact in the field of neuroscience.

What brought you to the university? 

Student A

“I was born in Germany and moved to the UK at the age of five, having moved around a few times while I was growing up here. Before I moved to Nottingham for university, I lived with my mum and my two siblings. I am the first person in my family to undergo a higher education course, and while the process was difficult, the journey till now has only led onto greater achievements for the family.

“Growing up I always had an interest in how the brain works, why people are the way they are, and whether if you change ‘chemical levels’ in a person’s brain it would affect the decisions they make. Based on those ideas, I had planned to try and do medicine to become a neurologist.

“After finishing my mock exams and having completed the UCAT test required to apply to a medicine degree, I realised that it may have not been the ideal path that I was hoping for. It was confusing, as whilst I thought it was what I wanted to do, speaking to others and doing more research showed that neuroscience was what I was truly passionate about, and hence why I have enrolled to do neuroscience at Nottingham.”

Tazmin Islam

“I have lived in Bedford my whole life with my parents, younger sister and younger brother. I am the first of my family to attend university. I have an extremely close relationship with my family, which has made moving away slightly difficult. Although my family background didn’t provide me with many prestigious opportunities, I am grateful to my parents for consistently encouraging and instilling education throughout my life.

“In school I was always deemed as a student who excelled, and I knew that my goal was to attend a well-respected university that would provide me with many opportunities for my career moving forward.

“I developed my interest in neuroscience through my curiosity of the brain. I was always fascinated by the human anatomy, and the reasons why and how many illnesses such as dementia and schizophrenia occur. I once volunteered to help out at a dementia care home close to home. Aiding and conversing with the elderly residents increased my interest in the scientific background of their disease.”

Favourite module and campus life

Student A

“Life at Nottingham has been an eye-opener to say the least. I had imagined that I would miss the busy streets of London, but after spending a few weeks here, it feels homely. Making friends was a lot easier than I had expected - they all live at St. Peter’s Court like me, so we’re all just a 20-second walk away from each other. Whilst settling in took a few days, it now feels like I have been living here for some time. It was hard to adjust to a work and social life routine at the start, but switching to a new routine helped me catch up with work and get ahead.

“I enjoy the practical lessons I’ve done so far in my course, especially the DNA extraction practical, as it was something I had previously done and found it more relaxing to do. I’m looking forward to making more lifelong memories here and working with new people who share a similar passion for neuroscience.”

Tazmin Islam

“Nottingham stood out for me. The campus is incredibly beautiful, and the community environment provides an incentive for me to want to study here. When I received the confirmation that I would be attending this university, I was overjoyed.

“I highly enjoy neuroscience as a course. It can be a challenging subject, but I appreciate the insight it provides me of the understanding of the brain as well as the field of STEM. I am grateful to be able to work with an array of scientific equipment within the lab during practical sessions. This has allowed me to gain an understanding of how a real scientist makes discoveries during research. Understanding this is extremely rewarding, as it allows me to progress into an industry where I can make an impact and help other people.

“I have been really enjoying my first term in Nottingham. I have met a numerous amount of people and made friends in my accommodation and my course. We have even started viewing houses for second year. Meeting people from different walks of life has expanded my knowledge on different areas of the country, and even the world.”

How the scholarship has helped 

Student A

“The scholarship has helped me so much, allowing me to settle into university comfortably and providing me with the much-needed stability to not worry about the cost of living, but to maintain my focus on getting through my course. Hopefully one day I will be in a position where I can pass on the same favour that I have received from this bursary to a future student.”

Tazmin Islam 

“When I found out about the scholarship, I knew that I had to apply as it would provide me with financial ease. This was important in reducing any stress during university, and allowing me to focus on studying rather than the burden of financial struggles."