Vrinda Aggarwal

During my gap year, I worked as a healthcare assistant. I had the privilege of interacting with patients and working closely with medical professionals. This experience was incredibly stimulating intellectually. It gave me first-hand insight into the crucial role that medical professionals play in caring and treating for people.

I was inspired: medicine felt like the perfect path to turn that passion into a lifelong career. Helping people in their times of need, combining scientific knowledge and interpersonal skills to make a real difference in someone’s life, became my driving force.

A supportive, close-knit community, the personalised learning experience, and lovely staff are some of the best things about Edge Hill. And the campus-based setting felt welcoming, and offered the convenience of having all the facilities in one place.

Edge Hill feels like the ideal place to pursue my medical degree. The smaller Medical School cohort is particularly appealing, as it allows for more personalised attention and closer connections. The University’s use of advanced tools, like anatomage tables is a major plus as it further enhances the learning experience. Course flexibility gives me the chance to explore different aspects of medicine.

A hands-on approach makes learning more engaging and meaningful. I really valued the chance to gain early work experience from my first year. I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learnt in real-world settings, working closely with patients.

Encouragement from very supportive lecturers has helped build my confidence and kept me motivated through the more challenging parts of the course. They’ve always been approachable, providing valuable feedback on assignments, and offering advice both in and outside of lectures. They’ve also helped me navigate complex topics, and their experience has given me practical insights into the medical field.

I published a paper through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) internship programme. I worked on a summer project about publicly available information sheets on shoulder osteoarthritis. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with advanced medical technology, and take part in clinical placements.

I hope to pursue a career in clinical medicine, gaining experience across different specialties. I’m also interested in further study and research opportunities to deepen my knowledge in a specific area of medicine.

My advice? Take full advantage of all the opportunities Edge Hill offers. Things like placements, research opportunities and advanced technology. The campus is really welcoming and there are lots of chances to get involved and develop academically and personally