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Hear from some of our students about their experience of studying on our iBSc Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology programme.
2020-21
“Put down the stethoscope and pain of rote-learning, and pick up the pipette and joy of scientific inquiry, for this iBSc is all about asking “why” without necessarily foreseeing a definitive answer. I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience and a brilliant opportunity to hone skills in critical appraisal, academic writing, and theoretical or experimental lab work. These skills are most exercised in the pièce de résistance of the programme, the research project: for me, a timely choice of iBSc along with a keen interest in evolution enabled me to pursue my project on the characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
Going beyond ‘the iBSc year’ and into clinical practice, a sound understanding of immunology remains paramount to understanding disease. With immune homeostasis at the core of many pathologies, and immune physiology increasingly forming the basis of novel therapies, it is exciting to learn about pioneering research first-hand. Moreover, it goes without saying that the gravity of infectious diseases has never been so apparent.
The relevance of such topics is constantly referred to as we read, study, research, and write about them throughout the year. Modules are comprehensive in both breadth and depth, and seminars, journal clubs or lab meetings allow for an immersive academic experience. Last but not least, there is extensive pastoral support from course leaders/ administrators, and a sense of wholeness in the programme structure.
For all these reasons and more, this iBSc has definitely been one of my highlights of medical school."
Yoon-Seo Jo, iBSc Student 2020-21
2019-20
“My iBSc in Immunology in Health and Disease last year was a very wonderful and unforgettable experience. To start off, the introduction interview with Prof Milne was very informative and personal. This lead to me being allocated to a research project that suited my areas of interest ‘to the T’. During the year, I felt very supported with the Module leads, as they kept us informed continuously, and any issues were solved with a quick email. Even being a course representative last year, the only feedback I was given was positive. The iBSc especially helped me improve my skills on critical appraisal of papers and improved my presentation skills and confidence as well. One of the highlights of the year was making friends with people outside of the MBBS programme, and being able to spend time with them.
Though nearing the end of the last academic year there was a bout of confusion and panic to do with our End-of-Year Exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iBSc team kept us informed and were transparent with all the updates happening. I cannot think of a better iBSc programme."
Nicole Tay, iBSc Student 2019-20
“ This iBSc programme was a great transition from my preclinical medicine course and it gave me true insights into academic medicine. I was always inspired by prestigious lecturers who use cutting-edge technologies in their latest research and by my colleagues with whom I could expand my ideas through discussions. Moreover, I believe my critical thinking skills and academic presentation skills improved throughout the year by actively participating in lectures, journal clubs and my research project. I was very lucky to have my research project on cancer heterogeneity at Francis Crick Institute, using machine learning software and interacting with various scientists. Although this was my first laboratory based research project, I managed to conduct a background literature review, develop the methodologies, analyse a large amount of data and draw a conclusion under fantastic supervision.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the iBSc professors and staff, especially Professor Milne, who stimulated my curiosity in immunology, provided a continuous personal support and kept the programme very organised. Without their support, I could not have enjoyed every aspect of the course or motivated myself to overcome the new challenges. My iBSc experience will surely be beneficial in my future career in medicine, as now I recognise how genuinely intriguing the science is and how important it is to have both academic and clinical perspectives as a doctor.”
Masako Shimato, iBSc Student 2019-20
2018-19
The iBSc in Immunology, Infection and Cellular Pathology has been an amazing experience. You are taught by true leaders of the field, thanks to UCL being at the forefront of immunology and infection research. The year is not about learning facts and random bits of knowledge, rather it is here to show you what science is all about - curiosity. This is all made 100 times better by Professor Milne, whose passion for both science and students makes the iBSc one of the best years you will have at medical school. It is also worth mentioning that it is an extremely well-organised course thanks to the legends that are Biljana and Nathan. It is not an easy year, but if you dive in and get involved, you will never want it to end."
Daniel James, iBSc Student 2018-19
2017-18
“The hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of the administrative staff as well as Dr Milne make this course what it is: a well-run, engaging and exciting way to learn more about the very latest developments in a fascinating and very current branch of medical science. UCL is at the forefront of research into Infection and Immunity, and this is evidenced by the calibre of lecturers and research labs to which we are exposed during the year. All of these factors have contributed to my iBSc year being the most enjoyable of my medical education thus far. This iBSc is no walk in the park, but it is genuinely rewarding to those with an interest in Infection and/or immunity, and I have no regrets about choosing it!"
Dan Ntuiabane, iBSc Student 2017-18
“It's an incredibly exciting time for immunology, research into which is helping us understand ageing and Alzheimer's; and is underpinning a new class of powerful anti-cancer drugs. With drug resistant bacteria on the rise, the threat of emerging viruses and the continued difficulty eradicating disease in third world countries - there has also never been a better time to immerse yourself in the world of infection. Unlike other degrees, infection and immunity immerses you in the current science of the field, with research-led teaching, the opportunity to attend weekly seminars; and an extended independent research project that gives you an incredible opportunity to experience and contribute to the science that underpins medicine. there is a diverse range of optional modules, from cancer to global health, from computational modelling to microbiology. Each module is taught exceedingly well by experts in their respective fields, and the teaching is tied together by a brilliant administrative team and academic course lead who make you feel valued and offer tremendous amounts of support throughout the year. I enjoyed this iBSc thoroughly - and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in research, who loved I&D, or who wants a challenging but highly rewarding intercalculated year."
Matt Solomons, iBSc Student 2017-18
“This iBSc was undoubtedly the best part of my preclinical years. The modules and assessments are designed not to test your memory abilities, but rather to foster a sense of curiosity about how science works, and to develop the skills to answer these newly formed questions. The research project gives you the opportunity to culture not only bacteria, but also a passion for research (plus you get to feel like a real scientist in your cool new lab coat). The course is exceptionally well run and the course organisers are absolutely fantastic. As a medical student you can often feel a little forgotten, but the support and advice given by Richard, Biljana and the rest of the staff was invaluable. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. In my opinion, this is one of the few courses that teaches you what it truly means to be a scientist."
Caitlin Norris-Grey, iBSc Student 2017-18
“The integrated BSc was certainly the most challenging year of my medical degree but it was equally the most rewarding. The jump from pre-clinical medicine was (personally) a large one, mainly because of different teaching and assessment styles (no SBAs, lab work in between with a lecture-based timetable etc.) so it can often be pretty intense. However, speaking to friends in other iBScs, it was clear to me that this iBSc is so well organised that any issues that I or anyone else had were easily addressed. Moreover, the genuine care and enthusiasm from Biljana and Dr Milne really stood out and helped us engage better with the course content. Another aspect that stood out to me was how efficient it was for us to get a lab placement of our interest and experience research with experts in the field. Of course, balancing lab work with lecture content can be difficult but I felt that it helped me improve my time management skills and it's something loads of medical schools don’t offer! A tip I have for students interested in studying this iBSc is to ask people in the year above about their opinions on module choices - choosing the ‘right’ modules can REALLY make a difference to your experience during the year so don’t be afraid of asking around.”
Thonmoy Josh Dey, iBSc Student 2017-18
“No regrets joining this iBSc, my experience this year has been very positive. Modules were insightful though challenging, with helpful support offered by the module leads and Dr Milne. Finding the right lab and project was not stressful at all as guidance was provided, while the research environment at ICH was nurturing and reminded me of how important it was that research keeps pushing medical boundaries. Learnt a lot, this course has opened up many doors of opportunities for me in research. Thank you!"
Joanna Yin Jie Ting, iBSc Student 2017-18
2016-17
" iBSc in Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology was one of the best, if not the best, educational experience I have had. This programme has changed the way I think. It made me more active and inquisitive about the topics I am interested in or need to learn about. It taught me the right tools and appropriate skills to investigate new scientific findings and critically appraise them. The lab project was the highlight of this programme. It was an opportunity to work with a research team on my own, semi-independent project. Thanks to it I have learnt a lot about certain techniques used in biological research and experienced working in a research setting. My project made me feel like an expert in the field I was researching. It gave me the valuable experience of discovering something for myself and the opportunity to share my findings and conclusions with others. Finally, on top of well taught modules, the option to participate in journal club meetings and interesting meetings with the personal tutor, this programme is exceptionally well organised and runs smoothly. Which definitely adds to the positive experience I had throughout the year. I would highly recommend this IBSc for anyone who wants to have a first-hand experience of scientific research and/or is interested in immunology."
Maciej Psyklo, iBSc Student 2016-17
" Without a doubt the best year of my degree so far. The opportunity to really experience the trials and tribulations of research has given me great insight into pre-clinical medicine, which will be invaluable when practising it myself in the future. The course is extremely well run and I felt well supported as a student. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone who wants to learn more about the process of research and delve further into the basic science of many of the prevalent diseases affecting the world today."
Elen Roblin, iBSc Student 2016-17
" I choose the course for my intercalated year based on the infection and defence module being my favourite from the first two years of medicine and my interest in infectious diseases. I thought that the teaching on the course was superb, with a real focus on current research and learning how to critique research papers, skills that will be invaluable as a doctor. The smaller class sizes compared to the first two years of medicine also meant that I felt more able to ask questions, and lectures tended to be more interactive and engaging. The lab project also provided an opportunity to really get a feel for working in research and although it could be difficult at times to juggle lab work and course material I still could not recommend the course enough!"
Matthew Spencer, iBSc Student 2016-17
" Looking back I genuinely couldn't recommend any other iBSc programme for anyone with a genuine passion and interest for immunology. Although there were multiple moments throughout the year where I felt I was struggling (though this was common throughout the BSc's) I truly believed that the level of support and organisation offered by the faculty was unparalleled in any other iBSc programme. There is a genuine and dedicated enthusiasm for getting the best out of their students, as well as a consistent drive to make the course as good as it can be for the students. In addition, there is always help available if needed (within reason), and this was invaluable during my time on the programme. Overall, while I would forewarn that this is by no means an 'easy BSc', the level of organisation is such that it is difficult to not perform, and if you are keen and enthusiastic, you will be fine."
Rohan Sant, iBSc Student 2016-17
2015-16
" The iBSc was my highlight of preclinical medicine. I got the opportunity to work on a project at a leading research group focused on Engineering T-cells to target cancer cells. This is an area that has seen several recent breakthroughs and promises to have a big impact clinically. This gave me an insight into how basic science works in the lab, nurtured the skills necessary to design and carry out my own experiments, and developed my ability to critically appraise scientific papers. The programme develops skills not covered in the MBBS course and has added to my skillset which will be invaluable as a clinician. There is a wide range of modules which allow you to learn about the frontiers of research in your areas of interest (I highly recommend the Neoplasia and its treatment module). The support I received was unparalleled throughout the year. Although it is a challenging course I cannot recommend this iBSc highly enough if you are enthusiastic and motivated by Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology. As a result of the iBSc, and with their support, I successfully applied for the UCL MBPhD programme."
Tom Hartington, iBSc Student 2015-16
" The iBSc in Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology was an academically challenging and highly rewarding course. Compared to pre-clinical medicine in which we had two years to learn a small amount about lots of subjects, this was the first chance I had to become fully immersed in a more specialised area of medical science. In particular, the Virology module was excellent, the lectures were engaging and the content was at the forefront of the field. A year of research-led teaching meant I went from being unable to read and understand scientific papers, to being able to take a paper and present it back to my class, conduct my own research and write a paper on it for my project, and even face the possibility of publication. I achieved so much in my BSc year that I never thought I would, and I finished it with the confidence I needed to tackle my clinical medicine placements head on."
Caitlin McGreevy, iBSc Student 2015-16