Medicine degrees in West Midlands

The best aspect of my university experience has been the supportive learning environment and access to diverse academic and professional opportunities. The teaching staff are approachable and knowledgeable, and the university provides useful resources that help students develop both academically and professionally. Studying in a diverse community has also helped me grow in confidence and cultural awareness. The most challenging aspect has been balancing academic responsibilities with part-time work and managing living costs, especially as an international student. While support services are available, clearer guidance on financial support, employability opportunities, and tailored support for international students would further improve the overall experience. Overall, the university is a great place to study, and enhanced support in these areas would make the student experience even stronger.

The best aspects are the staff - they're all lovely and very approachable. They respond as quickly as possible and with genuine care. The buildings and resources are all really good and I love the campuses. The worst aspects would probably be the distance between the buildings and having to travel from one campus to another at certain times or moving from one side of the campus to the complete opposite side with 5 minutes to spare.

Great environment and facilities are lovely BUT there isn’t enough room for all of us at the VS. There are virtually no study spaces made available to us and it’s a mad rush to try and find anywhere to study between classes. Because of the distance from central campus and time restraints, we can’t go further than the VS itself or the business school. There are loads of what appear to be disused rooms down corridors of the top floor of VS. I have asked about these spaces and believe they are owned by garden vets. It would be amazing if some negotiation could be had about students using some of these spaces to study.

I really enjoy having a walk around the farm and taking part in farm skills sessions. The lecturers explain the topics in a way which is easy to understand and they make the sessions interesting and fun for us. We are currently doing our team challenge module and I think this is a great way for us to make new friends and communicate with people we haven’t necessarily spoken to before this. There are loads of on and off campus activities you can do and the student support is amazing, things like the library and the report advisors have helped me so much so far throughout my studies. I do struggle with the timetable as it changes each week and each day, I do believe this is down to being on the foundation year however I do find it extremely difficult to work part time around uni as I often finish at different times each day. For example one Monday I could finish at 11 and the next I could finish at 6. This therefore makes it difficult to explain to employers my availability.

Best aspect: One positive aspect of university is the financial resources available to support students, such as scholarships, bursaries, grants, and access to part-time work on or near campus. These resources can reduce financial pressure and allow students to focus more on their studies. Universities also often provide access to subsidised facilities, learning resources, and student discounts, which can make higher education more affordable compared to managing these costs independently. Worst aspect / areas for improvement: Despite these resources, financial support is often limited, competitive, or not well advertised, leaving many students unaware of the help available to them. Living costs, accommodation fees, and international tuition fees continue to rise, which can cause significant financial stress. Universities could improve by expanding financial aid, offering clearer guidance on available funding, and providing more consistent support for students facing unexpected financial difficulties.

I am a mature distance learning student, completing my MA in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. The online platform is easy to use and the digital library is expansive. All staff have been easy to contact when I need any support, including IT, Finance, Admin, my personal tutor and teaching staff. I have been assigned a mentor to help me stay connected with university life and the Philosophy department. The modules are contemporary, as are the course materials. The student cohort is diverse and we all connect to the course flexibly, from different time zones. I receive a weekly events newsletter which has plenty of options for attending online webinars and socials.