Plant Physiology degrees in South East England

I'm an optometry student entering my third year in September 2024. The lecturers are very nice and supportive; however, the optometry students in Group C are extremely rude, disrespectful, and lack any sort of manners. Many of them speak poorly of you if you fall behind or are slow in your routine, and they refuse to collaborate despite knowing that practice is essential for skill improvement.

As an international student, I was really scared when I first came to Middlesex University. I didn’t have much experience or confidence, and I was worried about meeting new people. But my classroom became a safe space for me. My professors were very kind, understanding and never made me feel judged. There was no discrimination at all. They cared about us not just academically but also emotionally. When I felt low in class, they took time to ask if I was okay and even guided me to get mental health support. That meant a lot to me. One of the best parts of my course ( MSc Criminology with Forensic Psychology) was the practical learning. We went on many field trips, like visiting the Higher Crown Court in London. The university also offers the Common Studies Programme in Critical Criminology, where students get to travel to other countries for conferences. All our modules were helpful and well structured. I was also chosen as the Student Voice Leader for my course. This gave me a chance to speak for my classmates, and I saw that the university genuinely listened to our feedback. For example, we requested fewer on-campus days, and our professors changed our timetable from 3 days to 2 days a week. They are very flexible and understanding. Middlesex didn’t just teach me academically; it helped me grow as a person. I used to be very shy and introverted. But I became a Student Ambassador, which is a paid part-time job at the university. This changed me completely. The employment team was very friendly and helped me create my CV and gave feedback too. As an ambassador, I learned confidence, communication, time management, teamwork and how to travel independently. I even handled events like HE fairs and spoke to students, parents and teachers. My managers were patient and taught me everything properly. I’m really proud to represent Middlesex as a student ambassador. There are also many facilities and opportunities on campus, careers fairs, sports, societies and fun activities. Sometimes I feel sad that my student life is ending, because the university has so many resources, and I couldn’t use everything. Middlesex also offers scholarships and alumni discounts, which make it even more supportive for students. I am not the same person I was when I joined. Now I am more confident and ready to face the world. Middlesex gave me not just a degree, but also courage, kindness and beautiful memories. I never felt like a left-out international student. I always felt like I belonged here. To me, Middlesex is not just a university, it is a place full of care, support and real experiences. I would choose it again without any hesitation.

The best aspects of the University of Southampton is the great opportunities, e.g. societies and guest talks. I love going sailing on the Solent every other week and frequently running around the beautiful common. Similarly, new guest come to talk about their roles and how to get into their roles which is very beneficial for career development. There are no bad aspects that I have experienced so far.