Eshika, a Neuroscience final year student discusses her journey at Aston University
Eshika is a BSc Neuroscience student at Aston University. She shares how her experiences at Aston have developed her skillset, her placement year, being a student representative for her cohort, as well as the overall student experience and staff support.
Why Aston University and Neuroscience?
When I considered studying at Aston, I felt a sense of inclusivity and familiarity with the campus itself. The integrated placement year in the course is especially what I was drawn to, as I could get a break from studying as well as gain valuable work experience to give me an edge as a graduate.
I chose to study Neuroscience because I wanted a deeper understanding of how the brain works and particularly how brain function becomes impaired. As Neuroscience is a relatively new and developing field of research, I knew the course would be exciting yet challenging.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
One of my favourite aspects of the course was gaining exposure to the lab, especially neuroimaging techniques, as I became immersed in using the EEG and visualising activity in different brain regions.
I also got to visit the Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment on campus to learn more about the research my lecturers have been conducting in the MEG and gain insight into something beyond the course.
Neuroscience impacts a whole spectrum of other subjects and is not limited to science, so there is something there for everyone.
Student representative
My university experience was quite unique as I started in the midst of a pandemic although I was well aware of the range of societies at the university. One thing I was involved in from Year 1 was being a Student Representative, acting as a point of contact between my lecturers and my peers. Aston is a place where the student experience is prioritised and the student's voice is heard, so I voiced concerns on behalf of my cohort and ensured our learning experience was fulfilling, even during uncertain times.
Placement
My placement year was one of the highlights of my university experience because I learned so much about myself professionally, and the different avenues I could visit in my career journey.
I worked in the accredited Careers & Placements department at Aston as a Placement Support Assistant, where I acquired different skills in business administration, research, customer service, marketing, public speaking, leadership and so much more.
The role differed so much from the degree I was studying, and I realised the advantage of having a variety of skills on my portfolio for the competitive graduate job market.
