Student experience | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Student experience

Find out what our current PhD students are researching and hear from some of them about why they love their PhD.

Tom Hames

Abby Russell

Myles-Jay Linton

Nicola Jeffrey

Sarah Price

Kate Ruth

Tom Hames

"I chose Exeter because of its fantastic reputation and good standing in current league tables. I’d heard that the city was a great place to live and offered lots of outdoor activities. One of the aspects of the Medical School that I really enjoy is the interconnection between the School and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. I have been privileged to intermix my bench-side research with visits to IPF clinics and patient support groups, allowing me to gain not just a clinical perspective on the disease but also a patient perspective."

Abby Russell

"Having worked in the Psychology department at Exeter as an Associate Research Fellow, I was inspired by academics working in the child health team of the Medical School. I contacted my supervisor to enquire about doing a PhD, she was really supportive and we developed an idea and successfully secured funding. The Medical School also have a good reputation for supporting PhD students to publish their research."

Myles-Jay Linton

"I chose to study at the University of Exeter Medical School, because it has a brilliant reputation for high quality research. When you talk to researchers here, you really get the impression that they are dedicated to the work they undertake. Also, it’s a great city to live and work in. I really enjoy working in an interdisciplinary setting, and since being at the medical school in Exeter I’ve been able to work alongside: economists, clinicians, psychologists, epidemiologists, statisticians and many more."

Nicola Jeffrey

"I chose Exeter partly because of the positive experience I had as an undergraduate here and also because it is one of the world’s leading centres for diabetes research. Exeter has been very supportive of my position as a mature student, especially as my children are severely learning disabled with complex medical needs. They have helped me to juggle the competing demands of family and work life and I consider the pastoral care at the University to be extremely good."

Sarah Price

"The main reason I chose to study at the University of Exeter Medical School was my supervisor, Professor Willie Hamilton. He is a leading authority in my area of interest – the early diagnosis of cancer. It was an exciting time to join the University of Exeter Medical School, as it was establishing its newly found independence as a Russell Group nedical school. I enjoyed my time as postgraduate representative, working with the Research Degrees Committee to set up the Liaison Forum as a way of ensuring good communications between the Medical School and its PhD students."

Kate Ruth

"The Medical School has a positive, collaborative working atmosphere. I have found the supervision and organisation within the Medical School to be excellent - you feel that you are working as part of a team and not working alone on your PhD. Different teams are easily accessible within the RILD, which allows students to gain experience outside their immediate team - my supervisor has helped with opportunities for collaboration on projects."

Richard Oram

Clinical Fellow Richard Oram tells us about his research into diabetes and why he loves his PhD.

Myles-Jay

Health Economics PhD student, Myles-Jay, tells us about his research and why he loves his PhD.

Kate

Former Genetics PhD student, Kate, tells us about her research and why she loved studying for her PhD here at Exeter.

Dr Oliver Old

MD alumnus Dr Oliver Old, Surgical Trainee at Gloucester Hospitals, tells us about his research and what he loves about his MD.