“Which aspects of your course do you enjoy most and why?
The variety of modules covered. From maths, physics and electronics, to biochemistry and molecular biology, plus a bit of physiology, pathology and psychology. And of course the specialist subject (mine's cardiology).

Why would you recommend your course to others?
Because of its variety. It's not for everyone, but it is for me.

Please tell us about any special features that you have benefited from on your course.
As my course is part of my job at Peterborough District Hospital, some of the lecturers have been very helpful focusing the theory in lectures around what I do at work. (E.g. electromedical devices lecturer talks a lot about ECG machines).

Please tell us about any links with industry that you have benefited from on your course.
My cardiology specialist module obviously links very closely with the work that I do at the hospital. But the other modules are designed for all specialities within clinical physiology (respiratory, nuclear medicine, radiography).

Has your course involved any work placements? If so how were these useful?
It has been mainly day release from university. Usually 3-4 days a week at the hospital and 1-2 days a week in lectures.

How do you feel that your studies at Anglia Ruskin will help you in your current job?
The specialist module teaches us the theory behind the tests we perform in the cardiac investigations department at work.

What are your ambitions/plans for the future, and how do you feel that your course will help you to achieve these?
I plan to stay at Peterborough when I qualify. I am hoping that in time Anglia Ruskin University will run a Masters in echocardiography (as there aren't any local I don't think).

How do you rate the support offered by both our teaching and support staff?
The teaching staff have become more and more helpful through the years as they have realised that among some of the larger modules, we're a different kind of group. They have tried hard to relate what is being taught to our specific areas of work.I haven't dealt much with the support staff, but from the few experiences I have had, they have been extremely helpful.

How do you rate our facilities and resources on offer at our campuses?
I have only really used the libraries (East Road, Fulbourn and Peterborough) and they have all been useful. The staff are very friendly and helpful. There are some good cardiology books to choose from and the libraries are stocked up with the most recent editions.

What was the favourite aspect of your non-academic life? i.e. any social/sporting activities.
We are a very small cohort, only 4 in total. We have become very close and have supported each other through the last 2 and a half years and we intend to stick with each other right up until we qualify and hopefully not stop there. As we are split across the county at different (types of) hospitals, it's useful to know what others are doing out of our own hospital.

How do you find fitting you studies around your outside commitments including work, family etc?
I think it is perhaps a bit more difficult than a full time course as a full time course doesn't mean that you are studying 9-5, Monday-Friday, whereas we are busy all those times. When we are not in lectures we are at work. Luckily my department give me time to study when I am there. Otherwise it's most weekends and evenings where studying gets done. At least we don't have to worry about finding work through the summer! I used to teach first aid to the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force most Sundays but unfortunately I have had to cut back the time spent with them as I am coming to the final year of my course now and I don't want to fall behind with my studies.

Please add any further comments about your Anglia Ruskin experience here
The university have been a great help and a huge support to my charity bungee jump that I will be doing this summer. The Students' Union and communication teams have been brilliant and I cannot thank them enough.

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