Abdul
Choosing Huddersfield
I chose to study at the University of Huddersfield as it was a university that appealed to me greatly when I looked at the course I wanted to do and the structure of teaching that would take place.
When I attended an Applicant Visit Day at the University, the facilities available were all really state-of-the-art and the vast amount of equipment available to be used really appealed to me!
The location of the University wasn’t too far from where I live either, which has definitely made commuting back home easier at the end of the working week.
"I’d definitely recommend the University of Huddersfield to prospective students, as the teaching is very supportive and high quality."
Studying Occupational Therapy
I chose to study Occupational Therapy as I have always wanted to work in healthcare and make a real difference in people’s lives, and I felt that the Occupational Therapy course would help me achieve this in the best way. There are range of areas you can work in upon graduating, from helping victims of a car crash to walk again, to bettering someone’s mental health for years to come, through your care and input, it definitely is rewarding!
I really enjoy the practical side of the teaching on the course. I’ve taken part in basic life support sessions which taught me how to properly perform CPR. I’ve also had the chance to use specialist equipment such as hoists and Zimmer-frames, which has helped me to appreciate how occupational therapy can help improve a person’s quality of life.
"One of my favourite things about studying Occupational Therapy has got to be the support you receive whilst studying on the course. There are Personal Academic Tutor sessions and academic skills sessions that you can book, which have been really beneficial to my studies."
Innovative facilities
Most of my lessons take place in the new Daphne Steele Building. There are loads of study spaces such as the Student Lounge and group study areas dotted around on each of the floors. There’s also an outdoor garden space with a wonderful view and lots of greenery and plantation around it. The range of study areas gives me freedom to choose where I want to work, and I find them to be very uplifting environments.
As part of my course, we’ve got to use the Community House, which is essentially a replica of the inside of a house. In this facility, we’ve been able to conduct a wide range of assessments and tasks that an occupational therapist would whilst out in the community. This really helps you to practise your skills and apply these learned techniques on placements and in work.
"The Daphne Steele building and its facilities are honestly state-of-the-art in every way and the teaching spaces within the building are very spacious."
Engaging work placements
My work placements have been very informative and provided good opportunities for me to pursue my career goals. During my first year, I had a four week placement at Pinderfields Hospital, where I was based on the A&E and Acute Care wards. I gained a lot of experience and knowledge of the true role of an occupational therapist working in a multi-disciplinary team within a busy hospital setting.
During my second year, I’ve had a placement with the community mental health team under South-West Yorkshire NHS trust. This placement saw me conducting patient visits alongside my educator and taking on patient cases independently, which really helped enhance my career progression in a new setting.
Enhancing my employability
I’ve also taken part in extra-curricular activities outside my course to help improve my employability, such as the Global Professional Award (GPA). The GPA sessions have been very informative and engaging. The sessions have involved collaborative group tasks where we simulated work-based scenarios. I’ve also had the opportunity to construct an electives profile to help showcase how I spend my time productively in the working environment and highlight key employability skills that I have. As a result, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge into the types of work I can go into when I graduate and how I can enhance my personal wellbeing whilst maintaining a proper work-life balance.
"My favourite thing about being a student at Huddersfield is the lovely campus we have, with a canal running through it. The campus is very easy to get around and has a lot of natural greenery and study spaces dotted around it."
Living in Huddersfield
I live in student accommodation during the week, and I really like it. The rooms are very good quality and feature modern facilities that make student life much easier, all while being very affordable. My accommodation is only a five-minute walk from campus, which definitely makes accessing the University facilities very easy and makes getting to those 9am classes much easier!
Why choose Huddersfield?
The University of Huddersfield is a great place to be a student. The lectures and seminars are structured very well and aren’t too overwhelming for the students on my specific course, and the facilities available are state-of-the-art.
I feel that the environment that students are surrounded by whilst learning can really impact their work ethic and how well they retain information, and Huddersfield provides the perfect environment to support this. The University of Huddersfield is only getting better as the years go by and you can really feel that as a student.
