Becky spent her year abroad in Germany

BSc Biochemistry with German for Science student Becky talks about studying science alongside a language.

"The only bit of advice I’d give to someone considering studying abroad is: don’t consider it, just do it!"

"I studied Biology, Chemistry, Maths and German at A-level and I didn’t want to give any of those subjects up."

I'm drawn to science because I Iove being able to explain how things work and why the world is the way it is. I also love that science can solve real world problems and help society to improve. And it is great to be in a field where you can defy the norm. The number of women in science is growing all the time and we’re also starting to persuade kids that science is cool!

I studied Biology, Chemistry, Maths and German at A-level and I didn’t want to give any of those subjects up. Luckily Imperial is one very few universities in the UK that offer Biochemistry with German for Science, allowing me to do all of them. It also meant I got a chance to try living in the capital!

I actively searched for degrees that would allow me to study abroad because I wanted to improve my language skills, get a cultural understanding of another country and have new experiences. Studying at Imperial allowed me to spend a year in Germany and I had the best time.

I was working in a lab doing research, which was really exciting and vital for my future career. I have loads to talk about on application forms and I even ended up getting my name on a published paper. I also gained a better understanding of international science, which is especially important during uncertain times for science in the UK.

I discovered lots about German culture and how complicated German administration systems can be! But I also learnt a lot about myself and have massively grown in confidence. Living in an entirely different country truly teaches you to look after yourself and trust that you can solve problems.

I lived in Heidelberg, which is a beautiful city, with a castle, river and mountains either side. It was really student friendly, had some great restaurants and the Christmas markets were amazing! I also got to travel all over Europe.

The most memorable thing is definitely the people I met from all over the world. The time we spent together and the adventures we had. I’m still in contact with a lot of them - it’s crazy to think we are now we are all in completely different locations and time-zones across the world.

The only bit of advice I’d give to someone considering studying abroad is: don’t consider it, just do it! It may seem daunting to move to another country, but your confidence will grow and you will be able to do it. Be open-minded to other people’s beliefs and ideas, as you have the chance to learn so much and get a new feeling for how the world functions.

Definitely do it!