Coming to Durham has been full of surprises, and I’m so grateful for the amazing support from my friends, the people around me, and the staff. They’ve really made me feel like a valued part of both my college and class communities.
As an introvert, building genuine connections is so important to me, and I’ve truly found those connections here, both at the University and in Durham City itself. I also love the beautiful walks to class, where you get the best of both the city and nature in one spot.
Friendship and opportunity
There have been so many exciting opportunities for me to get involved, and it’s been so easy to grow, both professionally and personally. I feel I’ve found a good balance between academia and personal life, and I’m honestly so thankful to be part of it all.
When I made this huge life decision to move here to study, sometimes I had challenging moments when I wondered if applying was the right decision for me. Once I was here though, attending my lectures and meeting great people with similar interests, I knew it was the perfect choice. Looking back now, I can’t help but feel so grateful for the experiences, the friendships, and the skills I’ve gained. These are special moments I’ll carry with me for a long time.
A unique and diverse campus with a touch of home
The diversity on campus is amazing, and it’s fantastic being able to make friends from all over the world, which can be a bit tricky to experience in Turkey. With the mixture of people on campus, each bringing unique backgrounds, skills, and perspectives, along with the unique atmosphere of each college, makes every conversation engaging and fun.
It’s not often you find a place that’s so close to campus but also just a short walk from both town and nature. Durham has this unique vibe that you can’t find anywhere else. Plus, with all the Turkish restaurants here, I never have to miss the food!
I’ll also always treasure the late-night cooking sessions with friends, especially on those special days when we celebrate together.
Much more than just your studies
One of the reasons I chose to study here was that I found the course structure to be well-organised and a great fit for my career goals. Having plenty of workshop hours also makes it easy to collaborate with my cohort while being able to ask lecturers any questions I have.
I also found the campus itself absolutely beautiful, with the city’s history adding to its charm. Now I’m here, walking through the city often has me reflecting on what student life must have been like many decades ago.
Having such a broad range of societies and communities to join also makes it so easy to meet people and explore new interests. The University also offers plenty of part-time job opportunities for earning money while studying, as well as a proactive careers service that is providing me with lots of support to help me prepare for life after graduation.
Embracing difference
I’ve joined a couple of societies focused on different languages. It has been an amazing experience talking to people from all over the world and has made me appreciate my own culture even more.
Taking on a role as Community Liaison for Keenan House at Ustinov College has also helped bring me closer to the University community and build meaningful connections. Assisting people with different needs has been really rewarding, and it feels great to be a point of contact and support for others when they need it.
The uniqueness of Durham
While the city embraces modern life, it also maintains its historical charm and authenticity. Halloween in particular is an experience that simply cannot be missed! There is such a magical atmosphere around the place.
My riverside walks to classes in the morning are so peaceful and the perfect way to start the day. The combination of the warmth of the sunrise and the soothing sound of mini waterfalls is something I genuinely believe you won’t find elsewhere.
Something else I didn’t expect was how good Durham is for foraging! There are so many species of mushrooms and flowers that you can find throughout the year. It’s been such a pleasant surprise to discover hidden spots with an abundance of wild plants and fungi. It transforms a walk to class into a photoshoot.
Reshaping the future
I have a biology background and spend a lot of time in the lab, but I’ve always been curious about the computational side. With technology advancing so quickly, I wanted to build my computational skills and explore new ways to understand and solve research challenges.
The rise of AI in omics and medicine made courses like machine learning the perfect fit to help me understand the latest research in a more computational way. My course has offered a great balance of theory and application, especially for someone new to coding. It has strengthened my maths and statistics skills and has shown me how they can be applied to real-world problems. I’m excited to be part of how technology is reshaping the field.
After my current studies, I hope to be working on biotechnological advancements to investigate current issues and contribute to the knowledge we have today about these problems.
Learn more
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