Nicholas Chan

I wanted to study medicine in Australia after learning about the higher pay and better work-life balance compared to other countries. However, I wasn't entirely sure that medicine was for me as I had no experience (this was during COVID when getting hospital experience was hard, especially in Malaysia with long, strict lockdowns). Hence, I decided to study biomedicine for a foundation in the health sciences, but also for options in case med wasn't for me.

The University of Melbourne seemed like the best option for me due to its strong reputation which would leave me with many options after graduation, especially overseas/back home where reputation matters quite a lot. The ability to choose different majors in the Biomedicine degree and to take breadth subjects was also appealing as I could explore what was best for me.

The best decision I've made in life thus far was deciding on the Pharmacology major. It was not something I ever considered when starting the Biomedicine degree, but I realised that I enjoy learning about how medicines work and why they might not be appropriate for some patients. The practical subjects have also been really fun and helped me make close friends.

Theoretical and practical learning are equally valued at the University of Melbourne, but I think there's a lot more theory at UniMelb compared to other universities. That being said, in the Bachelor of Biomedicine, we get practical subjects to build technical skills along with the opportunity to undertake an internship subject and a research subject if we want. At the postgraduate level, students have also access to various opportunities to develop their hands-on skills, such as clinical placements (if completing a professional health program), internships and research projects.

The courses at UniMelb encourage us to go beyond surface level concepts and challenge us to think critically. As a result, I have developed confidence in the area of biomedicine as well as basic life skills like time management and a more efficient study approach. This has allowed me to take on various extracurricular activities while maintaining a good academic record. Extracurricular activities also contribute to building various soft skills from leadership and communication to event management.

I want to pursue research along with the Doctor of Medicine (MD), so learning about biomedicine will definitely provide an advantage.

Really do your research into the uni before taking it on. A lot of people just choose unis based on reputation, which is one thing, but you also have to understand that to reap the full benefits of studying at a good uni, you will also have to work hard and take advantage of all the resources offered to students.

As long as you're willing to put in the effort then just go for it! It's a nice place with tons of opportunities.