Questions

Please provide additional information on how your scholarship will support you in completing your programme.

As mentioned earlier, juggling work, childcare, and studying is undoubtedly challenging. When I initially made the decision to pursue my studies, I had concerns and fears about finding dedicated time to focus on my academic pursuits. I often had nightmares, imagining that the only available time for studying would be late at night, after my daughter had fallen asleep.

Fortunately, receiving the scholarship was a tremendous relief. It now enables me to afford a daycare for my daughter, allowing me dedicated time during the day to focus on my studies. This newfound opportunity has been truly transformative, as I can fully immerse myself in the program that I am passionate about. I am incredibly grateful for this support, as it has made balancing my responsibilities and pursuing my education a lot more manageable and fulfilling.

What advice would you give to anyone about to submit their application to study online with us?

If you have made the decision to study bioinformatics, I can assure you that this is the ideal place to pursue your goals. The admissions team will provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process, ensuring that you never feel alone or overwhelmed. They are dedicated to guiding you every step of the way and addressing any frustrations or concerns that may arise. You can trust that you will receive the assistance and encouragement needed to navigate your bioinformatics studies successfully.

How would you describe the support you received from the Admissions team and did it play a role in your decision to study with the University of Birmingham?

As I mentioned earlier, the support provided by the Admissions team was truly exceptional, and it had a significant impact on my decision-making process. I initially had concerns that the paperwork and administrative tasks would require more effort than the actual program itself. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the paperwork involved was straightforward and hassle-free. The process turned out to be much easier than I had anticipated.

In your own words, please describe your application journey with the University of Birmingham and how you found the overall process? Was it what you expected? Please also include the scholarship application process in your response.

The application process was incredibly simple and straightforward, and I owe a big thank you to Giorgiana Ganesh for making it so easy for me. When she learned about my situation, she kindly recommended that I apply for a scholarship, which I had no prior knowledge of. She provided me with the link, and I proceeded to prepare my statement where I honestly described my circumstances and explained how much easier my life would be if I could secure the scholarship to enroll my daughter in a daycare facility, allowing me to focus on my studies.

To my surprise, the application process was hassle-free and didn’t involve any paperwork. After approximately two weeks, I received a positive response. The entire application experience surpassed my expectations and was much simpler than I had anticipated.

What motivated you to choose the University of Birmingham in particular?

I researched various universities and found that the University of Birmingham stood out as the best option for me. It wasn’t just because of its reputation, but also because the curriculum was highly engaging and interesting. Additionally, the university offered the facilities that I required and covered the subjects I was specifically looking for. Overall, it seemed like the perfect fit for my educational goals and needs.

What motivated you to choose an online study programme as opposed to campus?

I am a mother and have the responsibility of supporting and taking care of my daughter. While I would love to dedicate all of my time to studying, it is simply not possible given my current situation. I cannot leave my job because I rely on the income it provides, and I also cannot leave my daughter as she is only 5 years old and needs my care and presence. Therefore, studying online has been the best option for me because it allows me to choose the time that works best for me to study while managing my other responsibilities.

Tell us a bit about yourself; your current job role and professional experiences, your employer, your educational and career background and how you came to study online.

My name is Elisa Samaniego, I work as a software developer in Vonage. I have been working in the software industry for about three years now. I studied chemical engineering in Ecuador, after which I worked as an environmental analyst. I had the opportunity to travel to Japan to study environmental science, where my research project was in toxicology, involving molecular biology, where I fell in love with biology and genetics.

In Japan I meet my husband who is from Singapore, I got married and went to live there. Unfortunately Singapore is a small country with little opportunities for environmental science, I could not practice my profession, but there were lots of opportunities for software development, that is how I took a bootcamp in software development and started to work in this field, but I have never forget how much I liked biology and genetics, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and follow my dream, I decided to study Bioinformatics, since it combines my knowledge in computer science and my passion for biology, and I feel is the best decision I have made.