Harriet

Why did you choose to study the Physician Associate Studies PGDip at Surrey?

There were a few reasons. Firstly, it had a high pass rate for the Physician Associate National Examination (PANE), which is an important indicator of the quality of the course. Another reason was Surrey's excellent facilities. The Kate Granger building has a simulation suite with patient mannequins and rooms set up like wards, which is a great resource for immersive learning. Finally, living in Guildford was also a good location for me as it's near to my family.

What were the best things about Surrey and your course?

Our tutors were enthusiastic about teaching us, and our small cohort size meant that we could easily ask them our questions or get extra support if we needed it. I also really enjoyed making the most of the facilities on campus: the library is modern, with lots of different zones to work in, such as collaborative, quiet, and silent; there are also other buildings you can study in like the Hive, the Nest and the Spark when you want a change of scene. 

I also found that Surrey had better wellbeing support compared to my previous university. From free hot drinks and cereal bars in the library during revision periods to free pastoral support through the Centre for Wellbeing, there are many resources to support you during your course. There are also lots of opportunities to get involved in student life, from societies to events on campus. If you enjoy being active, Surrey Sports Park is an amazing facility on your doorstep.

What do you do now? How did your degree from Surrey help you achieve this?

I am hoping to work as a Physician Associate in a hospital setting. My clinical placements in the second year of the course gave me the opportunity to try out different specialties and decide which I would prefer to work in. Unfortunately, the job market is very difficult at the moment, due to problems with funding and the role being misunderstood by both healthcare professionals and members of the public, so I haven't started working yet. The government is currently reviewing the situation so we are hopeful that the job market will start to improve in 2025.

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

With great facilities and a supportive teaching team, I would recommended Surrey for your Physician Associate training. The course is very intense, so I would bear this in mind when you are considering applying. For example, if you are planning to commute a long way every day, it might be hard to keep up with the workload. However, with hard work it is definitely possible to excel at this course – and if you are passionate about human medicine and its power to help people, the course is very enjoyable and fulfilling too.

Find out more about our Physician Associate Studies PGDip.