When you have to get up depends entirely on whether you're one for turning up for lectures at 9am unbreakfasted, unwashed and probably still in your pyjamas, or whether you fancy rolling into the dining hall for some rice crispies in acceptable attire before making the short walk to the science site. 8am seems a standard time to fit in the latter of the above, so get used to this rather untimely wake up call. Most scientists have the joys of early mornings 5days a week, yet there is something surprisingly invigorating as you make the sleepy stroll in the company of all other scientists down Grey hill at 8:50, happy in the knowledge that bailey colleges have a massive trek uphill to attend the same lectures!

Usually it's worth making the trip back to Collingwood for lunch. There is nothing quite like massive amounts of potatoes to tide over a busy afternoon of thinking. After all, it's more satisfying eating a disproportionate amount of food when you know you've had a hard morning's work whilst arts' students appear in duvets and slippers having achieved nigh on nothing. Alternatively the YUM cafes serve a selection of tasty treats to get you through the day if the hill looks too steep.

Afternoons will present pretty much the same as the morning. You may be blessed with those eccentric lecturers who will try to lighten the mood with thermodynamics puns or jokes about the lanthanides, or maybe have 3 hours worth of labs, which aren't as bad as they sound, and you're finished all in time for a hearty supper at college.

Thankfully evenings aren't too full of ghastly equations and impossible maths problems.... well, by and large. The joy of having so many lectures results in the perk of minimal reading lists, meaning the evenings are free for some banter in the bar or just chilling with some friends. Go out if you dare, but remember to have an alarm set for a vaguely respectable hour to repeat this all over again.

As you can see, scientists don't have it all that bad!  

Sophie Scott