What Our Students Say

We know that one of the many important questions prospective students ask is 'What is it like to study at Durham?' as a postgraduate student? In order to give you a sense of of a PhD student experience, we asked our students for their views. Below you will find students from a range of backgrounds on a range of PhD topics within the School of Medicine and Health. 

Gabrielle Finn

My first degree was a BSc (Hons) Anatomical Sciences from the University of Dundee.

I came to Durham in 2006 to work as an Anatomy Aide within Phase 1 Medicine. During my employment I was able to assist in research projects run by Professor John McLachlan.

In October 2007 I was awarded a place on the Durham Doctoral Fellowship scheme, which is a university sponsored PhD place. My PhD is with the School of Medicine and Health and is under the supervision of Professor John McLachlan and Dr. Debra Patten.

My research includes assessing methods of teaching anatomy to medical undergraduates and measuring medical professionalism.

Since commencing my PhD I have attended conferences around Europe, and have had successful submissions for poster presentations and publication of papers.

James Larcombe

I came to Durham after working elsewhere as a practising GP. I had conducted small medical research projects and had experience writing on evidence-based medical topics.  

Why did you choose to study at Durham?

I was encouraged by Professor Pali Hungin and the University is local to where I live and work.  

Tell us about your research?

My PhD will be on Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in women, taking three perspectives. Firstly, women's ideas about their illnesses; secondly, doctors, nurses and pharmacists ideas about their patients' illnesses and their thoughts on management; and thirdly a study on the quality and content of internet sites for UTI. Study 1 also includes an opportunistic linguistic assessment: a consideration of the use of metaphor in the descriptions of UTI.

How have you found the experience so far?

It has been stimulating! 

Apart from the course, how do you spend your time?

With my family, of course! Gardening by necessity! I also still manage to hobble round a squash court reasonably effectively.