Niharika is a first year BSc Speech and Language Therapy student. She was an intern in several health care settings before coming to City for its diverse community.
What were you doing before you came to study at City?
After I finished my A-levels in 2020, I decided to take a gap year and gain experience in the speech and language therapy (SLT) field before I could begin studying it.
Due to the pandemic the opportunities were limited and so, in addition to my internships I started an online business.
How did you develop an interest in your course and why did you choose to study this course?
Before I decided to study BSc Speech and Language Therapy, I was an intern in several different health care settings. One of them was an audiology and speech therapy clinic, spending time at the clinic sparked my interest almost instantly.
I observed sessions with nearly every age group, which showed me how difficult it can be but also what a fulfilling career path this can be.
After this experience, I was motivated to get more knowledge about the opportunities in this field and suddenly noticed the lack of therapists available in my country and many others. This motivated me even more to study this course and be able to help anyone with a speech or language difficulty.
Why did you choose to study at City?
City is located in the heart of London and so it naturally brings about many opportunities to learn and gain experience that other cities may not offer. Additionally, City is a very diverse university with many international students which allows you to build networks and learn more about different countries and cultures.
What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?
The most interesting part of the course was studying Biomedical Sciences and Phonetics. These modules may be complex and large however, the modules answer several questions about basic speech production that sometimes leave you fascinated.
What is your favourite thing about studying at City?
As a first-year student, it was overwhelming to move to a new city with new people. But the people in this course and the professors for each module are welcoming and friendly. Any difficulty, academic or otherwise, will not be ignored.
How have you found the teaching and facilities on your course?
The facilities provided by City are beyond impressive. During exam periods, the University extends its library hours to provide a safe study place. I am excited to be seeing more of the Roberta Williams Clinic in my year 2 and 3.
Where have you been on your clinical placements, and what have you enjoyed most about these experiences?
As a year 1 student still in term 1, I have not been on clinical placement from the university yet. However, I have been to a few clinics in Nairobi that have allowed me to witness young toddlers improve on their speech and are now able to express themselves fully.
How will these experiences help you with your future career?
These experiences I believe will allow me to understand that this career will not always be fun and there will be some difficult days but at the end the outcome would be worth it all. It also helps with the decision of what client group you would want to work with in the future.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
After graduation, I aim to complete my competencies so I can fully qualify as a SLT and gain some field experience. I also plan to volunteer my services to those who do not have the opportunity to meet with a therapist due to financial circumstances.
What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?
If you are considering this course, it would be helpful to start getting some experience or even doing your research about the course. The University has several open days so don’t be afraid to ask questions when you can.
I would also advise you to chat with current students through Unibuddy as they can provide you with a much detailed explanation about the course and placements or any other questions in general.
Keeping this in mind, you must also be sure about your passion and interest in the course because this can go a long way! Good luck!
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