Bashar Al Dirani
The most rewarding part of my study is that I actually get to know my lecturers and tutors.
My name is Bashar, I’m from a Lebanese background. I have two brothers – so three boys altogether. I’m 23 years old. I’m interested in sport, and in science. Previously, I completed a Bachelor of Pre-Medicine at the University of Wollongong.
I’ve always been interested in the natural sciences. I did the International Baccalaureate in high school, and you are only allowed to pick two science subjects – so I chose chemistry and biology. I really enjoyed those subjects, so when I was thinking about what to study at university, I wanted to pick something related to the natural sciences. I like doing it, and it’s what I’m comfortable with. Plus, it’s a good pathway to lots of other areas.
While I enjoyed my previous degree, I wasn’t successful in my application for a postgraduate medicine degree. The advice I received was to do a Bachelor of Health Science degree (now Bachelor of Public Health), and after that, apply again for postgraduate medicine. While there are other universities that offer degrees in Health Science, I ultimately chose UTS based on the curriculum and the student feedback.
The most rewarding part of my study is that I actually get to know my lecturers and tutors. I know who they are, and I know who to go to for help. The lecturers are friendly and approachable – if you need help, they give you more help. Even before the pandemic, the lecturers have been really easy to reach. For example, Dr Bernard Saliba would email us and let us know that he would be here to help if we needed it. In my previous degree, I didn’t know who my teachers were at all. Not knowing who your teachers are makes it a lot harder to learn.
There are so much opportunities after I graduate, and I have received a lot of different suggestions from my lecturers. I’m currently taking the Global Health major, and I’ve received advice about studying a Master of Public Health, if I’m not successful with postgrad medicine. It’s something I will definitely consider because I really enjoy doing the Global Health major, so I could pursue something in international or public health.
When I first came to UTS, I didn’t know what to expect. I assumed that there would be lots of exams and assignments – but it isn’t like that at all. The teachers are really there to help you understand the subjects, and they use different interactive activities – such as online tasks, modules and discussion boards – to help you learn. It’s not just straightforward lectures and recordings. For example, I’ve been in two subjects taught by Dr Albie Sharpe and I enjoyed his subjects so much because of his teaching style. He never said that anyone’s answers were wrong because it was our personal opinion. In his classes, it was about working as a team.
