Abbie Stainton
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
Winner of the North Cumbria Integrated Care Thank You 2020 Student Award, midwifery student Abbie found her experience on placement during the Covid-19 pandemic invaluable.
Healthcare (Nursing, Midwifery, Radiography, Paramedic Science) student stories
What is it really like studying in our Institute of Health? Find out what our current students and alumni think about studying within our community. From views on the support offered to placements, they cover it all.
Student Stories
Adele Taylor
BSc (Hons) Nursing/Registered Nurse: Adult Nursing
After learning first hand how pivotal nurses were in the health service, Adele chose to make a huge career change. Read more to hear about her journey.
Aliyah Patel
BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing
Students on our undergraduate nursing degrees have the opportunity to complete a three-week elective placement abroad. Children's nursing student Aliyah grasped this chance, spending time working and sightseeing in the Philippines – an experience she'll never forget! Read on to find out about Aliyah's experiences at Cumbria and in the Philippines.
Ameera Gause
BSc (Hons) Nursing/Registered Nurse: Adult Nursing
Ameera was born in the Caribbean, but lived in Coventry, West Midlands, for six years prior to coming to Cumbria. Her sister is currently studying her Adult Nursing course at the University of Cumbria as well.
Catherine Hind
BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
Nominated for the RCNi Andrew Parker award for Student Nurse of the year, as well as the Student Nursing Times Awards 'Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year', Mental Health Nursing student Catherine Hind proved to everyone what an extraordinary person she is.
Alumni
Chantel Cumpsty
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
Originally Cape Town, South Africa, Chantel lived first in Yorkshire then moved to Lancaster. She already had a degree in Women’s Studies but was unsure what to do career wise.
Alumni
Chloe Searle
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
After graduating from a University of Cumbria degree in Midwifery in 2022, Chloe was awarded Newly Qualified Midwife of the Year by the MAMA Academy, a charity committed to promoting safer pregnancies across the UK. Here, Chloe reflects on her time at Cumbria, the life-long friends she's made, and how her degree studies have helped her reach where she is today.
Alumni
Crystal Graham
MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration)
It might be a world away from Blackburn, but for Crystal Graham, working in Abu Dhabi has become a second home.
Dominic Kenyon
BSc Learning Disability Nursing (Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship)
Dominic chose to take up the offer of completing a Learning Disability Nursing apprenticeship as he wants to advocate and improve services for people with Learning Disabilities.
Ehsan Kazemi
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Ehsan chose to study Diagnostic Radiography as a route to work within the UK as a Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Diagnostic Radiographer. Read more to hear how they are being supported whilst studying.
Alumni
Eloise Eddington
BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing
Eloise's main motivation for becoming a nurse was her little brother.
Fay Codona
BSc (Hons) Nursing/Registered Nurse: Adult Nursing
Nursing student Fay proud to win excellence prize
Finn Gomes
BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing
Before deciding to pursue Nursing at the University of Cumbria, I worked customer service jobs knowing this wasn’t what I wanted to do. While in college, I was offered the opportunity to become a trainee youth worker. Through this, I worked with young people within an LGBT centre. Not only did I develop skills in advocating for people, but also learned that I wanted to work with children. Alongside this, I always knew I wanted to work in medicine as I've always liked to care for people.
Joshua Gilroy
BSc (Hons) Nursing/Registered Nurse: Adult Nursing
Josh was inspired to go into nursing to make a difference. After seeing the mixed quality of care his grandfather received Josh wanted to become a nurse to deliver quality care to others.
Alumni
Laith Hasan
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Originally from Iraq, Laith is the first member of his family to study a university degree in the UK.
Michelle McAteer
BSc Learning Disability Nursing (Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship)
After 20 years of working in the Department of Work and Pensions, Michelle got a taste of working in the NHS whilst completing bank work. Find out how she's finding her Learning Disability Nursing Apprenticeship.
Patience's Clearing story
BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing
Patience applied to the University of Cumbria through Clearing. Below, she tells us about her Clearing experience and what she’s enjoyed most about her first year at university.
Rebecca Stevenson
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
When Rebecca started working as an Occupational Therapy support worker she realised that she wanted to become a qualified occupational therapist so she could make a difference in the lives of others.
Sam Cubbin
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Sam previously studied biology at university but decided he wanted to change his career path and chose to study Diagnostic Radiography after hearing positive reviews about it from people in the role.
Shaheen Cassamobai
BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography
Shaheen always wanted to go to university and our Lancaster campus offered the perfect environment for shaheen to learn about Diagnostic Radiography and develop their skills.
Sharon Blezard
BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities Nursing
Sharon has wanted to be a nurse since leaving school, upon attending one of our open days and excelling in her interview she finally had the opportunity to study to become the nurse she'd always dreamed of.
Alumni
Silica Doinita Ionita
MSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Silica Ionita graduated in 2018 following her studies of Occupational Therapy with us at the University of Cumbria. Silica was originally from Romania and was highly attracted the University of Cumbria to further her education. She was inspired by three close friends from Romania who had travelled to Carlisle to study with us. They’d reported back that it was a fantastic place to take that next career step. Of course, we agree.
Sue Pemberton
PhD Occupational Therapy
Yorkshire-based Sue chose further study to advance her work helping people with long-term conditions.
Claire Hyland
MSc Occupational Therapy
My name is Claire and I’m from the midlands of Ireland. I’m currently studying a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of Cumbria. I wanted to write about my placement experience on the MSc Occupational Therapy programme, to help give you an idea of what a role-emerging placement will be like on the course.
Lindsay Jayes
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
Lindsay's journey to becoming a midwife at Cumbria has brought her lots of new opportunities and experiences, including becoming a student council member for NHS England and forging amazing new friendships with other students on her degree. Read on to find out more about Lindsay's experiences at Cumbria, as well as her top tips if you're thinking of studying Midwifery.
Alumni
Laura Armitage
BSc in Occupational Therapy
During the course, I enjoyed the variety of placement settings and experiences, and this informed my choice on where I eventually chose to apply for a job upon graduating. I felt supported by the lecturing team on placement and knew that they were close by if I had any questions, I also had exceptional and experienced educators.
Lynsey Jenkins
3rd Year BSc Occupational Therapy Student
The BSc Occupational Therapy (OT) course has been an enlightening experience. I have made some wonderful ,life-long friends and gained a fountain of knowledge along the way.
Aimee's Clearing story
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Aimee Bowden applied to the University of Cumbria through Clearing. Below, she tells us about her Clearing experience and studying Occupational Therapy at Cumbria.