Oliver Merryweather

From navigating university life as a mature student to learning the art of time management, studying an Integrated Foundation Year gave Oliver the skills and confidence he needed to progress onto his BSc (Hons) Zoology degree. Here he tells us about his experiences so far and shares his advice for anyone considering a similar path.

Why did you choose to study your course – what or who inspired you?  

I am a second-year zoology student. I always loved animals but for some reason never realised that I could pursue a career working with them! During the covid pandemic I lost my job due to the company closing – this led to me taking an online animal care course recommended by the Jobcentre. My tutor was fantastic and inspired me to continue following this path and become a zoologist. 

Why did you choose the University of Cumbria over other universities? 

The University of Cumbria felt much less intimidating than larger universities, and the smaller class sizes really appealed to me. I didn’t want to just be one person within a big crowd – getting to know my peers and my lecturers is important to me! The location of the university is also perfect for a zoologist – just below Scotland and right above the Lake District, what more could I ask for? 

What was your experience of your Integrated Foundation Year?  

I was very nervous as I am a mature student and had been out of education for quite some time. I was concerned I wouldn’t fit in and that I would struggle with learning, as it had been a while since I had to study! Luckily, none of this happened. I fit right in with all the other animal enthusiasts, and the work content wasn’t as tricky as I had expected. The tutors were very welcoming and always did their best to make sure everyone was comfortable and had the support they needed. I’m so grateful that I was lucky enough to study at a foundation year level, which enabled me to learn how to study successfully and transformed me into the hardworking student that I am today! 

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them? 

It took a while before I learned that starting your assignments sooner rather than later is the best thing to do! Often, I would leave things until the last minute, which I wouldn’t recommend. Time management seems to be one of the trickier things for students to get the hang of, but once I mastered it, I found that working through assignments was much better when I had preplanned everything and given myself enough time to do things properly.  

This is a photo from a university trip to the Ambleside campus, where we were learning about reintroducing the white-tailed eagle to Cumbria. 

How have your tutors supported you during your studies?  

I have had lots of support over the years and have often communicated with tutors when I’ve been struggling with an assignment or with lecture content. Tutors have always been very helpful and ready to listen to any issues I’ve had. 

How is university life beyond your studies?  

I’ve never been more proactive than when I’ve been a university student! It’s been fun finding lots of active things to do in the community and get involved with volunteering and events. Another student and I recently founded the Zoological Society, which is very exciting! I also volunteer at the Tullie House Museum every week, getting hands on with the natural history collections. I regularly enjoy going around Cumbria to various nature reserves where I like to snap photos of any wildlife I can see. 

What would be your top tips for people thinking of doing the same course as you?  

Don’t hesitate! If you love animals and can see yourself wanting to work with them in the future, then the University of Cumbria is a great place to start. There are lots of opportunities to do fieldwork and get outside with all the nature. If you do come here to study, be sure to take advantage of the location and explore as much as you can, there’s so much wildlife to see here!    

Some of the frogs from the Fusehill street campus pond. 

What are your plans for the future, and how is your course preparing you for your potential career?  

I definitely want to work with animals, but I don’t mind which ones! The tutors are very helpful with encouraging students to engage in volunteering opportunities in the area, which could no doubt lead to potential jobs in the future. We’ve learned so many skills on the course that I never even considered when I applied – I can now successfully carry out surveys, identify so many different species of British wildlife, and use lots of different zoological equipment.  

This is some of the work I’ve been doing at Tullie House Museum – reorganizing their butterfly and moth collections 

What’s been the highlight of your time at university so far? 

Getting to know like-minded people has been wonderful and university has made me realise how much of a pro-active person I can be. I feel like university has made me a much more confident and happier person, and I like who I’ve become. 

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?   

If you’re considering applying to university, especially if you’re a nervous mature student like I was, then I recommend just giving it a try! Go to an open day, look around the campus and get a general feel for the place. You can talk to the tutors and get some advice, and it might just help you realise that it’s exactly the positive change you need!