Alexandra
MSc Reproductive and Developmental Biology
After spending three years at Imperial during my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to stay for my Master’s, as I know how high the quality of teaching, research environment and student community is.
Starting her journey at Imperial as an undergraduate medical biosciences student, Alexandra from Indonesia shares why she chose to stay for a Master’s and how her experiences have helped transform her passion for women’s health research into a clear career path. Discover how scholarships, supportive mentors, hands-on research opportunities and a diverse student community have shaped her journey both inside and beyond the lab.
Why I chose to do a postgraduate degree at Imperial
After spending three years at Imperial for my undergraduate degree in medical biosciences, I knew I wanted to stay for my Master’s as I know how high the quality of teaching, research environment and student community is. Imperial offers an incredible range of opportunities, particularly in research, and I was fortunate that there was so much cutting-edge research in the area I wanted to pursue – reproductive and developmental biology. The combination of excellent teaching, this cutting-edge research and the opportunity to learn from leading scientists made continuing my studies here an easy decision.
Imperial doesn't just prepare students to graduate – Imperial helps you discover what you’re capable of achieving.
For my Master’s, it was important to know that I would be surrounded by researchers whose work genuinely inspired me, especially since there was going to be a six-month research project. Before applying, I spent a lot of time exploring the research being conducted at Imperial and found several academics whose interests aligned closely with my own. Looking back now, as I work on my MSc project, I can confidently say that choosing a university with researchers whose work excited me was one of the best decisions I made.
Another aspect of the course that strongly influenced my decision was the assessment structure. The MSc does not rely on traditional exams, which immediately appealed to me as it demonstrated that the department prioritises the practical skills needed for a career in research, such as being able to critically evaluate and interpret data, write compelling grant applications, communicate findings to different audiences, create effective posters and presentations and design robust experiments. When I checked how the course would be delivered and what we’d be tested on, it reflected these real-world skills, which gave me confidence that the course was preparing students for successful research careers rather than simply testing their ability to recall information through exams.
Applying to Imperial
My experience applying for my Master's degree was particularly memorable because I was fortunate to receive an application fee waiver from Imperial. At the time, my parents were not supportive of me pursuing a Master's degree, believing that I should begin working to become financially independent rather than continue studying. In that context, the application fee represented a significant barrier to entry, so receiving the fee waiver made a huge difference. It allowed me to submit an application that I might otherwise have struggled to afford at the time and ultimately helped make my Master’s journey at Imperial possible.
What stood out to me in my Master’s application process was the accessibility of Imperial's support. Rather than relying solely on rigid eligibility criteria like other universities, such as minimum household incomes and country you’re from, I was given the opportunity to explain my individual circumstances and motivations. I felt that my application was considered holistically, taking into account my current situation rather than simply whether I fit into a predefined category.
The application support I received from Imperial reinforced my appreciation for the university’s commitment to supporting students as individuals. Whether through fee waivers, scholarships or hardship funding, there is a genuine effort to understand students' circumstances and help ensure that financial barriers do not prevent talented people from accessing opportunities.
Imperial's offer holder events
Before making my final decision to come to Imperial for my Master’s, I attended an online offer holder event, which played an important role in helping me understand how the course would be taught. Having previously studied the BSc Medical Biosciences course, I’d grown to appreciate interactive and collaborative learning style, so I was pleased to discover that the MSc Reproductive and Developmental Biology course used a similar approach.
The virtual offer holder event highlighted the strong emphasis on teamwork and active participation throughout the course. Many of the teaching sessions involve working in groups to solve problems and discuss ideas, which is something I particularly enjoy. Attending the event helped me understand more about the course and ultimately solidified my decision to accept my offer.
At my undergraduate graduation with friends, standing with Imperial's vintage car mascot, Bo
At my undergraduate graduation with friends, standing with Imperial's vintage car mascot, Bo
Applying for postgraduate scholarships
The strongest applications combine evidence of achievement with authenticity and reflection – explain why it matters to you, what inspired your interest and how it fits into your future goals.
I was fortunate enough to receive the Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarship provided through the Faculty of Medicine, worth £10,000. I found the scholarship through Imperial's Scholarships Search tool which made it much easier to identify funding opportunities that matched my circumstances and eligibility.
When applying for my scholarship, I took advantage of the incredible support from Imperial’s Careers Service who helped me not only with my Master’s scholarship application, but also with my applications for internships, placements and more recently my PhD funding applications.
The most valuable piece of advice about writing scholarship applications I received from the Careers Service was surprisingly simple: answer the question that has actually been asked. Many applicants become focused on listing achievements and trying to impress assessors. While your accomplishments are important, scholarship panels are often looking for something more. They want to understand your motivations, your aspirations and whether you have genuinely thought about why this opportunity matters to you and whether it’s right for you. For example, if a question asks why you want to study a particular course, don't spend the entire answer explaining why you're qualified to do it or that you’ve got the grades for it. Instead, explain why it matters to you, what inspired your interest and how it fits into your future goals. The strongest applications combine evidence of achievement with authenticity and reflection.
How my scholarship has supported me at Imperial
The scholarship has made an enormous difference to my ability to study at Imperial. I come from a humble family in Indonesia, and after three years of paying overseas undergraduate tuition fees, continuing into a fourth year of study would have been extremely difficult without additional financial support. Receiving the Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarship helped make accepting my Master’s offer possible and relieved a significant financial burden on my family.
Beyond financial support, the scholarship has also provided opportunities that have enriched my experience as a researcher. For example, I recently participated in a Three Minute Thesis presentation competition where I presented my Master’s research to leading academics and fellow scholars across the Faculty of Medicine. It was an incredible opportunity to develop my science communication skills, build confidence in presenting my work and connect with researchers from a wide range of disciplines.
About the MSc Reproductive and Developmental Biology course
I could clearly see how studying this Master's course at Imperial would help me move towards my long-term goal of pursuing a career in research focused on improving women's health.
The MSc Reproductive and Developmental Biology course explores how human reproduction and development occur, from gamete formation through to pregnancy and birth, while also examining what can happen when these processes go wrong. "Gonads to Gametes", "Eggs to Embryos" and "Bumps to Babies" are literally the names of some of our modules, which gives a pretty good summary of the course!
The course combines fascinating science with excellent teaching, delivered by academics and teaching fellows who are genuinely passionate about both their research and their students' learning. My current MSc project focuses on recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV). Despite affecting around one in four women globally, we still do not fully understand why BV develops, and over half of patients experience recurrence within six months of antibiotic treatment. I find it remarkable that such a common condition remains so poorly understood.
The best thing about this course are the people leading it! The teaching fellows and course team are some of the most supportive educators I have ever met.
In the MSc, I found a strong alignment between my own interests and the work being carried out by several research groups at Imperial in reproductive, sexual and developmental health. I could clearly see how studying this Master's course at Imperial would help me move towards my long-term goal of pursuing a career in research focused on improving women's health. Women’s reproductive health remains one of the most under-researched and stigmatised areas of medicine which is why I believe it’s an area where there is enormous potential for scientific and clinical impact.
Without hesitation, the best thing about this course are the people leading it! The teaching fellows and course team are some of the most supportive educators I have met during my four years at Imperial. They genuinely care about students' learning and success, and their enthusiasm for both teaching and research is infectious. Knowing that there is always someone willing to answer questions, offer guidance or simply encourage you when things are challenging has made a huge difference to my experience.
With my Master's cohort celebrating the end of our second module.
With my Master's cohort celebrating the end of our second module.
Working in the lab to harvest bacterial colonies from agar plates
Working in the lab to harvest bacterial colonies from agar plates
Practical placements at Imperial
Both my BSc and MSc included six-month research placements, and together they have given me a broad perspective on how research can create real-world impact.
My current MSc project focuses on recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV). This has been my longest experience working within an academic research team and has provided invaluable insight into how research operates day-to-day. I have developed laboratory and bioinformatics skills, gained confidence in analysing complex datasets and become much more independent in planning experiments and troubleshooting problems.
I've also carried forward an important lesson from my undergraduate placement, and that is to always keep sight of the people whom our research is ultimately intended to help. Through my project, I have had the opportunity to shadow my supervisor in her clinic while clinical samples were being collected for our research. Hearing first-hand about the impact recurrent BV can have on patients' quality of life brought the significance of the research into sharp focus. It reminded me that behind every sample, dataset and result is a person seeking answers and better treatment options. Experiences like these have strengthened my motivation to pursue research that addresses unmet needs in women's health.
What's the student experience like as an international student at Imperial?
One of the best things about Imperial is how easy it is to meet people and build lasting friendships.
When I first arrived at Imperial as an undergraduate student from Indonesia, it was my first time living away from home. Like many first-year students, I was nervous, excited and more than a little homesick.
One of the best things about Imperial is how easy it is to meet people. In my first few weeks, I made friends through halls (thank you Wilson House for an amazing year), bonding over shared cooking disasters, exploring London together and just figuring out how to live independently (which washing cycle to use?!). Four years later, many of those friendships are still some of my closest.
The structure of both my BSc and MSc also helped me build lasting friendships. We spent much of our courses working in teams, solving problems together and supporting one another through assessments and projects. In fact, some of my closest friends today are the people who were in my first-year BSc Medical Biosciences team. We’re now spread across the UK pursuing different careers and postgraduate degrees, but we still keep in touch regularly and have even travelled together, including trips to the Lake District and India.
Societies and extracurricular activities at Imperial
As an international student, societies were also incredibly important in helping me feel at home in London and at Imperial.
I will never understand the stereotype that Imperial students don't have a social life when the university invests so much into creating opportunities for students to connect. There are hundreds of societies and activities that help provide a sense of community, identity and balance alongside academic work, and I've been fortunate to be involved in several!
As an international student, societies were also incredibly important in helping me feel at home. Joining the Indonesian Society gave me a community that understood exactly what it felt like to be studying thousands of miles away from family. I even met my current flatmate through the society, and we've now lived together for three years. There is something special about finding people who share your culture and experiences on the other side of the world – those connections helped transform Imperial from a just a university into a home.
Imperial invests so much into creating opportunities for students to connect.
I’m also part of the Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) Tennis team – where I play for the Women’s 2nd team. Being part of a university sports team has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time at Imperial. There is something so rewarding, and somewhat patriotic, to play for your university. When I first joined, I felt out of place and uncertain about my ability, but my captain and teammates were very supportive and helped me build confidence from scratch. Over time, this environment helped me grow not only as a player but also as a teammate, and it reinforced the importance of inclusive leadership within sport. For example, we frequently have girls-only socials, which have really helped build a girls’ community in an often male-dominated environment.
Alongside this, I have worked as a Student Ambassador for the Faculty of Medicine where I support the delivery of Imperial’s Open Days and offer holder events, and I’m also a Unibuddy Ambassador answering questions from prospective students from around the world. I’ve also been working as a Pastoral Mentor for the Imperial Global Summer School. I’ve really enjoyed these roles as they have allowed me to support prospective and younger students while sharing my experiences of studying at Imperial. It’s been especially meaningful to contribute to widening participation and student engagement.
I’m also strongly committed to volunteering. First, I was a mealtime assistant at St Mary’s Hospital with Imperial Health Charity, which further strengthened my interest in healthcare and service. Then I went on to volunteer as an Emergency Responder with St John Ambulance as part of the First Aid Society’s Student Volunteering Unit, which I’ve been doing for three years. This role has involved providing first aid at public events, including the London Marathon, where we assisted runners affected by heat-related illness. I’ve also helped deliver CPR training sessions at the Great Exhibition Road Festival, teaching over 300 people how to do CPR – a life-saving amount!
Why I chose to study in London
As an international student, London’s diversity made it much easier to find communities where I felt at home while also exposing me to perspectives and experiences I would never have encountered otherwise.
One of my best friends back home once told me that she couldn't imagine me living anywhere other than the UK. Four years later, I think she was right!
When I was deciding where to study, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to live in a big city. Growing up in Jakarta, I loved the energy and excitement that comes with city life. When I first arrived in London, I was amazed by the level of independence it offered. Being able to hop on the Tube at one side of the city and reach the other side within an hour felt incredible. I hate driving and find it stressful, so having accessible public transport was always something I valued highly. I also really enjoy how walkable London is as a city!
Another major attraction was London's diversity. Over the past four years, I’ve met people from countless different countries, cultures and backgrounds, both within and beyond Imperial. As an international student, that diversity made it much easier to find communities where I felt at home while also exposing me to perspectives and experiences I would never have encountered otherwise.
I was also drawn to the UK's reputation for world-leading research and healthcare. Studying in London has allowed me to learn from researchers tackling major global health challenges and to gain experience in environments where research and clinical practice are closely connected. Through my placements and research projects, I’ve seen first-hand how strong the UK's scientific community is and how many opportunities there are to contribute to meaningful research.
Living in London as an Indonesian student
Living and studying in London has been one of the most formative parts of my university experience. My favourite thing about the city is the sense of possibility it offers – there’s always something happening, whether it’s academic seminars, cultural events or simply the opportunity to explore a new part of the city.
Take advantage of everything London has to offer early on – some of the most meaningful experiences come from exploring the city, attending events and building a routine outside your studies.
As a student in London, it feels like you’re constantly surrounded by opportunities to learn and grow beyond the classroom. For example, during my undergraduate degree I attended the Young Embryologist Network conference when I was considering a path into embryology. More recently, I attended an antibiotic discovery conference at the Francis Crick Institute. Both were free events and highly accessible for students and early-career researchers, and they exposed me to areas of science I might not have learned about otherwise. I really value how London makes it possible to engage with cutting-edge research outside of your degree.
My favourite thing about the city is the sense of possibility it offers – there’s always something happening, whether it’s academic seminars, cultural events or simply the opportunity to explore a new part of the city.
One of my top tips for Imperial postgraduate students living in London is to go the FiveSixEight – one of Imperial's bars on South Kensington Campus – where you can get cheap drinks and the most amazing curly fries you’ve ever tasted! The bar is really popular with undergraduate students but a lot of postgraduate students don’t even know it exists. I personally can’t afford £8 London pints too often, so FiveSixEight is a lifesaver! Equally, you can’t beat going to Tesco with your friends, picking up a couple of drinks and sitting, chatting and watching the sunset by the River Thames!
For future Imperial students, my main advice would be to take advantage of everything London has to offer early on. It’s easy to become focused solely on academic work, but some of the most meaningful experiences come from exploring the city, attending events and building a routine outside your studies. London can feel overwhelming at first, but it quickly becomes an incredible place to live once you find your own rhythm.
Postgraduate accommodation – living in private housing
I used to live in Earl's Court – a popular area with other Imperial students – with friends I met during my first year of undergrad. One of my favourite things to do used to be going to this small café called The Hoarder, that do an incredible iced flat white. Then I would go next door to Padel Social Club and just sit watching people play padel.
Now I rent private accommodation in Vauxhall with a friend. We've taken up running together and enjoy exploring London by foot. We love the views by the Albert Embankment – there's this pub boat there called Tamesis Dock which has got such great vibes and even live music sometimes! Vauxhall is an incredible place to live in if you want to have a bit more eclectic fun than West London, and want to take a break from more full-on areas like Hackney or Shoreditch.
Finding accommodation in London can be competitive. I primarily used platforms such as Rightmove and Zoopla to search for housing, but good and affordable properties are often snapped up quick. Make sure you know what your priorities are when you start your search so you can act fast if needed to secure housing.
My career plans
My Master’s has been a major stepping stone in this journey towards a research career. It’s strengthened my preparation for a PhD by developing both technical and analytical skills, as well as broader competencies such as independence, critical thinking and scientific communication.
My decision to pursue a career in research developed gradually during my undergraduate degree rather than being an immediate, fixed goal. However, over time, it became clear how much I enjoyed science not just as a subject to study, but as something I wanted to actively contribute to.
My Master’s has been a major stepping stone in this journey towards a research career. It’s strengthened my preparation for a PhD by developing both technical and analytical skills, as well as broader competencies such as independence, critical thinking and scientific communication. Working within a research environment over a longer period has also given me a clearer understanding of the day-to-day realities of academic research and reinforced my motivation to continue in this direction.
Throughout this process, I have made extensive use of Imperial’s Careers Service which has been one of the most valuable resources I have used throughout my time here. The team has supported me through applications for Master's programmes, scholarships and most recently PhD studentships. Their guidance, particularly through one-to-one appointments and mock interviews, were essential in helping me secure three interviews from nine applications and ultimately being offered three positions! I’m so excited to be starting the London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in October 2026. Looking back, I genuinely don't think I would have secured my Master’s scholarship, or my fully-funded PhD offers without their support.
For future Master’s students, my main advice would be to engage with the Careers Service early and consistently. The application process for PhDs is highly competitive, and success often depends on iterative improvement over time rather than a single application cycle. Taking full advantage of available support, practising interviews and seeking feedback can make a significant difference. Speaking to my fellow international students, I know that securing funding might seem impossible right now – just know that it is difficult, but it’s definitely possible! You don’t need 10 years of experience to secure a fully-funded studentship – you just need enthusiasm, motivation and a willingness to put in the effort. What is meant for you will be yours. Do not give up!
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Imperial has become much more than the place where I study. It’s where I discovered my passion for research, found lifelong friends, developed confidence in myself and built a community that feels like family.
I knew Imperial was the right place for me when I realised I enjoyed being here more than I enjoyed going home.
When I first arrived, I often felt homesick and counted down the days until I could return to Indonesia. Somewhere along the way, that changed. Now, whenever I go home, I find myself missing Imperial.
Over the past four years, Imperial has become much more than the place where I study. It’s where I discovered my passion for research, found lifelong friends, developed confidence in myself and built a community that feels like family. Imperial has given me the support, opportunities and environment to grow both personally and professionally. Imperial doesn't just prepare students to graduate – Imperial helps you discover what you’re capable of achieving.
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