Joshua Edwards

• Year of study: One
• Length of course: Three years

I chose to study this course at the University of Northampton because I found the support and facilities offered were better suited to me and my style of learning. I was given a place on the Northampton Energy Elite Athlete Scholarship Programme, which offers the student athlete a support network, enabling them to balance the demands of performance sport with academic study.

My career goals are to graduate from my undergraduate degree then study a master’s in Physiotherapy to further my knowledge and expand the options and opportunities for my employment in the future.

My current studies will help me when I graduate because I can develop greater skills first hand whilst also gaining work experience. The knowledge I’ve gained on my degree that I feel will be most useful in my future career is an understanding of the anatomy of the human body. The course also allows me to develop as a therapist to ensure what I’m doing is correct and that how I am undertaking the role is correct before facing real life clients with real injuries.

My sporting career aspirations are to get to the Olympics and compete in the 1500m and I’d also like to one day run a marathon event at an elite level and become a sponsored athlete.

The scholarship will help me with these goals as it has enabled me to develop strength and endurance to compete more competitively and with greater confidence to start coming in at the top positions.

The advice I would give to undergraduates interested in this career path would be don’t be scared to try, you have nothing to lose.

I’m finding my UON experience both enjoyable and adventurous.