Photo credit: British Wheelchair Basketball

As a member of the GB wheelchair basketball team, Jude needed to be able to balance her a MSc Pharmacology and Biotechnology degree with her international sporting career.

‘I started playing wheelchair basketball when I was at high school and I now play at international standard for Great Britain. So far I’ve competed at six European and three World Championships, as well as two Paralympic Games.

‘I was always really interested in pharmacology, and I chose to study it further in Sheffield as the course fit in really well with my full-time training for the British women’s wheelchair basketball team. My favourite thing about the course was that you’re encouraged to critically think and analyse information for yourself.

‘Sheffield Hallam was very supportive of my sporting commitments. The Performance Athlete Support Programme (PASP) gave me access to mentors who could help me discuss what I needed to be able to complete both my sport and my studies to a high standard. 

'I had regular check-ins with my tutors, who were always very understanding of my need to be able to study remotely whilst at tournaments. They provided me with access to learning tools and even helped me find a research project that I could undertake whilst competing at the European Championships.

‘Being able to access my lecture notes online has really helped me to keep up with my studies, and my tutors were great at meeting with me to discuss work I’d missed and arranging extra sessions in the PC lab.’