Violet Nyamutora

Violet Nyamutora (2025, Biomedical Sciences) is studying an MSc in Applied Cancer Sciences at Univ.

What did you do before joining Univ?
I studied Biomedical Sciences at UCL. Alongside my degree, I ran the Model United Nations outreach programme as part of my Millennium Fellowship, reaching over 500 underprivileged girls worldwide with education on global governance.

Why did you choose to complete an MSc in Applied Cancer Sciences at Univ?
There are two main reasons: necessity and curiosity. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a rising cancer burden, worsened by a critical lag in awareness, research and specialised care, a crisis that urgently needs targeted research and evidence-based policy. I’m committed to addressing these disparities through cutting-edge research and by contributing to policies that can help avert a looming healthcare crisis. I’m equally curious about the science itself: how ordinary cells turn cancerous, and how we might harness the immune system, especially our thymus lymphocytes, to recognise and eliminate them. My AfOx-Mastercard Scholarship brought me to Univ, but given the choice again, I’d still pick it for its rich history, close-knit postgraduate community and the support I received settling in.

What attracted you to your field of research?
Oncology research offers a direct link to clinical impact, it’s research that saves lives, and I find that deeply fulfilling. Moreover, the research is highly dynamic, allowing me to constantly experience new research theories and methodologies.

What’s a typical termtime weekday like for you?
It varies by term. In the first two terms, lecture-heavy days start with pre-reading around 7 to 8am before heading to the department at least three times a week; lectures and tutorials usually wrap up by 4 to 5 pm, after which I’d walk home, relax, have some nice dinner, and review the day’s material. Trinity term looks quite different, as we begin our three-month research projects. The days are full of experiments and lab work from around 8.30am, when I’d leave home, to anywhere between 5 and 7pm.

What’s your advice for settling into life in Oxford?
Really engage with College life, it’s a brilliant way to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and get involved in College events. Societies are also a great way to make friends.

What do you enjoy most about the College and the community at Univ?
This might sound superficial, but I love the pizza nights, a great excuse for free food and catching up with College friends you don’t always see, and everyone is always so welcoming. I also love the upper floor of the Univ library, with its beautiful view over the Fellows’ Garden. Moreover, the formals have been a real highlight, one of the best parts of the college system. I remember bringing my sister and friends from my undergraduate studies to a few of these events, getting to spend time with them alongside my College friends, beautiful nights.

Have you faced any challenges in your life or during your studies that you are happy to share here? If so, how did you cope with them?
Time management was one of my biggest challenges. The postgraduate workload at Oxford is substantial and requires a lot of self-direction, on top of a busy calendar of department and college events. To stay on top of it, I built dedicated time blocks for specific tasks and set phone reminders to stay mindful of how I was spending my time.

Do you have any highlights from your time at Univ?
Matriculation stands out. I remember getting dressed up for official photographs that morning, gathering with the new members of College, and walking together to the Sheldonian Theatre as spectators clapped and congratulated us along the way, then finally meeting new students from other colleges inside. It was a truly awe-inspiring day. But above all, the friends I’ve made at Univ are the highlight I’ll cherish most.

What do you do to relax?
I love resetting in the gym after a long day. I also enjoy long walks and reading a wide range of literature.

Describe Univ in three words.
Beautiful, warm and unique.

Published: 24 September 2026

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