The week started studiously for the group at Merton, and as they enter the second leg of their studies, the workload has now increased considerably. After a fun weekend of sightseeing and excursions, on Monday it was time to head back into classes. 

Everyone was eager to get going again in the morning, and following a nice breakfast where the group chatted about their weekends, classes began. Lessons were busy as students were preparing for practical field trips and activities on Tuesday.

After some detailed discussion of their individual essays on Friday, those on International Law in the 21st Century were working together as a group as they looked at Human Rights Law. They learnt how complicated a topic it can often be, especially in international contexts where different legal systems come against one another. 

In Public Speaking for the Modern World and Workplace, students were being encouraged to develop their confidence by giving short speeches in front of the class. They looked more deeply at why it is that we experience so much anxiety when speaking in front of others, and this insight certainly aided in getting people to overcome their initial nerves. Nerves were also a topic of interest in International Medical Research and Practice as our students were examining the human brain and nervous system as they prepare for dissections on Tuesday. 

Overall, it was an incredibly informative day and with so much new information on their minds, students chose to unwind in the evening. The group chose their own independent activities, whether that was heading to the Bodleian to cram in more information, or enjoying a milkshake in town – it was a good start to the week!