Aisha Sattar, BSc (Hons) Medical Biology
Aisha Sattar, BSc (Hons) Medical Biology When Aisha Sattar began her studies at Burnley College University Courses, she was learning English as a second language.
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When Aisha Sattar began her studies at Burnley College University Courses, she was learning English as a second language. Today, she has been awarded a Top Project Award by the Royal Society of Biology and invited to the House of Commons to receive it.
Aisha studies BSc (Hons) Medical Biology at Burnley College University Courses (BCUC) as part of the Lancashire & Cumbria Institute of Technology. Her dissertation explored the antibacterial effects of garlic extract on gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria – research aimed at finding potential alternatives in the fight against antibiotic resistance using industry-standard equipment funded by the IoT.
The project earned Aisha recognition at the Royal Society of Biology Accreditation Conference and Awards, a national event attended by leading universities and sector experts, where BCUC stood alongside world-class institutions.
“I wasn’t expecting to win,” Aisha says. “When my lecturer, Samira, told me, I thought she was joking. Then I received the email, and I couldn’t believe it – I was so happy!”
What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the path Aisha has taken to get here. Arriving in the UK with English as a second language, she has built her academic confidence step by step, and that determination has been recognised at every stage.
Her lecturer, Samira Khan, has watched that journey closely.
“Seeing Aisha receive the Top Project Award was a particularly proud moment,” Samira says. “For someone who English wasn’t their first language to overcome barriers and complete everything – it’s phenomenal. She’s always keen and ready to put 100% effort in, and it reflects in all the awards she’s received.”
The conference also provided valuable insight into the future of biology education, practical skills development and graduate employability – reinforcing that students at BCUC are well prepared for what comes next.
Aisha Sattar, BSc (Hons) Medical Biology When Aisha Sattar began her studies at Burnley College University Courses, she was learning English as a second language.
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