Rimsha’s Journey into Medical Engineering

A story of resilience, discovery, and ambition.

We’re proud to introduce one of our star graduates: Rimsha, from Dubai. At just 17 years old, Rimsha began her academic journey in 2020 with a Foundation in Life Sciences at UPIC.

As soon as she arrived in the UK, Rimsha was struck by the greenery in Plymouth. During our recent interview, she said: “Dubai is beautiful, but it’s in the desert. When I walked around town I thought ‘oh, so many trees! Wow.’” Of course, everything’s within walking distance of the city-centre campus and Rimsha felt like it was the perfect student city. She even embraced the rain and drizzle because it was such a new experience.

The Foundation year in 2020 took place during Covid, so all of her classes were online. Despite this challenge she still managed to make friends through breakout rooms and Instagram before even stepping onto campus. She excelled academically too, scoring over 90 percent in most modules, which gave her the confidence to transition into Biomedical Science at undergraduate level.

Once she settled in, Plymouth started to feel like home. Rimsha joined the Drama Society for fun, she became part of the Pakistani Society to stay connected to her roots, and she built friendships across different courses. One of her favourite social hang outs became Camel, a Middle Eastern restaurant close to campus. This was where she found new friends, met her fiancé, and found a real sense of community. What is more, she discovered a local halal butcher and world food supermarkets to enjoy a taste of home.

Like many international students, Rimsha also faced tough times. Living far from family, she experienced some personal challenges. Thankfully, the University’s Student Hub Wellbeing Service were there for her. “Getting this kind of support really helped me academically,” she explained. With access to exam support and alternative assessments, her grades improved and she felt reassured knowing help was available.

While she enjoyed her undergraduate degree, it was at a postgraduate fair that Rimsha discovered her true calling. She was drawn to the Medical Engineering stand and found herself in an hour-long conversation with the course leader. That’s when she first heard about nanotechnology. “Nanotech sounds like science fiction, tiny robots fixing things inside your body, but it’s real,” she said. She was hooked. That same professor is now her dissertation supervisor, mentoring her as she finishes her MSc project on AI and nanotechnology in healthcare.

Her passion and curiosity have also opened doors beyond the classroom. A chance conversation while visiting Dubai turned into a part-time consultancy role, where Rimsha shared her knowledge on cutting-edge medical and engineering projects. She has contributed to everything from redesigning an air ambulance to consulting on systems that could help protect the planet. One of her proudest moments was designing a prosthetic leg from scratch; versatile enough to transform between a blade and a foot. She presented the design to scale and she was so proud that she shared it with everyone she knew.

Looking back, Rimsha reflects on how far she has come. From navigating online classes during a pandemic, to building a new life in Plymouth, her journey has been full of resilience and discovery. Now that she has completed her MSc in Medical Engineering, she’s considering a PhD in the future. In the meantime, she’s getting ready to start her new graduate role at HMRC in London. With her determination, there is no doubt she will continue to achieve incredible things.

The team here at UPIC are glad to have been part of Rimsha’s journey, and we look forward to celebrating her next accomplishment.

🔗 You can read her full Q&A here: www.upic.navitas.com/about/student-stories/rimsha-interview