John Carlo Timbol

Hi, I’m John or Cho, and I’m from the Philippines. Before taking up my MPH Public Health (International) at the University of Leeds, I was a military physician for six years and a technical officer for a public health NGO for the next two. The last few years brought me face to face with COVID-19 as a frontliner, hospital ward administrator, and health communicator, and these experiences led me to pursue further studies in public health.

I first learned about the University of Leeds when I was filling out my application for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office’s Chevening Scholarship. The University of Leeds, I learned then, was one of Chevening’s Partner Universities, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, and had a world-renowned Master of Public Health program given by the Nuffield Center for International Health and Development, which had ties with my country’s oldest university. When I finally received news that I got the Chevening Scholarship, I was also informed that not only had the University of Leeds generously offered to pay part of my tuition, it also guaranteed me a place in Carlton Hill, one of the university’s numerous student accommodations. For all these reasons, choosing to go to the University of Leeds was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make.

While I was aware of Nuffield’s academic reputation, I had no idea that the University also encouraged its students to explore the campus and the city through hiking, which is by far my favorite hobby.

While I was aware of Nuffield’s academic reputation, I had no idea that the University also encouraged its students to explore the campus and the city through hiking, which is by far my favorite hobby. I will never forget what our program leader told us on the first day of classes: “Leeds is famous for two things—music and walking. While your program is intense, and while you will have to work hard, do explore the music scene and our various hiking trails.” That was all I needed to hear. Since I arrived in the UK in September 2023, I’ve done nothing but work hard, learn from my professors and colleagues, and hike, hike, and hike. So far, I’ve done the Meanwood Valley Trail, Rawdon-Billing, Keswick in the Lake District, Llandudno on the Welsh coast, and Thorner Moor. I hope to explore more of the hiking trails surrounding Leeds in the coming months.

Hiking helps me clear my mind, which is important because my Public Health program is intense. That’s my favorite thing about it. It requires us to read widely, draw from our own experiences, learn from the experiences of others, and put these all together in well thought-out essays, discussions, and presentations. I’m sure that all these will come in handy when we travel to Geneva next year for one of my program’s landmark features—a study trip in collaboration with various international development organizations, where we will immerse ourselves in international health policy.

My time in the University of Leeds have been a dream, and I’d love for you to share in this experience as well. Do not hesitate to email me at John-link@leeds.ac.uk or chat with me on Unibuddy for any questions or concerns you have!