Everyone at Enza has been very welcoming and I'm really enjoying my time in the Netherlands

Gabriel checks plants in the controlled environment facility
Gabriel Robinson
Degree: MRes Plant and Microbial Biology
Research project: undertaken with Enza Zaden, a plant breeding company in the Netherlands
Gabriel chose to spend six months working for plant breeding company, Enza Zaden in the Netherlands as part of his MRes Plant and Microbial Biology degree. This experience and his study in Sheffield is preparing him well to take the next step in his career.
Gabriel checks plants in the controlled environment facility

“After doing my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Sheffield, I really liked the university and the city, and so thought I would consider the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences’ postgraduate options for my next step after graduating. I was interested in the research side of biology, and due to my favourite fields within biology being crop science and agronomy, I thought an MRes in Plant and Microbial Biology would be a perfect fit in preparing me for a career in research and perhaps a future PhD.


The possibility of working on my research project with Enza Zaden, a plant breeding company in the Netherlands was also really attractive to me as I wanted experience working in industry and thought it would be interesting to live abroad for six months.

Gabriel Robinson

MRes Plant and Microbial Biology


“I had wanted a course with a large research component and so the nature of the MRes with half of the entire course being an individual research project attracted me. The possibility of working on my research project with Enza Zaden, a plant breeding company in the Netherlands was also really attractive to me as I wanted experience working in industry and thought it would be interesting to live abroad for six months.

“I have learnt many skills as part of the course, from science communication and data analysis skills in the first half of the course whilst at Sheffield, to the practical skills such as Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and insect bioassays that I have developed being on placement.

“Everyone at Enza has been very welcoming and I am really enjoying my time in the Netherlands. I would recommend the opportunity to any prospective students that feel they would like to get some experience in industry! I am still undecided on whether to do a PhD following the end of my course, or to directly find a job in research, but either way, I feel that the skills I have learnt and experience I have gained through the MRes has prepared me well for my next step.” 

Four students laughing while sat at a bench, outside the Students' Union

International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.