'The Best Thing About My Masters' – Students Share Their Stories

When I began my Masters, Apple had yet to release a smart phone, the most recent Marvel film was a really bad Fantastic Four movie and Game of Thrones was still just an unfinished series of relatively popular fantasy novels.*

Much has changed since then. I still have fond memories of my MA degree. It led me to my PhD, for one thing, but it was also where I really started to develop many of the skills I use professionally: researching and writing material, managing independent projects, presenting arguments and conclusions, and coming up with tenuous pop-culture references.**

I'm not alone in thinking a Masters was a pretty distinctive and definitive part of my university experience. So, as we gear up to celebrate all that's great about postgraduate study, here are 8 other people who've benefitted from a Masters - and gone on to do some pretty cool things with their degrees.

*Yes, I know the novel saga is technically called 'A Song of Ice and Fire', but no one uses that name now. Probably because it sounds like it should be the title for a bad pop-rock album. Discussion of fantasy literature (and Masters degrees in Literature / other things) welcome via Twitter.

**My MA was in Gothic Studies. Yes, that is a thing.

'It taught me the practical, industry-specific skills I needed'

The best thing about my Masters is that it taught me the practical, industry-specific skills I needed to become a journalist.

As a BA English graduate I lacked some of the training and experience needed to access the news industry - which requires a strong grasp of areas such as media law and ethics, and proficiency in multimedia. Yet my year-long Masters in Journalism - which came with NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) accreditation - taught me hands-on the skills required in a modern newsroom. It taught me how to cover court and inquest hearings, write in shorthand, shoot video and photos; it helped me to gain work experience, and even held dedicated 'news days' in which we produced stories at a simulated news desk.

Thanks to my Masters, I was able to walk into my first day as a reporter confident in the fact I was equipped with the skills needed to succeed - skills I still use, and continue to build upon every day.

Lydia Chantler-Hicks graduated with an MA in Print Journalism. She went on to work as a journalist for the Evening Standard.

'My Masters degree has massively enhanced my employability'

For me, a Masters was a unique self-improving and self-motivating experience. It challenged not only my time-management skills, but also the depth of my understanding of the subject.

Through this intensive course, I was given the opportunity to work with leading academics and discuss the subject I am passionate about on a different level. My Masters degree has also massively enhanced my employability – my current job requires a lot of reading and studying and, even though it’s not directly related to what I studied, having a Masters degree has certainly proven my credentials as an independent worker and critical thinker.

I would highly recommend doing a Masters, either for your future career path, or out of the enthusiasm for the subject, which could lead to a PhD study if you would like to conduct your own research.

Edith Shieh graduated with an MA in Psychology and Education. She's worked as an education account manager at Wiley.

'Making me a more competitive PhD applicant'

My Masters in Counselling Pscychology required doing coursework, a practicum component involving providing mental health counselling, and a final capstone project. I decided to opt for the thesis capstone route because I was hoping to utilise my Masters as a stepping stone towards a PhD.

The thesis capstone provided me the opportunity to produce original research that helped prepare for the rigors of PhD research. Academically, I most enjoyed this element of the Masters degree because I was able to see whether I preferred research more than the clinical work, but I also enjoyed the cohort model at Simpson University because it helped foster some great friendships.

It’s been a few years since I received placement offers from three highly-ranked universities in the UK, and I know now completing a Masters degree prior to pursuing a PhD was the best call for me because of the experience I gained and it made me a more competitive applicant.

Robbie Crowder graduated with an MA in Counselling Psychology. Went on to complete a PhD at Loughborough University.

'Unlike any other studying experience I've had'

Applying for a Masters was a big decision for me (and it wouldn't have been possible before the postgrad loans came out) but it was the best thing I've ever done.

Taking part in a Masters was unlike any other studying experience I've had. You are among a really varied group of peers including people with different experiences to bring to the table. Those discussions and lectures have informed many conversations since I completed my Masters, whether these have been at work, academic conferences or even around the dinner table!

I gained a broader understanding of my topic (Global Health) and the mix of perspectives on key global issues. I chose to complete a primary research project which allowed me to travel to Nepal and interview midwives in health centres. This is an experience I would not have had the opportunity to take up were it not for my Masters and I was lucky enough to present this research at an academic conference in Paris.

I now work for a social enterprise that works with people who often have complex mental health barriers and I find my research filtering into everything I do. Sometimes this is a direct link to the subject of mental health and sometimes it is the critical analysis, evaluation and communication skills I learnt.

Jennie Hockey graduated with an MSc in Global Health. She is a business support manager.

'I'm turning my career interests into research projects'

Going from undergrad to postgrad has given me the chance to specialise my subject further. This is one of the best things about doing a Masters, as I have found that I could focus on turning my career interests into research projects. For example, I am exploring feminist media culture within my dissertation, a topic extremely relevant to the digital publishing industry that I aim to pursue a career in.

The freedom of a Masters allows you to pursue your passions and become an expert on your field. This is not only beneficial for your professional career, but it means that your studies become filled with so much more excitement about your research.

Ally Faughnan completed an MA in Arts and Cultural Management at King's College London. She went on to create her own magazine and write for major cultural institutions.

'A retirement project that proved to be one of the best experiences of my life'

I completed a part-time MA in Viking and Anglo-Saxon Studies at the University of Nottingham as a retirement project, and it has proved to be one of the best experiences of my life. As a lover of languages and literature, it was a great joy and privilege to learn Old English and Old Norse from equally passionate experts.

Being new to this field of study, I had to work really hard to see things from an archaeological, historical or theological perspective, though the effort was well worthwhile. Taking up essay-writing again in my sixties was a further challenge, but I received a lot of help, encouragement and feedback from the staff.

The huge interest I developed in the subject was beyond my expectations, and has provided me with research projects for the future. I am now pursuing these in the company of academics and student colleagues with whom I have formed very warm attachments. Far from being a drawback, my mature years have enabled me to bring a different perspective to conversation and debate – and to elicit sympathetic assistance when my computing skills have let me down!

Nicola Lilley graduated with an MA in Viking and Anglo-Saxon Studies. She went on to work at the University of Nottingham both as an independent researcher in Anglo-Saxon hagiography, and voluntary research assistant in English place-names at the Institute for Name-Studies.

'Going back to study turned out to be a great decision'

Taking a year off from active reporting to go back to journalism school turned out to be a great decision. As a journalist on the ground, I was focused on getting the job done fast and professionally. What I had not stopped to think about was the wider impact of my work on society, as well as regional and international development.

My Masters in Global Journalism gave me an opportunity to take a step back and review the challenges faced by journalists and the media industry in different parts of the world. I thoroughly enjoyed the focus on theoretical and scholarly work in my Masters, which was a refreshing contrast to the practical, 'real-life newsroom' training that I had already undertaken as part of my undergraduate studies. I am much more confident in my knowledge about the media industry and its wider impact. I also feel more prepared with the necessary skills to return to my home country and help make changes for better working conditions for my fellow journalists.

Loshana Shagar completed an MA in Global Journalism at the University of Sheffield. She went on to become a senior analyst at Wallbrook.

'Encouragement that inspired me to do a PhD'

I credit my MA Sociology course with a lot of things. It introduced me to new ways of thinking and viewing society, abilities I use almost every day both professionally and personally, and taught me some good foundational skills for research and critical thinking.

In addition to the compulsory modules which focused on research methods and preparing for your dissertation, the range of optional modules were very diverse and allowed me to explore topics I’m genuinely interested with support from lecturers and peers during seminars. I enjoyed the process of researching and writing my dissertation immensely, and was lucky to have a supervisor who really championed my work but also offered me invaluable critique and advice – I think it was this kind of encouragement that inspired me to do a PhD (after a brief break from academia to work!).

Rhiannon Topham graduated with an MA in Sociology. She went on to become an editorial executive at Ignition Search.

Celebrating Masters study

Hopefully these stories have helped inspire you to consider a Masters, or opened your eyes to some of the different things postgraduate study can lead to. Whether you're looking for professional development, a pathway to PhD study or even a retirement project (because, why not?) there are plenty of courses out there.