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Posted on 31 Jul '19
Is a Masters for Me? – Advice from Award-Winning Students and Teachers
Deciding to study for an extra year is a big decision. It can allow you to specialise in a way you couldn’t during an undergraduate degree and perhaps give you an edge in your career. But that extra year of study obviously comes at a cost and the choice isn’t one to be made lightly.
One way to help is by hearing from people who know a bit more about Masters study: the students currently completing their courses and the academics teaching them.
We recently crowned the winners of our first ever Postgrad Awards, including our Masters student, and Masters teacher of the year. The winners and some of our highly commended entrants have kindly offered a few useful insights and tips for people considering or starting a Masters.
Thomas Ovenden
WINNER - Masters Student of the Year
Thomas went from work to commence his Masters in Environmental Forestry at Bangor University and is now a PhD student at the University of Stirling. His journey showcases the fact that you don't necessarily need to have an undergraduate degree to do a Masters (or more!):
"The biggest barrier for me was not being sure if I was allowed to do a Masters as I didn’t study an undergraduate course. Even if you haven’t got a classical academic background and an undergraduate degree doesn’t mean you can’t necessarily get onto a Masters course. If you’re interested in a subject enough to study a Masters in it then just go for it and don’t be afraid to follow the level of ambition you might have."
Bilal Bin Saqib
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Masters Student of the Year
Bilal is studying a Masters in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics and Political Science:
"My advice to people who have just started their masters studies is to come to school with a “can-do” mindset to work on developing a skill-set, focusing on the journey, instead of just completing the requirements of getting the degree as a piece of paper. Most schools focus solely on the structural setup inside the school and forget to prepare the students for the unstructured outside world. Hence, it should be an individual student’s effort to focus on developing his/her individual’s skill-set, gaining all the available opportunities."
Kevin Coward
WINNER - Masters Teacher of the Year
Kevin is director of the MSc in Clinical Embryology at the University of Oxford and has taught Masters students for the past 11 years:
"Students going on to do a Masters should think about the reasons why they want to start a Masters in the first place. Doing a Masters that gives you the skills and the information you need to go into a specific job is really important."
Anand Prathivadi Bhayankaram
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Masters teacher of the Year
Anand is Interim Head of the Division of Peace Studies and International Development at the University of Bradford:
"Remember that the reputation of a university alone does not guarantee that you will get what you need from that programme. Try to find out about the research interests of the staff, what they are currently working on and how their teaching is guided by their research. Also look at funding. Once you accept an offer, start engaging with the subject even before you arrive. If you enjoy what you study, the Masters programme will be the most enjoyable investment you have ever made."
Some takeaways
We're grateful to our winners for sharing their experiences and advice. Here are a few takeaways we think you should bear in mind for your Masters degree:
- Do your research. A top 10 university doesn’t necessarily mean your course will be top 10, and vice versa. You can use our search to find Masters degrees in subjects that interest you, but take the time to read and learn more about the staff and course content. The more you know about the course, the more you’ll know if you’re suited to it.
- Don’t assume you need a traditional academic background to do a course – entry requirements for postgraduate study are more varied than you think. Let the course leader know your own circumstances and study preferences (PT/FT) and see if these can be accommodated. You don’t know unless you ask!
- Think beyond the course. A Masters is a great opportunity to develop your skill-sets for further study or work. So make the most of the opportunities on offer to you, as it could be these which really boost your career prospects.
- You aren't alone if finance is a barrier to postgraduate study, but funding is out there. Investigate this ahead of time so you’ve got the best chance of applying successfully.
You can read more about all of our Postgrad Awards winners here.
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Last updated: 31 July 2019
