University of Gloucestershire

Aderemi studied accounting back in Nigeria and did a master’s in business administration. She gained work experience in a bank and wanted to finish the professional qualifications as part of Association of Certified chartered accountant ACCA. Aderemi realised she could do the final stages as part of studying MSc Accounting and soon applied to University of Gloucestershire.

“I just wanted to do something that would help me understand banking more. I did the front office banking, but I wanted to understand what goes on at the back end. Why I can just pick my phone, type some things, and get things sorted. I wanted to understand the financial technology part of it. The reasons I also choose FinTech is because in the past I would shy away from anything that has to do with technology. But I wanted to understand technology. That will make me be an all-rounder.”

“A family friend recommended the course and University of Gloucestershire. She said it is a fantastic course. I basically depended on word of mouth, I kept checking the university’s website, YouTube, asked friends. Everything is at your fingertips, from IELTS to how to write a personal statement. All the information is there on the website. You cannot be lazy because finding out everything is easy. How to get an accommodation, getting the list of schools from UCAS, what to expect from the courses you’re supposed to attend, what to expect when you get to the UK. From interview questions, to the visa office, everything is available.”

When I had the option to take Health Psychology as a module for my undergrad, I was excited as it gave me the opportunity to ‘dip my toe’ into the world of Health Psychology as it’s something I’ve always been interested in. So, when I had the chance to apply for a Masters on Health Psychology I absolutely took it! As this is still a new course designed by the undergraduate Health Psychology lecturer, I knew this course would be such a good opportunity to learn about health in such a holistic and multifaceted way and I was absolutely right!

This was such a journey in a good way. Not only did this course cover such a breadth of theories, methodologies, concepts, and health subjects, but it did so in such an accessible way you leave each module with a clear understanding of what the lecture was about. You could tell the lecturers had a passion for the modules and it showed throughout their lectures, assessments, and the guest speakers they had speak throughout the course. They were extremely accessible and supportive of us which made the whole experience much less overwhelming than most Masters courses.

At the end of this course, I will be qualified with a Stage 1 Health Psychology status which will allow me to continue education towards my eventual goal within counselling or therapy. My eventual goal is to get qualified as a Psychosexual Therapist and I truly don’t think I would’ve felt as qualified as I would have if I didn’t take this course first as a steppingstone when choosing a speciality.

Whether someone has a clear goal for their life or they’re unsure of their next direction I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in understanding health as it relates to the mind and body.

Amanda, MSc Health Psychology

Anna is a Creative and Critical Writing Graduate. Anna completed her Master’s in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Gloucestershire. Since then she has published five collections of poetry: Communion (Wild Conversations Press), Struck (Pindrop Press), Kissing the She Bear (Wild Conversations Press), Burne Jones and the Fox (Indigo Dreams) and Ghosting for Beginners (Indigo Dreams).

Anna is also the founder of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival. Since the festival’s launch in 2010, it has grown to become one the UK’s most vibrant poetry festivals – and was recently described by The Guardian as ‘a poetry party with a healthy dose of anarchy’. Anna also runs poetry workshops and works as a creative writing mentor.

Bevis, MA Landscape Architecture student wins gold medal at his first Royal Horticultural Society, Chelsea Flower Show.

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture Graduate, Bevis Hughes was invited to exhibit at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show with his colleagues at The Eden Project to showcase the benefits of going peat-free; for your own garden and for the protection and restoration of UK peatlands.

“We had a special licence from Natural England to ‘borrow’ a real piece of peat bog from Bolton Fell in Cumbria which we took to London to showcase and highlight the critical importance of UK peatlands to our climate. It was very well received by the public and the judges and we were awarded a gold medal!”

“I’m currently in my final year of my Master’s in Landscape Architecture and working as a Graduate Landscape Architect at the Eden Project in Cornwall with Eden Project International Limited (EPIL).

I’m working on developing new projects in the UK and around the world. The ambitions of each project carry the same motivation of the original Cornwall scheme, which aims to connect people with nature and each other as a means of championing ways to regenerate our local and global ecologies.

With a professional background in landscape gardening, photographic production, and a personal interest in land use and the public realm, Landscape Architecture was a perfect subject for me to return to university.

The range of complementary specialism that the teaching staff provided was key to the support of my interests and learning.”

Daniels’ start up business ‘Concilium Search’ has shot to success after he and 8 others set it up shortly after graduation. His now £19m business has clients all around the world, with a team of 80 employees and international offices in New York and Amsterdam.

“Being part of a fast-growing start-up means that no two days are the same. The variety in my Business Management course at University of Gloucestershire gave me a fantastic grounding to be able to tackle new challenges as they arose within my company.

I had initially wanted to join a larger multinational, but subsequently decided that a smaller company would be a better fit following several discussions with my lecturers. I love the pace and unpredictability that comes from being part of a start-up, and can endorse working for smaller organisations to anyone. Had I not come to that realisation and not been as comfortable taking calculated risks, I would likely not be where I am today.

The networks developed throughout university will serve you for the rest of your career, so try to engage with peers and lecturers as much as possible whilst you’re at university.”

Diego is a student on the International Business Law and Management LLM course. He is part of the University of Gloucestershire volleyball team.

"Being part of the LLM course has not only been inspiring but has been integral to growth in my career. The experience of negotiating has mentally prepared us to obtain beneficial skills in this rigorous environment of law and we couldn’t be more thankful to our professors for helping us grow.

Through my experience of living in Gloucester, I have seen the humanity and humbleness of strangers who have helped me in times of need, and the friendships I have made from University of Gloucestershire will last a lifetime.

Being part of the volleyball team has helped me find my home away from home, which was fundamental to my mental health. After graduation, I plan to fly back to California and continue my studies at a law school concentrating in human rights law and immigrational law."

“The MSc Psychology will give me graduate basis for chartership with the British Psychological Society, which I need in order to apply for the Doctorate that I want to do. So it’s invaluable!”

Emma first came to University of Gloucestershire straight from A Levels, initially undertaking BSc Animal Biology followed by MSc Applied Ecology. As part of both courses, she undertook residential fieldwork modules visiting a wildlife reserve in South Africa. These visits, and a long-term interest in parasitology and parasite transmission, have led Emma to her current PhD project.

This involves her researching parasite hotspots and transmission between mammals such as antelope, zebra, giraffe and rhino in the South African bush. The aim of this project is to better understand parasite distribution in relation to habitat management and how water holes might act as centres for parasite transmission.

"All the lecturers I have worked with have been brilliant and clearly passionate. Their sector experience has been really useful, there is a mix of experience across the lectures also which means you are able to get different perspectives. They are happy to support you as much as possible even if it is not directly related to your course but will help you develop your practice or portfolio. "

"It has given me a really strong portfolio and experience to use to get more opportunities. It has also increased my confidence in myself and my own voice which is really important as it is a competitive sector. Alongside this it has also given me time to explore way to look after myself and do things in a way that work with my brain and not against it."

Hannah – PGCE Secondary Education, History

“Having a variety of lecturers who have been teachers before, but in a variety of subjects, has been really helpful for my learning and developing my own teaching personality. The community is supportive and friendly and I was given a lot of support from my personal tutor when looking for a job and now have one set up for September.”

“I attended an open day for the year 2022-23 enrolment and was blown away by the building and surrounding beautiful park grounds, as well as the fantastic music production facilities that the Park Campus had to offer. This included top of the range recording studios, microphones and mixing desks, as well as the lates computers and software. I decided immediately to apply.

As a mature student I was a little worried about whether I would feel accepted by the younger students in my group, only to find that I was treated as an equal part of the team, and I felt so comfortable with my fellow students and the teachers, that I completely forgot about our age difference and we all had lots of fun studying and working together.

My year of studying was amazing: challenging, fascinating and full of incredible experiences. The teaching staff were very knowledgeable and, themselves, had professional experience, and I absolutely loved attending lectures.

The material presented to us was of very high standard, often prepared meticulously and written specially for our lectures, because the nature of the sound and music production business is such that new and the very latest information becomes available almost weekly, as is the development in the world of sounds and music business. We were encouraged to be striving to learn the latest software and techniques and to be thinking ‘outside the box’ and be fearless and creative. We were also allowed and encouraged to ask questions, collaborate and be free to explore our own ideas. It was liberating and different to my previous experiences of studying.

Technical staff were extremely helpful. While we were learning so much new software and using complex equipment, we always had the support of technical staff. The recording hire facilities are brilliant too and we had access to all that we needed for our project.

Most importantly I feel empowered and confident that I can do it use my acquired knowledge and implement my new skills. Thank you UOG for helping me realise my dreams.”

Jess – PGCE Secondary Education, PE

“The University of Gloucestershire has a good reputation for PGCE courses, especially PE. All the lecturers on the course are welcoming and experts in their field, which I have learnt so much from both from a professional and personal aspect. They support you and help guide you through assignments.”

“While completing my PGCE I was also finishing my MSc Strength and Conditioning dissertation and competing at an international level for hockey. I was supported and helped to manage my time effectively. The experience and knowledge I have gained from this year have been invaluable and I will take all the content I have learnt and the experience I have gained into the future with my teaching. “

"My MBA experience has been transformative in many ways. I have gained a deeper understanding of networking styles, different personalities and cultures worldwide.

Additionally, I was not accustomed to assessments in my home country, so completing them as part of the UK standard has been a valuable learning experience. Through my coursework I have also developed my self-expression and professional branding skills, which have helped me grow personally and professionally.

Overall, my MBA journey has been incredibly enriching and I am grateful for all the knowledge and experiences I gained throughout this process."

Joby is a Sports Therapy Graduate.

I now lecture part-time and run my own clinic, Reboot. Since completing my MSc, I have also worked in professional football, and recently finished working with the Saudi Arabian national taekwondo team.

I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for this course – I honestly believe I wouldn’t have got the same experience elsewhere.

Joby decided to build upon his undergraduate degree in Sports Therapy by continuing onto the MSc programme in order to help find a career path which suited him.

Katharine is a 2023 graduate in PGCE Primary Education at UoG and is now a class teacher at a primary school in Gloucestershire. Read what Katharine has to say about how her course prepared her for this first teaching role.

“I worked in a school admin and finance role and then decided I wanted to teach. I looked at others [universities] but it was the feel of everything at UoG that made me choose to study here. Particularly, as a mature student, the quality of support was really important for me – the accessibility, feel and location that would put me in the best place to achieve my teaching qualification.”

What were the high points of your time at UoG?

“Definitely the staff support – I went through family trauma during my first placement and the support I had was absolutely phenomenal, whether it was an email with a query or support with an assignment. A PGCE is intense and it could be overwhelming, but the staff made it all possible. The quality and content of the course is amazing, but you need skilled and supportive course leaders and tutors. Michelle and the lecturers are amazing – it wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

What have you been doing since you graduated?

“The links into the teaching world, given to me by UoG, were invaluable. My first placement [school] requested me back for my third placement! It was lovely to be asked back and since my training year I’ve since got a full-time teaching role at the school.”

Your advice for those considering training to teach later in life?

“Don’t be put off being a mature student! That experience and the life skills I gained while balancing work and being a parent can 100% be an asset.”

Katie studied for a Masters Educational Leadership.

“I found that the staff at University of Gloucestershire both encouraged and challenged me to achieve my potential. They made the modules relevant to current practice in schools and to me as an individual.

“The course has benefited me by enabling me to reflect on my current role and leadership practice. It taught me to evaluate and research more thoroughly the strategies that impact on those I lead. It was also a great opportunity to meet other leaders and to engage in professional discussions about current issues and our leadership roles.”

Katie used the MA to reflect and build upon her existing experience as a teacher and leader. Focusing on research, she was able to evaluate more thoroughly the impact on those she leads. Katie is now a Deputy Head of an Infant School.

Leah completed the Communications, PR and the Media MA degree course in 2021 and now works for her local regional tourism organisation.

“I highly recommend the Master’s pathway which has led to many opportunities.

“For my dissertation project I chose to create and execute a local tourism communications plan for my hometown, and I am now employed by the regional tourism organisation. I have been able to showcase my skills to prospective employers by using my dissertation project within my portfolio. The teachers were available and supportive throughout the entire process.

“The flexibility of the programme allowed me to create a project that directly aligned with my career goals as well as my interests. This made the experience not only rewarding, but extremely enjoyable.”

Lisa – PGCE Secondary Education, Art and Design

“The journey into teaching is demanding and challenging. I find the main challenge is retaining all the quality teaching mechanisms and relaying that into the classroom. However, striving to provide a well-structured, inspiring, and engaging lesson is priceless. The intangible rewards of changing lives everyday is worth it tenfold.”

“This qualification has helped my career exponentially. Not only has this qualification guaranteed me a role, but the units of work I have studied has given me a thirst for knowledge, continuing my journey into education, researching and reading material that will extend my teaching practises.”

“All the lecturers have so much knowledge and expertise, which is expelled through a supportive and kind demeanour.”

Lizzy Yarnold is a Geography and Sport and Exercise Sciences Graduate.

“My experiences have helped me become the athlete I am – having to be confident in myself at uni has empowered me in life since then.”

Winning two gold medals, Lizzy is the most successful British Winter Olympian and most successful Olympic Skeleton athlete of all time.

“I chose to undertake my PhD at the University of Gloucestershire after learning about Dr. Philip Reeder’s research in immersive audio experiences and was interested in being supervised by him. I was also impressed by the facilities in the music department, which are excellent and offer the opportunity to work with professional equipment such as mixing and mastering suites.

I’m really glad I chose to study at the University of Gloucestershire – there has been so much support from my lecturers, supervisors, and staff. My research has definitely evolved, which has been, good, scary, challenging, but ultimately fascinating.

I work as a sound design lecturer at SGS College and have become fascinated with interactive spatial audio where the listener/player has influence over the music which is prevalent in computer games. I think the future of electronic music exploration is in spatial audio and i’m excited to be researching this cutting-edge area.

My research focuses on nonlinear time in music and this idea has grown and developed greatly since I started my studies. I have been fascinated with the philosophical and psychological aspects of my studies, neither areas I had contemplated before embarking on my PhD.

I am using Unreal Engine software as a basis for my studies and have been fortunate enough to gain a MegaGrant from the developers Epic Games. This has helped me pay for my tuition, purchase essential equipment, and given me confidence in my ability.

Once I complete my PhD, I am interested in delivering lectures on my subject area and getting involved in cutting-edge projects. The world of immersive, adaptive, and spatial audio is expanding and there are lots of exciting areas to explore. As well as my research area I have a love of electronic music and perform live improvised techno. I have started to incorporate the technology used in my research into my ever-evolving setup.”

Michelle is a Psychology Graduate.

“One thing that has really struck me with my journey here at university so far is they have been so supportive of that change in what I want to do with my degree. The fact that it’s a research university means there are opportunities you have, to become involved in things outside your natural areas of interest, that just open so many more doors for you.”

Michelle returned to study as a mature student from a work environment and made the most of the support systems in place at UoG to get back into the world of education.

Watch Michelle’s story.

View Michelle’s course Psychology (BSc Hons)

Rebecca graduated with a Master’s in Creative and Critical Writing, and is now an editor and writer.

“I began my Master’s in September 2019 when my youngest child started school. Having been out of education and work for many years to take care of my children, I was extremely nervous about returning to university, but the staff and students at UoG couldn’t have been more welcoming.

“Writing had only been a hobby, but my lecturers helped me to think about and approach writing in a variety of new ways. I was given insights into different careers within the writing industry, including publishing, teaching, and even bookbinding. The creative industries modules were invaluable, allowing me to direct and produce the University Anthology. Industry guests and lecturers encouraged me to submit my writing to literary magazines.

“The teaching module was especially helpful, giving me a chance to run an undergraduate workshop, which I absolutely loved.

“On the course, I met Amy Scott, who now runs Scott Editorial, a freelance editing service. She invited me to work with her, and now I spend my working day reading books, editing, and helping writers develop their work. It really is a dream job!

“I also met Claire Harrison on the course, who now runs literary magazine, The Phare. She invited me to the team as a submissions reader, and now I am co-editor. Together, we run monthly writing workshops to inspire and encourage writers.

“Regarding my own writing, I now have over 40 short story publications. I won the London Independent Story Prize, was shortlisted for the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize, and this year, I was shortlisted for the Laurie Lee Prize. The University continues to publish my work in the annual anthology, and kindly give me the opportunity to read my work at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. “The course and the lecturers helped me find my place in the world, and gave me confidence and abilities nothing else could have. I’m eternally grateful.”

Rhiannon is studying an MSc in Sports Therapy. She runs her own rehabilitation clinic and is a member of The Society of Sports Therapists.

"My course has allowed me to complement my already ascertained skills and knowledge as a strength & conditioning coach. I graduated back in 2016 with an MSc in Strength and Conditioning, which was just the beginning of my journey in running my own rehabilitation clinic for children with cerebral palsy. The degree has allowed me to develop the clinical skills required to expand upon the services I wish to offer my clients."

"During my time at UoG, I have made some good friends who share common goals and are like-minded. This made the process of studying part-time alongside working in my clinic more enjoyable and manageable. The lecturers are very supportive and understand the challenges of running a business while studying. It has been a fantastic experience and one I will not forget."

"My future aspirations are to expand my clinic, potentially opening more clinics across Wales, offering more families the opportunity of the bespoke support we offer children living with cerebral palsy."

“I’ve had the privilege of participating in diverse programmes that have significantly enriched my academic journey at UoG. Getting the Office for Student Scholarship (OFS) played a crucial role in alleviating the financial burden of my studies and allowing me to channel more focus and energy into my academic goals."

“Notably, the Data Science MSc has enhanced my technical skills and given me an experiential learning opportunity that is priceless. The University’s renowned faculty members’ guidance and research have sparked my fascination with AI, particularly generative AI. UoG’ssupport system, my course tutor, and lecturers have been instrumental in my success. The dedicated career studio team supported me in preparing me for placement interviews, ensuring I could effectively showcase my abilities and experiences.”

Sara graduated with a Master’s degree in illustration in January 2024. She explains how the course helped hone her artistic talent.

“The first semesters were mostly a kind of discovery and challenging myself, because the practical freedom that is necessary for artistic work was completely new to me. And with the help of course workshops, I was able to experience several different techniques, such as digital painting with ‘Procreate’ or making outstanding books.

“This freedom of action allowed me to discover the art that really comes from inside me, from my thoughts and feelings, and life experiences, and implement and expand it.

“In addition to the portraits I created, I used mirror work, which is an art specific to my native country of Iran, to express my thoughts and goals. The guidance I received from my tutors was a great help to me.

“UoG has provided all the opportunities for me to discover myself. I am now busy creating more works and I hope to continue and be recognised as an artist of my own style.”

Tobi studied Criminology. He is now an Outreach Officer for Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

“I strongly believe that without the university, I wouldn’t have realised my passion or potential in making such a positive difference.”

Build your skills in forensic investigation and interrogation through our incredible facilities.

After graduating with a joint honours degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, Tom is now undertaking an MA degree in Creative and Critical Writing.

“The University provided a chance to publish my work before I even joined, when a short story I wrote during lockdown was selected for inclusion on the Creative Writing blog. I felt so proud to be published for the first time, and I could see an immediate improvement in my prose as I collaborated with one of my future lecturers to edit the piece.

“When I began studying for a joint honours in English and Creative Writing shortly afterwards, I could not fault the dedication of staff in ensuring the pandemic did not prevent access to all the resources and support we would have had at any other time.

“Lecturers always offered extensive feedback, one-to-one tutorials, and reading material to ensure we were prepared for assignments. The small class sizes allowed us to get to know one another quickly, even with Covid restrictions still in place, and critique each other’s work in a supportive, tight-knit environment.

“The University produces an annual anthology of students’ work, and having short stories and poems included in three editions – as well as being lucky enough to perform some of these at the Cheltenham Literature Festival – has given me the confidence to prepare submissions for external publications. Alongside talks from guest speakers about how to get published and the array of jobs available within the creative industries, I have become more assured about knowing the direction I could take within the writing business, and the development of a personal portfolio.

“Now I am studying for an MA in Creative and Critical Writing, I am developing the invaluable skills and knowledge the BA equipped me with further, undertaking the role of Chief Editor of this year’s anthology. I am grateful for all the opportunities and support my lecturers provide, and I feel excited about pursuing a career in the creative industries in the near future.”

I enjoy how the course encourages students to reveal, understand and develop their own authentic voice as an artist. I enjoy the blend of academic theory and practical work which develops throughout the course. Each module supports the next; bringing a depth of rigor and understanding which ultimately embodies the practice. I enjoy the range of approaches to learning offered including seminars, group critiques as well as individual feedback.