My postgraduate experience by Georgina Wren
Psychology PhD Candidate & Graduate Teaching Assistant Georgina Wren talks about how fulfilling (and at times challenging!) she found postgraduate study, the “lightbulb” moment of starting the right masters for you, and shares her top tips
19 August 2022
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When considering whether to start a postgraduate course, there are a lot of factors to consider to make sure it's the right decision for you.
As I came to the final few months of my undergraduate psychology degree (pre-pandemic), I felt like the options were overwhelming and I lacked direction.
After discussing my concerns with my personal tutor, family and course mates, I started a Masters course…and quit three weeks in!
I promptly switched courses to something better suited to me, and even ended up doing a PhD in a similar area.
To work out whether postgraduate study is for you, here are my top tips:
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Understand the career path: in the field of psychology especially, it's important to know that some specialist disciplines require doctoral-level training to gain the title e.g. 'Health Psychologist'. If this path is of interest to you, it's worth doing your research in advance.
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Be prepared for more independence: postgraduate study is designed to promote independent and flexible thinking in students, and this can be lonely at times. But don't worry, your supervisors and tutors are there to support you throughout the course.
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Financial support: funding from Student Finance works slightly differently for postgraduate study and this can be a big factor for many students. Some universities offer bursaries, scholarships and/or alumni discounts, so make sure to check these out.
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Consider where your interests lie: this may sound obvious, but it is really important to start your postgraduate journey with a passion for your topic of interest. A Masters dissertation or thesis alone is a year-long project (even longer for a PhD!), and thus, knowing your motivation for conducting the research is key.
If you are struggling to decide on which course is right for you, or whether you are ready to commit to postgraduate study, it might be useful to talk to the course leaders who can support your decision-making.
Finding the right Masters course for me was a lightbulb moment on my research journey and I can't recommend it more – just make sure it's right for you!