My first semester studying a postgraduate degree at the University of Chester

I can still remember it now. I had finished my English undergraduate degree, celebrated my graduation with my friends and family and I thought I really don’t want this to end. There are still so many books to study and so much more I can and want to learn. So a few weeks later, obligatory new pencil case and a pristine pad of A4 paper in hand, I wandered into the lecture theatre for my first Masters session. And I never looked back!

Looking back, one year later, that first semester was tough. The step up from undergrad to postgrad is huge in terms of self-discipline and organisation, as well as independent reading and studying, but one thing it did teach me was to believe in myself and that I really could do this. Whilst this jump can seem challenging to navigate, its not as dauting as I first thought. I was taught a vast amount of content, but the workload was manageable to keep up with, provided I stayed on track and organised and gave myself plenty of time to complete the readings and tasks that were set by my tutors.

As time speeds by so quickly, the most important piece of advice I received was be organised and clear about when your deadlines are. By devising a weekly plan of what I needed to read or research and complete really helped me meet my deadlines and stay on track with my work. Although I didn’t have that many hours of tutor led teaching, there was a huge amount of self-study which involved lots of reading and research. By keeping up with this work, reading the essential books and articles and contributing to the class group discussions, ensures that you stay organised and less stressed.

Although the university library did become my second home, I made sure I didn’t overwhelm myself and had lots of fun outside of studying. Chester is a fantastic city with so much to do, and the University has loads of sports clubs and societies to join. I got involved with as much as I could and had lots of fun in between the study. Studying for a Masters was tough, but the University of Chester is more than an academic institution. It is an amazing university that provides knowledge and teaching, with plenty of academic and pastoral support. Studying the Masters enabled me to go through a huge character develop, make some lifelong friends and feel part of an academic community, so much so, that I am pleased to say, I stayed on to continue studying and I’m now working towards a PhD!