Which course did you study with us?
I have (very) recently completed the MSc Family and Child Psychology course.
What did you enjoy most about your postgraduate degree?
Having completed the BSc (Hons) Psychology degree at Chester the year before enrolling on my Masters, I wanted to delve deeper into my chosen field, and I have thoroughly enjoyed focusing on the area of most interest to me – developmental psychology. Additionally, the postgraduate course offers a lot of freedom, typically with numerous options of assessments to choose from within modules. This freedom allowed me to select assessments that were most akin to my future career goals and interests. The Psychology Department has worked incredibly hard to make my experience enjoyable.
How did the academic staff and Student Support team support you as a postgraduate student?
The staff at Chester are incredibly supportive. I was quite worried at the beginning because naturally at postgraduate level the support is reduced, and you are required to work independently. However, the course is well-designed and empowers you to work autonomously. For those worried about the difference, you are still allowed draft feedback on a set number of assessments and have the same access to Turnitin Draft Coach, and the Academic Skills (ASk) team provides access to online resources like the Feedforward e-assistance service. These services are invaluable at the start of the course as they help guide your work to include a more critical viewpoint, which is a requirement for high grades. Likewise, for your postgraduate dissertation you are entitled to weekly supervision sessions. The staff at the University of Chester have a really good balance between promoting independence and providing support to ensure students thrive.
The Careers and Employability team is an excellent resource to use during your postgraduate studies; they can help you with career development, job applications and hold mock interviews. They are available in person and virtually, which is useful if you can’t get to the campus. My advice to fellow or prospective postgraduate students is simple; make the most of the support available, it is there to help you get the most out of your degree.
What did you like about studying in Chester?
Chester has a lovely community feel to it! The University and Chester Students’ Union put a lot of effort into events; I attended Chestival last year, which was the perfect end to my undergraduate degree, and I enjoyed the event again this year as a postgraduate student. It was an amazing day on both occasions. There are so many sports clubs that you can get involved with as a postgraduate student like squash, trampolining and roller-skating clubs. And you can join societies like British Sign Language, Drama, and Photography to name a few. The University provides students with recognition for their extracurricular activities, including the University of Chester Volunteering Awards (UCV) and the Chester Difference Award (CDA). I’ve completed both of these awards and have found that employers love to ask about them, so I would recommend getting involved. I also like that Chester is not a big city university, but you can easily access Liverpool and Manchester with the rail links. It is the best of both worlds!
Do you have any advice for prospective postgraduate students?
For those considering a postgraduate course, the Festival of Postgrad is the best first step. Events will run between 14th October - 4th November 2023. There are online sessions and in-person Open Evenings for anyone to attend and ask questions, get advice and explore the amazing range of postgraduate courses available.
If you're contemplating postgraduate studies or have just begun this journey, I urge you to cherish every moment because it passes by swiftly.
